Victoria’s Secret Newbies Share What It’s Like to Make the Cut

The castings for this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show wrapped up in New York earlier this week, and the list of newbies who will walk alongside the Angels is coming in. “I lost my mind, but in a good way!” admits Amilna Estevão, who was moved to tears upon hearing she’d been confirmed. A seasoned runway star who has worked with everyone from Tom Ford to Topshop, Estevão still felt a sense of shock upon discovering she’d been selected. “I was surprised because the VS team planned my reveal very well. There are no words to describe how much that meant to me!”

It’s a sentiment echoed by the majority of new beauties. Though they’ve experienced the rigors of fashion month and are used to the cycle of castings, getting the Victoria’s Secret results is a pinch-me moment no matter how familiar they are with the process. “This year was my second time casting, so I knew what to expect but that doesn’t help with the nerves,” admits Roosmarijn de Kok, a lithe Dutch beauty who has been modeling for Victoria’s Secret’s sister label, Pink. “I couldn’t believe it and still can’t. I just started crying [when I was confirmed]. It’s such a buildup toward the casting and then when you find out you actually made it, you’re just in shock.”