Victoria Secret Fashion Show: All the Gossip Of This Year's Event

Victoria’s Secret Angels landed in China on Monday and delivered quite a show. The lingerie giant displayed its fashion extravaganza in Shanghai with over 50 models and four huge musical guests.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will air on Tuesday, Nov. 28 on CBS. Meanwhile, we bring you some details of the huge night.

The Victoria Secret Angels made China their runway

This year, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show headed to China, with the brand expanding its shopping presence in Asia, it also expanded the annual show boundaries. The annual show in Shanghai saw 55 models from 20 countries taking to the stage at the Mercedez-Benz arena for the biggest catwalk in the lingerie brand’s 22-year show history.

An audience of over 3,000 took in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which was split into themes and punctuated in the most amazing and glam way possible. The show kicked off with the “Nomadic Adventure” segment, whic saw Elsa Hosk model a Swarovski look with over 250,000 crystals, and 2,320 olive leaves created by Kirk Maxson.

Then the “Goddesses” section, which also saw Lais Riberio showcase one of the most anticipated pieces of the collection the Fantasy Bra.

This year the ‘Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra’ was decorated with 6,000 precious stones and 18K gold, totalling a cool $2 million. This was followed by the “Porcelain Angel” part of the show, which had a hand-painted element to it.

And finally, the 23 outfits in the “Punk Angel” section – the largest section ever – were created in collaboration with Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing. The lingerie giant announced last October, it had tapped Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing to create a custom looks for the annual show.

“The Victoria’s Secret team have been invited to my Balmain shows many times, and I have also been a guest on the VS front row,” Rousteing said backstage. “A year ago they came to me and said, why don’t we do something together? We came up with the punk theme, which is something really new for me.”

This marks the marks the first time the brand has partnered with a fashion house on an in-store collection, which will be available on November 2, the day after the show is showcase. All Angels wore wings created by Sanne Vloet in spectacular fashion.

And as for the musical guests, former One Directioner Harry Styles, Grammy winner Miguel,’ Hamilton’ Leslie Odom Jr. and Chinese pop sensation Jane Zhang performed on the runway. They follow 2016’s VSFS performers, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and The Weeknd.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show had been mostly held in the US since 2001, but the company has moved the show overseas as it continues to expand. The show has been held in London, Paris and Shnghai, and was usually held in New York and Los Angeles.

Rocky start-up

A few days before the big night, the anticipated event seemed to be turning be a less than heavenly spectacle amid several last-minute changes and media drama.

First, rumored performer Katy Perry reported to be banned from China which forced her to drop the headlining.According to reports, the singer had tried applying for a visa to enter the communist nation, but was denied by Chinese officials.

Reportedly the decision came after after the government caught wind of a controversial incident from 2015, in which Perry wore a bright, glittery dress with sunflowers on it during a performance in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. The outfit particularly wound up causing widespread outrage because the sunflower had been adopted the year before by anti-China protesters.

On top of that, in the same performance Perry also waved a Taiwanese flag during the concert in a show of support for the country, which has been butting heads with China for years over its independence.Then several models were denied visas to enterthe country. Including Gigi Hadid, who according to reports was banned for a supposed racial video.

In the video, which was published on her sister Bella Instagram, Gigi held up a biscuit shaped like a Buddha and imitated the religious figure by squinting her eyes.Some of Victoria’s Secret’s biggest names have been denied entry to China, in addition to lesser-known models, such as Julia Belyakova, Kate Grigorieva and Irina Sharipova.

Model Adriana Lima’s visa has been held up due to an ongoing “diplomatic problem.” However, she did walked the catwalk.And the show was reportedly turning into an international media crisis, with tv producers and reporters having to deal with government surveillance and approval to send information.

However, Victoria’s Fashion Show executive producer Ed Razek denied these reports on Sunday.

“The news reports I’ve been reading from the US here in Shanghai regarding this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show are not an accurate reflection of what I’m seeing and experiencing on site,” he said. “The Chinese have been wonderful and enthusiastic hosts and partners,” he added.

“From granting more than 700 visas, collaborating with us on every detail and introducing us to local experts who have helped us elevate our event in this renowned fashion city.”

“We appreciate their efforts and all they have done to make this event a success. We look forward to the live show Monday night and the international broadcast a week later.”