Gisele Was Supposed to Open the Victoria’s Secret Show. A Broken Foot Gave Bella Hadid the First Walk

2 min read

Nightlife Report · Fashion Desk · Lillith Magic · Directed by Anthony Perlas

The biggest comeback of the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show almost happened on the runway instead of on a screen. Gisele Bündchen was set to open the October 18 show in Los Angeles, but she broke her foot, a source told Us Weekly in a story published Friday, October 30 (Us Weekly). According to that source, the moment “had been planned for months, so they pivoted to Bella Hadid opening the show last minute.” Us Weekly says it reached out to representatives for Bündchen, Hadid and Victoria’s Secret for comment.

What did the audience see instead?

Bündchen still showed up, just not in person. She appeared in two pre-taped video segments at the show, held at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles: one to open the night and one to close it, where she told viewers, “You’re going to be seeing more of me real soon.” Victoria’s Secret reposted the clip on Instagram with the caption “See you soon, Bombshell.”

Why would it have mattered so much?

Bündchen made her Victoria’s Secret runway debut in 1999 at 18 and walked seven shows for the brand. Her last walk as an Angel was in 2006, and she stepped back from runway shows entirely in 2020. A live opening would have been her first Victoria’s Secret runway in about 20 years.

The Nightlife Report take

Every big show has a plan B, and the best ones make it look like plan A. Handing the opening to Bella Hadid on short notice kept the night on schedule, and the two video segments let the brand keep its headline without risking an injured model on the runway. The real tease is the line about “real soon.” If Victoria’s Secret is building toward a live Gisele moment, it’s now the most anticipated walk in fashion.

FAQ

Who opened the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show? Bella Hadid.

RelatedWhat the Angels Did This Halloween: The Models, the Costumes, and What They Were Really Selling

Why didn’t Gisele Bündchen walk? A source told Us Weekly she broke her foot. Her representatives haven’t commented publicly.

Where was the show held? Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles, on October 18, 2026.

Your move: Want an editorial look built for your own night out? Book a Lillith Magic shoot, see the work at @lillithmagic, and catch the latest at Nightlife Report. Hear the full read on The Perlas Protocol.

Lillith Magic · Directed by Anthony Perlas · Nightlife Report

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