Victoria's Secret model Devon Windsor reveals exactly what it takes to land a spot in the show amid outrage over Angels being bumped for nepo babies and Kylie Jenner wearing the $50M Fantasy Bra

The Victoria's Secret show has come under fire this year for bumping a series of longstanding ambassadors – known as Angels – to make way for nepo babies and influencers. Many Angels are household names owing to their connection to the brand, but this year, the runway was missing several – with the likes of Romee Strijd and Frida Aasen sharing their heartbreak at being cut. Amid the backlash, former Angel Devon Windsor – who has not clarified why she didn't walk in the show this year – has revealed the gruelling four-day casting process that models undergo to try and land a spot in the show. In a Substack post, Devon – who has walked in six shows – explained: 'Getting cast in the show is a process of its own.''It begins with a smaller casting, usually attended by the stylist, casting director, and a representative from the Victoria’s Secret team. If you make it through that round, you’re invited back for the main casting.'The main casting takes place over two to three days, with hundreds of beautiful girls hoping to book the show. You walk in, change into a bra, underwear, and heels, and face a room full of people sitting behind a desk filled with lights and cameras.' Victoria's Secret model Devon Windsor has revealed what it takes to land a spot in the show amid outrage over Angels being bumped for nepo babies (pictured in the 2018 show) Kylie Jenner – despite having no real runway experience – appeared on the catwalk and was bestowed with the brand's highest honour – wearing the $50million Fantasy Bra.Devon, 32, continued: 'You have about 30 seconds to introduce yourself and deliver your best runway walk to hopefully book the show.'Those selected then spend days in fitting and rehearsals and learning the runway choreography before the main event. Devon also addressed the backlash over the decision to cast Kylie Jenner. Kylie – despite having no real runway experience – appeared on the catwalk and was bestowed with the brand's highest honour – wearing the $50million Fantasy Bra. It was the first time the brand put the coveted bra on its runway since 2018, and Kylie is the first non-Angel to model the famed piece of lingerie – which was made up of a $22million yellow diamond centerpiece and 4,410 other natural diamonds.Past models who have worn the iconic bra include Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Tyra Banks and Candice Swanepoel.Victoria's Secret chief creative officer Adam Selman defended the decision by claiming: 'Kylie really extends beyond fashion, beyond culture, beyond TV, beyond one singular thing. That’s the exact same thing that we do.'Yet fans were outraged by the decision to overlook the longstanding models in favour of Kylie, given her lack of modelling experience and the fact it was her first – and potentially only – time on the VS runway. Sharing her thoughts on Instagram, Devon – who watched the show from home – said she 'loved Kylie' because it was 'so fun'. She added: 'These days anybody's walking the VS runway despite your shape, size or height so why can't she do it.'Devon was referring to Victoria's Secret inclusion drive in recent years, following rumours the brand had a problematic environment.Yet that won't have brought any comfort to the Angels who were bumped from the show this year. Among the heartbroken models was Dutch model Romee, who fought back tears this week in a video revealing she'd been cut from the show for 'not being a good fit' Romee continued: 'The whole story doesn't sum up, which makes me feel even more horrible than not getting the show' (pictured on the runway in 2018) Fellow former Angel Frida Aasen, 31, later commented on her video with an update of her own, writing: I also went to the casting and it was a no. It sucks but sending you lots of love' (pictured in the 2018 show) Josephine Skriver also revealed that she'd been cut after previously walking in 10 shows. The Danish model, 33, explained: 'They are going a different direction. But know I’ll be sitting and cheering for all the amazing women on that stage' (pictured in 2024) Fans sent their love to Josephine after she revealed she had been cut from the show Among the heartbroken models was Dutch model Romee, who fought back tears this week in a video revealing she'd been cut from the show for 'not being a good fit'.The model, 31, took to TikTok on Monday to explain she had attended the casting call in New York in September but only found out a week before that she wouldn't be taking part in the Los Angeles-based show.Romee, who appeared in the brand's annual fashion show from 2014 to 2018, said in a tearful social media video: 'I went to New York to do the casting because there's a whole new team. I knew the casting director already. I knew a couple of people already from the shoot that I did with them, but, I don't know, I still had to come in...'I thought I was gonna know soon after if I was gonna do the show or not, but I didn't hear anything for weeks. And I think I was on some sort of maybe list. 'It's Monday now, the show is on Sunday, and I still haven't heard anything. So, I kept asking my agency for updates, but apparently I'm still on that maybe list. It's already five weeks after the casting. 'So it's been a little bit of a roller coaster mentally for me since I have to continue training but I'm not sure if I'm gonna do it.' 'I trained for it this summer because I had to put a bit more energy in it since I've got two kids and you know how it goes - your body needs a little bit more working out than before.'I felt like I wanted to do the show again even after kids because it felt like the right timing.'She shares two daughters with her husband Laurens van Leeuwen.Romee added in the clip: 'The show is on Sunday and they haven't cancelled, they haven't confirmed and I think it's gonna be a no. But I also keep training and continue training cause you never know, like in fashion and in modelling, it's all very last minute.'I would love to, I've done everything I could. I went to the casting, I trained, and now it's out of my hands.'In a second video a couple of hours later, Romee revealed she had found out that it was definitely a no.'It's a no, which is fine, because rejection is part of modelling, and that's totally fine,' she said.She shared that her agency said the casting director told her late last week that they 'weren't there yet' with her, and would let them know before the weekend. The show returned in 2024 but with a new woke rebrand. Yet fans slammed the new staging of the event following a six-year absence – branding it 'boring' and lacklustre Romee continued: 'The whole story doesn't sum up, which makes me feel even more horrible than not getting the show.'I don't feel supported by my agency. I don't feel like I have the straight story. Just be honest, just tell me and I can go on with my life and let it go, because it's fine. 'If it's a closed chapter, I just would love to know. And now they kept me in the dark, like, not knowing for so long that I got a lot of mental stress from it.'Either way, it's a closed chapter and it's probably gonna be a good show. I don't think I'm gonna cast anymore in the future because I don't like the way it went. 'I don't like how the whole process went. I don't like the way I was treated, and I would love to keep the positive memories, obviously.'Fellow former Angel Frida Aasen, 31, later commented on her video with an update of her own.The Norwegian model, who walked in 2017 and 2018 for the brand, wrote: 'I'm so sad you didn't get it! I also went to the casting and it was a no. It sucks but sending you lots of love.'Josephine Skriver also revealed that she'd been cut after previously walking in 10 shows. The Danish model, 33, explained: 'They are going a different direction. But know I’ll be sitting and cheering for all the amazing women on that stage.'The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show has undergone various changes in recent years, having been temporarily cancelled in 2019 after 23 years.Ed Razek, former chief marketing officer of VS's parent company, L Brands, caused a stir when he described the catwalk show as a 'fantasy', excluding transgender and plus-size models from the '42-minute entertainment special'. The show was then cancelled amid plummeting ratings and ongoing backlash over its lack of diversity. Fortune reported the decision was part of a move to 'evolve the messaging of [the company]', indicating that the over-the-top event is well on its way to becoming a relic of the past in today's #MeToo era. The show returned, however, in 2024 but with a new woke rebrand. Yet fans slammed the new staging of the event following a six-year absence – branding it 'boring' and lacklustre.Among the nepo babies on the catwalk this year was Amelia Gray the daughter of Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, and Natalia Bryant, the daughter of late NBA icon Kobe Bryant The occasion marked the first walk down the Victoria’s Secret runway for Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio, who had been the first transgender model to represent the brand in 2019.Fellow transgender model Alex Consani also took to the catwalk as the lingerie brand expanded on its efforts to be more inclusive.It was also the first show that included plus-sized models, such as Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser. Cher served as the headline performer along with Blackpink alum Lisa and rising star Tyla – making it the show's first ever all-woman musical line-up.But there was a backlash on X/Twitter, with criticisms of what were seen as toned-down production values lacking glitz and 'woke' efforts.The following year, Victoria's Secret's new CEO, Hillary Super, announced plans to return to its 'unapologetically sexy' branding.Hillary said her predecessors had allowed the brand to become 'watered down', and that many decisions were made 'out of fear' after the company moved away from their sexualised branding and more toward comfort following a wave of backlash. The brand's seductive lingerie was replaced with products with more coverage and plain designs, as well as a heavier focus on athleisure wear and comfortable pajamas. This year, the show continued to embrace diversity on the runway but with the sexiness brought back that fans had been missing. The only people to cause a stir on the catwalk were the non-model – Kylie - and the abundance of nepo babies. Among them was Amelia Gray, 25, the daughter of Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, and Natalia Bryant, the daughter of late NBA icon Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant. Who didn't return to the Victoria’s Secret runway this year? Gisele - although she did film a video to be played at the showFrida Aasen Karlie KlossJosephine Skriver Lily Aldridge Stella Maxwell Martha Hunt Dilone Lais Ribeiro Georgia Fowler Alexina Graham Romee Strijd Cara DelevingneWinnie Harlow Kendall Jenner Taylor Hill Miranda Kerr Devon Windsor Leomie Anderson Nadine Leopold Lorena Rae Jones