Model Slams VS Show Casting Choices

The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show made headlines for several historic moments, including WNBA star Angel Reese becoming the first professional athlete to grace the runway. Alongside Reese, Olympic gymnast Suni Lee and influencer Quenlin Blackwell also made their VS runway debuts. While many celebrated these diverse casting choices, not everyone was impressed.

Enter Avary Hutzelman, a professional model with nearly four years of experience, including two New York Fashion Week appearances. She’s now speaking out, taking to TikTok to voice her strong criticism of Victoria’s Secret officials for what she perceives as a disregard for traditional modeling credentials.

A Model’s Frustration

Hutzelman expressed her disappointment, questioning the casting decisions that favored celebrities and athletes over aspiring models. She argued that just because someone is attractive doesn’t automatically qualify them for a runway like Victoria’s Secret, which she considers the ‘Super Bowl of Fashion’.

Her core argument? Fairness. Hutzelman pointed out the absurdity of expecting athletes to compete in professional championships or models to win Olympic medals. She feels the same respect should be given to the modeling profession, where dedicated individuals work tirelessly to achieve their dreams.

The Impact on Aspiring Models

Hutzelman highlighted the emotional toll this takes on models who have put in years of work, attended castings, and dreamed of becoming a Victoria’s Secret Angel. She believes their spots are being given away to influencers and athletes, diluting the significance of the runway and the industry itself.

Even with her admiration for Quenlin Blackwell’s comedic talent, Hutzelman firmly believes influencers like her shouldn’t be walking for Victoria’s Secret. She feels the industry is becoming oversaturated, and this casting choice only reinforces her feeling of being uninspired as a model.

A Call for Specialization

Hutzelman’s plea is for ‘inclusivity’ to be redefined, allowing different fields to remain distinct. She wants modeling to be recognized as its own craft, separate from celebrity status or athletic achievement. While she acknowledges the dream of walking for VS, she emphasizes that for some, it’s a career they’ve actively pursued.

She plans to release further videos discussing what she liked and disliked about the show, but her initial strong stance on the casting choices has certainly sparked a conversation about the evolving landscape of fashion and the definition of a ‘model’.