Honestly, if you were online in 2014, you couldn't escape it. That one photo. You know the one—Ariana Grande, hunched over, face pulled into a look of pure, unadulterated terror while a giant pair of fuzzy pink wings threatens to take her out. It’s one of the most enduring memes in pop culture history. But beyond the viral moment, the relationship between Ariana Grande and Victoria's Secret was actually a massive turning point for her career.
It was December in London. Earls Court. The air was probably thick with hairspray and expensive perfume. Ariana was 21, still relatively fresh off her Nickelodeon days, and she was stepping onto a stage that was, at the time, the absolute pinnacle of "making it" in the industry. She wasn't just a guest; she was the energy.
The Performance Everyone Remembers (For Better or Worse)
Ariana didn't just stand there and sing. She performed a high-octane medley that basically defined the radio in 2014. We're talking "Love Me Harder," "Bang Bang," "Break Free," and "Problem." If you close your eyes, you can probably still hear the brass intro to "Problem" playing in a mall somewhere.
She was wearing this sparkly black sequined bustier and high-waisted hot pants, topped off with her signature high ponytail. She looked like a "University of PINK" cheerleader, which was fitting because she performed during that specific segment of the show. While Taylor Swift—who was also performing that year—went for a more ethereal, "I'm one of the models" vibe, Ariana felt like the cool younger sister who was there to throw a party.
Then came the wing.
The model was Elsa Hosk. She was strutting down the catwalk, doing her job, lookin’ incredible. But those wings are huge. Like, seriously cumbersome. As Elsa turned, a wing clipped Ariana right in the back of the head. The camera caught the exact second Ariana ducked for cover.
Most people would’ve crumbled. Ariana? She made a joke out of it. She tweeted later that night: "A Victoria's Secret angel accidentally smacked me in the face with her wings and it was awesome #goals #bangbangintomyface." That's how you handle a PR nightmare—you own it before the internet can mock you for it.
Why the 2014 Show Was Different
The 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was a weirdly pivotal moment for the brand. It was the first time they'd moved the production to London. It felt like they were trying to go global in a way they hadn't before. Having Ariana there was a tactical move. They needed the "Arianators." They needed that younger, "PINK" demographic to stay glued to the screen.
- The Setlist: A mashup of four massive hits.
- The Vibe: High energy, backup dancers in white tracksuits, and lots of interaction with the models.
- The Competition: Sharing a stage with Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran is no small feat, but Ariana held her own.
Interestingly, many fans noted that this was the most "relaxed" Ariana had looked on stage up to that point. Before this, she’d been criticized for being a bit stiff or nervous during live TV performances (like the VMAs). Something about being surrounded by giant wings and glitter seemed to take the pressure off.
Beyond the Meme: The PINK Connection
It’s easy to forget that the Ariana Grande and Victoria's Secret crossover wasn't just about one night in London. Ariana was the unofficial face of the "PINK" lifestyle for that entire era.
Victoria's Secret PINK was always the more "approachable" younger sibling of the main brand. It was all about dorm life, collegiate aesthetics, and neon colors. Ariana’s brand at the time—the cat ears, the skirts, the playful-but-polished pop—was the perfect match. She didn't have a formal "collaboration" line like celebrities do now with fast-fashion brands, but the synergy was undeniable. Every time she wore a PINK-style oversized hoodie or a sparkly bra top, sales for those specific items would skyrocket.
The Shift in Culture
Looking back from 2026, that era feels like a lifetime ago. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show eventually went on a long hiatus starting in 2019, following years of declining ratings and heavy criticism regarding diversity and beauty standards. When Ariana performed, the show was still "the" event of the season.
There's a bit of irony here. Ariana has since transitioned into a much more mature, artistic space—think eternal sunshine and her role as Glinda in Wicked. She’s moved away from the "pop princess" tropes that Victoria's Secret capitalized on. Meanwhile, the brand itself has spent the last few years trying to reinvent itself to be more inclusive, moving away from the "Angel" concept that nearly took Ariana’s head off.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think the "wing incident" was staged for publicity. Honestly? Look at the footage. You can't fake that level of "I am about to be decapitated by feathers" fear.
Another misconception is that there was drama between Ariana and the models. People love to pit women against each other, especially when one is 5'0" and the others are 5'10" in heels. But the behind-the-scenes footage actually showed Ariana laughing with Karlie Kloss and Behati Prinsloo. She was a fan of the show long before she was on it.
Lessons from the Runway
If you're a creator or a performer, there's actually a lot to learn from how Ariana handled that night.
- Recovery is everything. She didn't miss a note when she got hit. Professionalism isn't about not making mistakes; it's about how you act after they happen.
- Visuals matter. The black-on-black outfit against the neon PINK backdrop made her pop. She didn't try to blend in with the models; she stood out as the "star."
- Lean into the meme. By tweeting the photo herself, she controlled the narrative. She turned an embarrassing moment into a "relatable" one.
The 2014 show remains a time capsule. It represents the peak of 2010s "Tumblr-era" pop culture. It was the year of the ponytail, the year of the wing, and the year Ariana Grande proved she could command a room full of the world's most famous supermodels without losing her cool.
If you want to dive deeper into the fashion history of this era, go back and watch the "University of PINK" segment. It's a masterclass in branding. You can also check out Ariana's live vocals from that night—they're surprisingly raw and impressive for a runway show, where most artists tend to rely heavily on backing tracks. Take a look at the "Bang Bang" performance specifically; the energy is genuinely infectious.
🔗 Read more: The Diddy Bed in Back Yard Footage and What It Actually Means for the Case
Next Steps for You
- Watch the raw footage: Look for the unedited 2014 performance to see the wing hit in real-time—it’s much faster than the memes suggest.
- Check the setlist: Listen to the My Everything album to understand why these specific songs were chosen for the VS runway vibe.
- Compare eras: Contrast this performance with her 2024/2025 live sets to see how much her stage presence and vocal control have evolved since the "Angel" days.