In an era where the fashion world grapples with inclusivity, body positivity, and the raw realities of womanhood, Jasmine Tookes delivered a seismic shift on the catwalk. On October 15, 2025, the 34-year-old supermodel—nine months pregnant with her second child—made history by opening the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, New York. Strutting confidently in a golden, bump-baring bodysuit adorned with ethereal angel wings, Tookes didn’t just walk the runway; she redefined it. Her appearance, a bold celebration of fertility amid lingerie and luxury, sparked global conversations about motherhood, resilience, and the evolving ethos of one of fashion’s most iconic brands. As the first pregnant model to lead the show, Tookes turned what could have been a controversial spectacle into a profound statement of empowerment, leaving audiences mesmerized and moved.

The evening’s magic ignited the moment the lights dimmed and the pulsating beats of a live DJ set—featuring rising stars like Charli XCX—filled the air. Backstage buzz had been electric all week, with whispers of celebrity cameos from Rihanna to Hailey Bieber, but nothing prepared attendees for Tookes’ entrance. Radiating a Botticelli-esque glow, she emerged in a shimmering gold ensemble designed by rising couturier Christian Siriano: a form-fitting bodysuit that cradled her baby bump like a second skin, paired with towering crystal heels and wings spanning six feet, embroidered with delicate motifs of blooming lotuses symbolizing new life. “I felt like a goddess,” Tookes later shared in a post-show interview, her voice steady with emotion. “This isn’t about hiding the changes—it’s about owning them, bump and all.” As she glided down the runway, hand gently caressing her belly, the 5,000-strong audience erupted in cheers, a sea of flashing cameras and tear-streaked faces.

Tookes’ journey to this milestone is one of grace under pressure. Born on February 4, 1991, in Huntington Beach, California, to a family steeped in the arts—her father a photographer, her mother a Pilates instructor—she was scouted at 15 while shopping in a mall. Her big break came in 2012 with her Victoria’s Secret debut, but it was earning her Angel wings in 2015 that catapulted her to stardom. That year, she modeled the iconic $3 million Diamond Fantasy Bra, a rite of passage that cemented her as a brand ambassador. Off-duty, Tookes is the epitome of grounded glamour: co-founder of the swimwear line JOA with pal Josephine Skriver, and a skincare entrepreneur with her 2024 launch of Brunel Beauty, inspired by her postpartum glow after daughter Mia Victoria’s arrival in February 2023.

This pregnancy, announced casually on Instagram in July 2025 with a beachside snap cradling her bump, marked a deliberate chapter. Married to tech entrepreneur and model Juan David Borrero since a starlit Miami ceremony in 2021, the couple— who met through mutual friend Miranda Kerr in 2016—welcomed Mia amid the chaos of lockdowns. Borrero, the soft-spoken Ecuadorian heartthrob behind Airbnb’s luxury listings, joined Tookes for a surprise couples’ walk midway through the show, their hands intertwined over her belly in a tender display that humanized the fantasy. “Juan’s been my rock,” Tookes confided. “Chasing a toddler while growing another human? It’s wild, but we’re building our little empire.” In September, she opened up about the toll: “The first trimester hit hard—morning sickness while prepping Brunel drops and Mia’s potty training. But now? I’m thriving.” Their son, due any day, promises to complete the picture, with Tookes teasing nursery themes drawn from her runway reveries.

Victoria’s Secret’s choice to spotlight Tookes signals a brand renaissance. After a 2020 hiatus amid backlash over inclusivity lapses—critics slammed its “perfect body” campaigns as exclusionary—the label relaunched in 2024 with a focus on diversity, featuring plus-size icons like Paloma Elsesser and trans trailblazers like Valentina Sampaio. The 2025 iteration amps it up: a “Bombshells & Beyond” theme blending high-octane glamour with narratives of strength, complete with performances from Doechii and runway reveals of adaptive lingerie for new moms. Producers hailed Tookes as the “perfect opener,” noting her strut embodied the show’s mantra: “Beauty in every body, every stage.” Her look, a fusion of Siriano’s sculptural flair and Victoria’s Secret’s signature sparkle, included subtle nods to maternity—stretchy seams for comfort, a hidden pocket for prenatal vitamins—proving fantasy can flex.

The impact rippled far beyond the runway. Social media detonated with #PregnantAngel trending worldwide, amassing 50 million views overnight. Fans gushed over clips of Tookes pausing to blow a kiss to her bump, while influencers dissected the look’s accessibility—Tookes partnered with the brand for a capsule maternity line launching November 1. Celebrities chimed in: Gigi Hadid posted, “Queen of owning every era! 👑🤰,” and Serena Williams, a fellow mom-boss, shared, “This is the representation we needed—fierce and fertile.” Critics, however, weren’t unanimous; some purists decried it as “gimmicky,” arguing lingerie shows should stay aspirational, not anatomical. Yet, data from the event’s live stream—peaking at 20 million viewers—suggests otherwise, with a 40% uptick in diverse searches for “maternity fashion.”

For Tookes, the night was personal catharsis. Post-show, she and Borrero retreated to their Miami penthouse, Mia in tow, for a quiet family dinner. “Walking that runway felt like reclaiming my power,” she reflected. “Motherhood stretched me—literally—and this was my way of saying, ‘I’m still here, still soaring.'” As the show unfolded with wings unfurling to orchestral remixes and models like Barbara Palvin channeling cyber-siren vibes, Tookes’ opener set an indelible tone: vulnerability as victory.

In a industry long criticized for airbrushed ideals, Jasmine Tookes’ pregnant procession marks a turning point. It’s not just about the glamour of gold wings or the thrill of the strut; it’s a manifesto for real bodies in real time. As Victoria’s Secret eyes future inclusivity—rumors swirl of a plus-size opener in 2026—Tookes’ legacy gleams brighter than her ensemble. From beachside bride to bump-baring icon, she’s proving that true angels come in all forms, wings and wonders included. The fashion world just got a little more fertile, one confident step at a time.