Paris changed everything. When the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show touched down at the Grand Palais, it felt like the brand was invincible. Looking back from 2026, it’s easy to see that November night as the shimmering climax of an era that was about to crumble. But at the time? It was pure, unadulterated spectacle.
The energy was different. You had Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and The Weeknd providing a live soundtrack that actually mattered. You had the Hadid sisters—Bella and Gigi—marking the first time two sisters walked the show together. It was a massive, expensive, $20 million production that proved VS still held the keys to the kingdom of pop culture.
Honestly, it’s wild to think about how much has shifted since then.
The Logistics of a $20 Million French Takeover
Taking the show to Paris wasn't just a creative choice; it was a logistical nightmare that turned into a PR goldmine. The brand chartered a "Victoria’s Secret" branded private jet, packed it with 51 of the world’s most famous models, and flew them straight into the heart of France.
Security was incredibly tight. Remember, this was only a year after the Paris attacks and just months after Kim Kardashian’s high-profile robbery in the same city. The Grand Palais was turned into a literal fortress.
Inside, the production was staggering. We're talking about a runway that seemed to go on forever, illuminated by thousands of lights that made the models' skin look like it was made of literal silk. The 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show wasn't just a catwalk; it was a filmed television event designed to be consumed by millions of people in 190 countries.
The Casting That Defined the "Instagram Model" Era
This was the year the "Social Media Model" officially defeated the traditional "Catalogue Model." While veterans like Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio were still the backbone—Adriana opened the "Secret Angel" segment with her usual ferocious intensity—the gravity had shifted toward the girls with the biggest follower counts.
Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid returned for their second year, but the real story was Bella Hadid’s debut.
The internet went into a total meltdown over Bella walking past her ex-boyfriend, The Weeknd, while he performed "Starboy." It was one of those rare, genuinely "unscripted" moments in a show that is usually choreographed to the millimeter. The look they exchanged—part "I’m doing great" and part "this is awkward"—was the meme of the year.
Breaking Down the 2016 Segments
The show was split into six distinct thematic sections. It’s worth looking at how they structured these, because it shows exactly how VS was trying to appeal to every possible demographic at once.
- The Road Ahead: This was the opener. It was a colorful, multicultural explosion of embroidery and textiles from around the world. Elsa Hosk famously wore a massive dragon wrapped around her body. It was vibrant, but it also sparked some of the early conversations about cultural appropriation that would eventually plague the brand.
- Secret Angel: Think black-and-white cinema. It was moody, inspired by 1920s starlets. This is where the lace and the trench coats came out.
- Moutain Romance: This was the "cozy" segment. It featured floral prints and wings that looked like giant snowflakes or feathers.
- PINK: The neon, youth-focused segment. Grace Elizabeth stood out here as the new face of the sub-brand.
- Dark Angel: Gothic, edgy, and lots of black latex and lace.
- Bright Night Angel: The finale. This was all about crystals, sequins, and the $3 million Fantasy Bra.
Jasmine Tookes and the $3 Million "Bright Night" Fantasy Bra
One of the most significant moments of the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was Jasmine Tookes wearing the Fantasy Bra. Designed by Eddie Borgo, it was covered in 9,000 precious gemstones, including diamonds and emeralds set in 18-karat gold.
But the real "win" wasn't just the jewelry.
When the promotional photos for the bra were released, the brand did something they almost never did: they didn't airbrush Jasmine’s stretch marks. It was a tiny moment of realism in a brand built on fantasy, and it was probably the most praised thing VS did that entire year. It felt like a nod to a more inclusive future, even if the runway itself was still sticking to a very specific, very narrow body type.
Why Lady Gaga Stole the Whole Show
Usually, the musical guests are background noise for the wings. Not Gaga.
She treated that runway like it was her own stadium tour. Performing a medley from Joanne, she actually wore her own set of wings during "John Wayne." She was taller than some of the models because of her signature sky-high platform boots.
There’s a legendary clip of her backstage, singing "Million Reasons" with the models. It’s a raw, human moment in the middle of a massive corporate machine. It gave the show a soul that it arguably lacked in its later years.
The Beginning of the End?
If you look closely at the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, you can see the cracks starting to form.
Ratings were still high, with about 6.7 million viewers, but that was a sharp drop from the 9-10 million they used to pull in during the early 2010s. People were starting to wake up. The lack of body diversity was becoming a sticking point. While Savage X Fenty didn't exist yet (Rihanna wouldn't launch that for another two years), the cultural conversation was shifting toward "Who is this for?"
The show was a celebration of a very specific type of femininity that was increasingly out of touch with what women actually wanted. We didn't know it then, but there would only be two more traditional shows after Paris before the whole thing was cancelled in 2019.
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The Legacy of the Paris Runway
So, why do we still talk about the 2016 show?
It was the last time the "Magic" worked perfectly. The combination of the Paris backdrop, the peak of the Hadid/Jenner fame cycle, and a soundtrack that actually slapped created a perfect storm. It was the "Old Guard" of Adriana and Alessandra passing the torch to the "New Guard," even if that torch was about to be extinguished.
If you’re looking to capture some of that 2016 energy today—whether for a photoshoot or just a nostalgic style vibe—there are a few takeaways.
How to Channel the 2016 Aesthetic
- High-Low Texture: The "Mountain Romance" segment was a masterclass in mixing delicate lace with heavy textures. Think silk slips paired with oversized, chunky knits.
- Dewy, Not Glittery: 2016 was the year VS moved away from heavy body glitter toward a "lit-from-within" glow. Makeup artist Tom Pecheux used layers of cream highlighter rather than powders.
- The "Power" Hair: This wasn't the tight "pageant curls" of the 2000s. It was the "Rich Girl Hair"—sleek at the roots with a messy, textured wave through the ends.
The 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show remains a time capsule. It was a moment of peak excess before the world demanded more substance. It was beautiful, it was flawed, and it was undeniably the end of an era.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
If you're researching the evolution of fashion media, compare the 2016 Paris show's photography with the 2024 "World Tour" reboot. Note the shift from high-contrast stage lighting to naturalistic, cinematic framing. You can also track the career trajectories of the 2016 "New Faces" like Taylor Hill and Romee Strijd to see how they successfully transitioned from "Angels" to independent fashion moguls in the post-VS landscape.