FOLLOWING the departure of two of Victoria's Secret Angels in the past week, many are asking what is next for the brand. Why did Kloss and Kroes leave? Who will replace them? And what does an Angel do anyway? Some have speculated this week that the Angels are no longer paid the millions that stars like Gisele Bündchen once commanded, and that the rumoured $100,000 salary is not enough to justify the extensive travel and promotion that is required of an Angel - especially when many models earn close to that for one day's work on a campaign.
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Ed Razek, Victoria's Secret's chief marketing officer, explained that Kroes had been offered a "lucrative opportunity" that was not compatible with her Victoria's Secret commitments, while Kloss's "myriad commitments" in other areas weren't possible alongside the lingerie giant's demands on her time. So is it about time as well as money? Although the brand understandably "doesn't discuss its contracts with models", Angels are said to be required to dedicate 50 days a year to Victoria's Secret - promoting products, attending store launches, and shooting campaigns and catalogues. That may seem like a little effort for a six-figure salary, but those 50 days can fall anywhere in the year, and could necessitate missing out on other work or personal opportunities, like studying and travelling.
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Newlywed model Lindsay Ellingson walked in the latest Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, but this time was not an Angel, and veteran Angels Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima would be likely bets as the next to depart. Both are 33 years old, have taken part in the show 15 times each, and now have two children, but only Ambrosio admitted that she may be ready to hang up her wings eventually, while Lima told us: "I never want to retire, so I'll do this for as long as my body can hold out!" So who is in line to fill those sought-after spots?
Swede Elsa Hosk is the most recent name to slip on the brand's famous wings, becoming an Angel at the 2014 show in London in December. Joan Smalls is another likely addition, taking part in the Victoria's Secret Swim shoot, released later this month, which Kroes and Kloss were notably already absent from. Lais Ribeiro, who is currently not an Angel, was chosen as the face of the brand's latest fragrance launch and also starred in the Swim film making her a favourite to join current Angels Lily Aldridge, Candice Swanepoel, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Elsa Hosk and Behati Prinsloo when showtime rolls around in December.
The brand has not yet made any comment about who we might see as an Angel next.
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