The Victoria’s Secret ‘look’ may have long been synonymous with voluminous, wavy and I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-but-I-still-look-sexy hair. However, this year’s show — which took place in Paris on Wednesday and included Gigi and Bella Hadid, Adriana Lima and Kendall Jenner — was different.
Three models wore their natural, short hairstyles as they walked down the catwalk, rather than the extensions the brand has ordinarily favored. Maria Borges — who made headlines in 2015 for wearing her hair as she pleased, was joined by Jourdana Phillips and Herieth Paul.
Prior to the show on Wednesday, Paul posted an Instagram shot of her posing with Borges and Phillips backstage. “Our singing group is called the #buzzcutAngels #vsfashionshow #vsfs2016 #melanin,” she captioned it.
Borges described hitting the runway with her natural curls as a “big opportunity”. “I’ve met so many other girls who think it’s scary, or if they change their hair, they won’t feel beautiful anymore,” she told Glamour. “So I said, you know what, I want to show women that anything’s possible. You can still look beautiful with short hair.”
Sarah Potemp, the show’s lead hairstylist, told the magazine that for the show her team was “focusing on enhancing everyone’s natural beauty.” “Instead of giving models the same long waves, we’re playing up their natural length and texture,” she said. “We’re finding their natural parts and then Beachwaving it all away from their face, teasing the roots and letting them flip their hair back and forth to give it more volume. Whichever way it falls best is how we’re going to have them wear it.”
The Victoria’s Secret show airs at 10 p.m. EST on CBS, on Dec. 5.
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Write to Kate Samuelson at kate.samuelson@time.com