Tyra Banks closes the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

Tyra Banks came out of retirement on Tuesday to close out the revamped 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

After a 19-year hiatus, the 50-year-old stepped out from under the staged runway and showed off her trademark swagger – and her “smize” – in a VSX balconette catsuit, bustier and metallic cape. Unfortunately, she didn’t wear those iconic angel wings.

The “America’s Next Top Model” star and talk show host was followed by dozens of models who literally followed in her footsteps in the finale. Banks was famous for the brand first black contract and catalog cover model and appeared on nine of the primetime shows before retiring in 2005 to pursue other entertainment ventures and build her media empire.

“In case you forgot,” the former “Dancing With the Stars” host wrote on Instagram, captioning a clip of her comeback.

The annual globe-trotting show, once considered by many to be must-see television when it aired from 1995 to 2018, took a six-year hiatus after being canceled in 2019 due to a backlash against plus-size and transgender people -Models had been canceled by executives. Exclusivity and lack of body positivity. This year’s 45-minute lingerie program took place in Brooklyn at the Navy Yard’s Duggal Greenhouse and was streamed on Amazon Prime. The company called it a reflection of “who we are today, plus everything you know and love – glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment and more!”

Model Gigi Hadid, who first walked the runway in 2015, announced the return of the show with Banks back in May. This year, she opened the runway in a pink satin romper and mechanical angel wings as the words “We Are Back” glowed on the screens behind her.

Hadid was joined by her sister Bella Hadid, followed by dozens of models including well-known VS Fashion Show newbie supermodel Kate Moss, 50; former French first lady Carla Bruni, 56; Body positivity advocate Ashley Graham, 36, and trans model and influencer Alex Consani, 21. (Despite their inclusion, some critics still felt the resurrected show didn’t go far enough or only took a performative approach to inclusion.)

It was a reunion of sorts for Banks, as veteran Angels Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Behati Prinsloo, Taylor Hill, Doutzen Kroes and Jasmine Tookes – with Tookes wearing the brand’s $3 million Fantasy Bra – also over flew down the catwalk.

Music legend Cher performed her hits “Strong Enough” and “Believe” as part of the show’s all-female musical line-up, which also included K-pop star LISA and South African singer Tyla.