If Not Romee Strijd, Then Who Is Walking In The 2026 Victoria’s Secret Runway Show? 

There’s a good chance you’ll never see former Victoria’s Secret Angel Romee Strijd on the brand’s famous runway again. The 31-year-old Dutch model shared in a TikTok this week that she wasn’t chosen for this year’s show, and after how she says she was treated, she likely won’t audition in the future.

In the face-to-camera clip, Strijd shared that she trained intensely over the US summer to prepare for this year’s show, which will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 18 evening (Monday, October 19 morning here in Australia) and will be live-streamed on Victoria’s Secret’s YouTube channel, Instagram and TikTok.

Now a mum to two, Strijd had walked in the Victoria’s Secret shows from 2014 to 2018. But after attending casting calls in September, she was left in the dark for weeks, with no clear update from casting or her agency at IMG Models for weeks.

“I thought I was gonna know soon after [the casting] if I was gonna do the show or not, but I didn’t hear anything for weeks,” she said. “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.”

She continued: “It’s already five weeks after the casting. So it’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster mentally for me since I had to continue training but I’m not sure if I’m gonna do it. With kids around and my life now, it’s a bit harder to find the time. I’ve put a lot of time and energy towards it.”

In a follow-up TikTok clip, Strijd confirmed she hadn’t made the cut. While she acknowledged rejection is a part of modelling, she said her she was told by her agency, “They thought you wouldn’t fit in the show this year”.

“The whole story doesn’t sum up, which makes me feel even [more] horrible than not getting the show,” she said. “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. And now they kept me in the dark, like, not knowing for so long that I got a lot of mental stress from it.”

She finished: “Either way, it’s a closed chapter […] 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, and I don’t like the way I was treated.”

Fellow former Angel Frida Aasen, who walked in the 2017 and 2018 shows, commented on the TikTok, saying: “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.”

The Victoria’s Secret show, which at its peak in 2001 had millions watching, is no stranger to controversy. The show was cancelled in 2019, due to declining TV ratings and brand controversies, but came back as an event in 2023, in partnership with Amazon Prime Video, and as a runway show in 2024.

The brand also retired its Angels in 2021, but this year, launched a YouTube docuseries called Angels Among Us, which will see more than 100,000 applicants be narrowed down to one woman who will walk in the show this Sunday.

On this year’s line-up choices – and omissions – The Daily Beast found one Reddit user to have commented: “Seems like they’re more focusing on early 20s TikTok stars, influencers and models that are very big on social media now.”

Every Confirmed Victoria’s Secret 2026 Model, So Far

This year’s line-up includes Amelia Gray, the daughter of Harry Hamlin and Lissa Rinna. Iris Law, daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost, and Lila Moss, Kate Moss’ daughter, both walked in last year’s show. And Kendall Jenner, Kris Jenner’s daughter, and Yolanda Hadid’s daughters Gigi and Bella are all show staples.

So, who else is confirmed for this year? Here’s who we know so far: Amelia Gray, Ashley Graham, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Elsa Hosk, Precious Lee, Grace Elizabeth, Liu Wen, Joan Smalls, Devyn Garcia, Imaan Hammam, Anok Yai, Abby Champion, Alex Consani, Paolma Elsesser, Gabriela Moura, Yoon Young Bae and Jordan Leftwich.