What a difference a decade or two DOESN’T make! Victoria’s Secret angels who made their debut for the lingerie brand as far back as 1999 are amazingly still wrinkle-free

It appears modelling at the Victoria’s Secret show is no longer just a young woman’s game, with a host of familiar faces, aged in their 30s and 40s, returning to the catwalk on Sunday night. 

Supermodel Adriana Lima, 45, who made her debut at the VS show back in 1999 strutted her stuff alongside Irina Shayk, 40, a decade after her first appearance in 2016.

Brazilian model Caroline Trentini, 39, wasn’t afraid to flash the flesh at last night’s show in California, after first appearing at the occasion in 2005, while Puerto Rican star Joan Smalls, 38, was another near 40-year-old reappearing at the fashion event.

Some of the more mature models revisiting the stage for the American lingerie brand looked remarkably ageless and wrinkle-free.

Smita Ahluwalia, clinical facialist, told The Daily Mail: ‘Some of these models have definitely had some work done. They have sharper jawlines, raised eyebrows, fuller cheeks and very glass like skin.

‘Botox I’d say on their foreheads, softening frown lines and lifting brows, fillers to add volume to the cheek bones and can be added wherever the model wants to fill out.

‘Filler can be used to straighten a bump in the nose too. Lip filler can be used to make lips fuller and give proportion to the chin.

‘They may even have had surgery around the eyes to raise brows or remove puffiness. For the smooth skin appearance, it could’ve been achieved with skin boosters, skin peels and facials.’

Read on to discover just how different those in the know think the models look… and what work they think they’ve had done to achieve these youthful complexions…  

CAROLINE TRENTINI, 39

Dr Ross Perry, the medical director of Cosmedics, some of the models look ‘remarkably different’ from their Victoria’s Secret Show debuts, compared to their returns on Sunday night. 

‘Caroline looks remarkably different from when she first walked for Victoria’s Secret,’ Dr Perry said. ‘Her figure appears slimmer, while changes to her skin tone and hair colour give her a more polished look and make a considerable difference to her overall appearance.

‘Facially, her lips look much fuller today, so I suspect she’s had a small amount of filler placed in them, and her skin appears exceptionally smooth, with very few visible signs of ageing, again likely Botox around the eyes and forehead. 

‘Equally a good skin care regime, possibly lasers and keeping out of the sun have attributed to Caroline looking so good.’

The Brazilian supermodel, who first appeared on a Victoria’s Secret runway in 2005, has never confirmed having any plastic surgery, and instead, she has credited her glass-like skin to a good skincare regime.

JOAN SMALLS, 38

‘Joan Smalls has probably aged the best out of all of the models, you can barely tell the two images apart,’ explained the expert. ‘She has clearly been blessed with good genetics and amazing skin. 

‘She has a naturally svelte build so again her weight has remained consistent over the years. Other than following a healthy lifestyle and a good skin care regime, I’d likely suggest she’s had very little work, other than perhaps non invasive skin boosters and possibly a sprinkling of Botox.’

Professor Ali Al-Hussaini, a facial plastic surgeon and managing director of Elevate Medical & Aesthetic Clinic, agreed, adding: ‘Her skin looks beautifully smooth, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s had some subtle Botox and collagen-stimulating treatments to keep it looking youthful.’

Joan, who made her debut at a VS show in 2011, has never confirmed she’s had plastic surgery, instead attributing her radiant complexion to a simple beauty regime and clever makeup tricks, including contouring, or like she apparently calls it, ‘sculpting’.

IRINA SHAYK, 40

Dr Farah Latif, physician and medical director at Elevate Medical & Aesthetic Clinic, said: ‘Irina Shayk has always had one of the most striking faces in modelling, and she looks just as beautiful today. 

‘Her cheekbones remain incredibly prominent, and she’s maintained that sculpted appearance without losing her natural features. 

‘It’s possible that subtle Botox and skin treatments have helped keep her complexion looking so smooth, while treatments such as micro needling can help improve mild skin laxity and support facial definition as we age. 

‘Irina also has a naturally athletic figure, and maintaining that level of fitness takes consistency. Her appearance is a good example of how genetics, lifestyle and potentially subtle treatments can work together.’

Irina has consistently denied undergoing plastic surgery, and in 2019, the Russian model hit back at rumours that she’d had lip fillers.

She told Harper’s Bazaar: ‘Look, if somebody wants to inject their lips because they feel bad, God bless them. I don’t judge anyone.

‘I always promote natural beauty because I think we live in this perfect world where everyone wants to be perfect. But I’m not perfect. Sometimes I have a double chin. Perfection doesn’t exist.’

She added: ‘I’m going to have wrinkles and I have wrinkles. You just have to accept the idea of aging and of bodies at every stage, and just celebrate it. In life, we have to let it go and understand it’s a human process not to be perfect.’

She credited her looks to genes, gua sha-inspired facial workouts at FaceGym, and avoiding alcohol and smoking. 

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing method in which a smooth-edged tool is used to gently scrape areas of the skin to improve circulation.

In 2015, a year before her Victoria’s Secret show debut, Irina told The Telegraph: ‘I don’t believe in plastic surgery. I believe women have to love their bodies, and that it’s all about confidence.’

ADRIANA LIMA, 45

‘Adriana Lima has always had incredible bone structure, and that’s something that really contributes to her youthful appearance,’ insisted Fadi Hamadani, international plastic surgeon.

‘Her cheekbones and facial features remain beautifully defined, and she’s aged extremely well. 

‘It’s possible that subtle filler and Botox have helped maintain that smooth, lifted appearance, alongside regular skin treatments such as chemical peels and collagen-stimulating treatments. 

‘Her body is also in incredible shape, and she’s well known for her dedication to fitness. She still looks recognisably Adriana, even after decades on the runway.’

Fans have previously speculated that Adriana, who has not confirmed any plastic surgery, tweaked her face in 2023, after she had just given birth to her third child.

However, the Brazilian model responded with a makeup free selfie on her social media, with the caption: ‘The face of a tired mum of one teenage girl, two pre-teens, one active boy, a one-year old learning to walk, and three dogs… thanks for your concern.’ 

She is also stepmother to her husband film producer Andre Lemmers’ two children from a previous relationship.

ELSA HOSK, 37

Dr Perry said: ‘Elsa Hosk looks very different in 2026 compared to 2011. Firstly, we’re seeing a very different nose so I suspect she’s undergone a nose job here.

‘Equally we’re seeing a much fuller-looking mouth which I suspect has been achieved with filler. 

‘The eye area also looks very different so again possibly upper and lower blepharoplasty (a cosmetic procedure that removes excess skin or fat from the eyelids to improve their appearance).

Swedish fashion model Elsa, 37, has not officially confirmed undergoing any plastic surgery. 

BARBARA PALVIN, 33

‘Barbara Palvin looks a lot different,’ insisted Dr Perry when comparing her catwalk appearance on Sunday night to her debut in 2012.

He added: ‘She originally epitomised the all-American girl-next-door in terms of looks and was incredibly natural. 

‘Today we’re seeing a much more chiselled and defined facial appearance. A possible nose job, fuller lips, higher cheekbones and a more defined chin. 

‘She still looks incredible, but there’s very likely been some carefully placed filler going on, a possible eyebrow lift and upper blepharoplasty to open up the eyes.’

The Hungarian model, 33, who is married to American actor Dylan Sprouse, has never confirmed she’s undergone any kind of cosmetic surgery.

She hit the runway last night just six weeks after giving birth, insisting her body ‘bounced back really quickly’ thanks to an organic food diet and breastfeeding.

GRACE ELIZABETH, 29

‘Grace Elizabeth has a beautiful, naturally youthful appearance, and her skin looks incredibly healthy and radiant,’ said Anastasia Coles, aesthetic nurse and founder of ALTA Medi Clinic.

‘At her age of 29, the focus is generally more on maintaining skin quality than correcting significant signs of ageing. 

‘Treatments such as microneedling, skin boosters and gentle chemical peels can help maintain smooth texture and hydration, while subtle Botox may be considered for early expression lines. 

‘She’s also retained her natural facial fullness, which contributes to that youthful look. With someone like Grace, the key is not to do too much too soon, particularly when her natural features are already so beautifully balanced.’

Grace Elizabeth credits her looks to skincare and naturally ageing, rather than plastic surgery. 

ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO, 45

‘Alessandra Ambrosio is one of the original Victoria’s Secret icons, and she looks remarkably youthful more than two decades later,’ said aesthetic nurse Anastasia.

‘Her skin appears incredibly smooth, particularly around the forehead and eyes, and it’s possible that subtle Botox and collagen-stimulating treatments have helped maintain that appearance. 

‘She’s also spoken about Pilates, yoga and looking after her diet, which likely contributes to her beautifully toned figure. 

‘Treatments such as skin boosters or laser rejuvenation could help maintain skin quality, but what makes Alessandra so striking is that she’s retained those recognisable features that made her famous. 

‘She looks like a beautifully maintained version of herself rather than someone who’s tried to completely change her appearance.’

Alessandra, who made her Victoria’s Secret show debut in 2000, has in the past told of how she is ‘freaked out’ by cosmetic surgery after a botched ear pinning procedure left her in severe pain at the age of 11. 

In December 2013, she revealed to Net-A-Porter’s The Edit that she went under the knife because she didn’t like the way her ears ‘stuck out’. 

However, the doctor who she found in her hometown in Erechim, Brazil, had only carried out the surgery once before and the second attempt did not go as planned.

‘I was a guinea pig. The first few nights, it felt like someone had cut off my ears,’ she recalled.

GIGI HADID, 31

‘Gigi Hadid looks absolutely stunning, and she’s maintained those beautiful, naturally full cheeks and soft facial features that have always made her so recognisable,’ said Anastasia, when comparing the model’s 2015 catwalk look to her 2026 outing.

‘Although she’s previously denied having filler, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s had some subtle Botox over the years to keep fine lines at bay. 

‘Carefully placed filler is another treatment that can help maintain facial volume, although there’s no way to tell from photographs whether she’s had it. 

‘Her skin looks incredibly smooth and radiant, and she still has that youthful, natural beauty without looking dramatically different from her earlier modelling days.’

In 2021, Gigi fired back at rumors that she has had plastic surgery, insisting that any changes to her appearance over the last few years are the result of advanced makeup skills – not filler or cosmetic procedures. 

She addressed the speculation in a Vogue Beauty Secrets clip, saying that she has ‘never’ undergone any cosmetic procedures to change her appearance.

‘People pull up pictures [of me in high school] and they’re like, “Oh, Gigi’s nose looks different in these pictures than now.” Or they’ll talk about something with my face and be like, “It’s changed on Gigi.”

‘…That’s the power of makeup. I’ve never done anything to my face, but the way that I’ve learned to contour in certain places, to put bronzer in some places and leave it out in other places, that’s something that you have to learn. I [used to] just put it everywhere. And then [your face] is just all one shape!’