Honestly, the fashion world felt a little empty for a while. When Adriana Lima walked off that runway in 2018, tearfully blowing her final kisses as a "retired" Angel, most of us thought that was the end of an era. We saw the wings go into storage. We watched the brand struggle through its massive identity crisis. But then, October 15, 2024, happened.
The Adriana Lima Victoria Secret 2024 comeback wasn't just a cameo. It was a statement.
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At 43 years old, Lima didn't just show up to wave from the front row. She got back into the harness. She put on the wings. And she proved that the "Lima Energy" everyone talks about is a very real, very tangible thing that younger models are still trying to replicate. If you missed the livestream or just want to know why people are still obsessing over those fifteen seconds of footage, here is the actual breakdown of what went down in New York City.
Why the Adriana Lima Victoria Secret 2024 Return Matters
You've gotta understand the history to get why the room basically exploded when she appeared. Lima is the longest-serving Angel in the history of the brand. She started in 1999—literally the previous century. For twenty years, she was the North Star for Victoria’s Secret. When she left in 2018, the show itself went on a six-year hiatus shortly after.
Bringing her back for the 2024 reboot was a massive gamble for the brand. They’ve been trying to pivot toward inclusivity and "The VS Collective," but fans kept screaming for the nostalgia of the OG days. By landing Lima, they managed to bridge that gap.
She wasn't just a face; she was the validation the brand needed to say, "Yeah, we're different now, but we still know who the Queen is."
The Look: Punk Wings and Plaid
The outfit was... a choice. It wasn't your typical sparkly lingerie. Adriana closed the "Modern Heritage" segment of the show, which had this weirdly cool, edgy vibe.
She wore a black lace-and-strap set that looked like a high-fashion spiderweb. But the real talk of the night was the pink iridescent wings. They didn't look like feathers; they looked like jagged, shredded glass or butterfly wings that had seen a few fights. She paired this with plaid, punk-style sleeves and leggings.
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The Walk That Stopped Everything
- The Entrance: She came out right after the "Modern Heritage" segment built to a crescendo.
- The Gesture: In a callback to her 2018 exit, she made a heart with her hands.
- The Music: She strutted while the crowd was still buzzing from performances by Lisa and Tyla.
It’s worth noting that Adriana admitteed to E! News that she had major jitters. She couldn't sleep the night before. Imagine being a literal legend and still getting "camera-mapping" anxiety. She said she was visualizing exactly where every lens was on that runway while she was lying in bed. That’s the difference between a "model" and a "supermodel."
Addressing the Critics
It hasn't all been heart emojis, though. If you spend five minutes on social media, you’ll see the "unrecognizable" comments.
Last year, after a red carpet appearance for The Hunger Games, trolls went after her for looking "different." Adriana shut that down pretty fast on Instagram, posting a raw, no-makeup photo with the caption: "The face of a tired mom of one teenage girl, two pre-teens, one active boy."
By the time the Adriana Lima Victoria Secret 2024 show rolled around, she looked like she had found her stride again. She looked strong. She looked like a woman who has had five kids and still owns a room. The fashion industry is notoriously brutal to women over 30, so seeing a 43-year-old mother of five headline the biggest lingerie show on earth is actually a pretty big deal for representation, even if it’s wrapped in lace and glitter.
What Most People Got Wrong About Her "Retirement"
People keep calling this a "return from retirement," but Adriana never actually stopped working. She walked for Alexander Wang while pregnant in 2022. She’s been the face of high-end campaigns.
The "retirement" was specifically from the Victoria's Secret runway. Her return signals a new type of contract—one where the "Angels" aren't just 19-year-old girls, but established icons who bring their own brand equity to the table.
Who Else Was There?
Lima wasn't the only ghost of Christmas past. The 2024 lineup was a mix of the old guard and the new era:
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- Tyra Banks: Returning after 20 years to close the show.
- Kate Moss: Making her actual debut (crazy, right?).
- Gigi and Bella Hadid: The current royalty.
- Candice Swanepoel: The other "forever Angel."
The Actionable Takeaway for Fashion Fans
If you’re looking to channel that Lima energy or just want to keep up with the new era of the brand, here is what you need to do:
- Watch the Full Segment: Don't just watch the 10-second TikTok clips. The "Modern Heritage" segment shows the full choreography and how the brand is trying to mix "edgy" with "classic."
- Check the Tech: The 2024 show used a "see now, buy now" model. You can actually find the "Shine Triangle Bralette" and the lacy red apron set she wore in her second look online right now.
- Follow the Evolution: This wasn't a one-off. Rumors are already swirling about the 2025 show. Follow Adriana’s personal social media—she’s been much more vocal lately about her training and her "family reunion" vibes with the other models.
The Adriana Lima Victoria Secret 2024 moment proved that legacy matters. In a world of fast fashion and fleeting influencers, there is still a massive appetite for the people who built the industry. She came "home," she wore the wings, and honestly? She looked like she never left.
To stay updated on future runway appearances, you can set alerts for the Victoria's Secret "VS Insider" or follow the official show photographers like Dimitrios Kambouris, who always catch the best behind-the-scenes shots of the veterans.