Who was Victoria’s Secret’s first Black model to become an Angel?

Tyra Banks was Victoria’s Secret’s first Black model to become an Angel.

Banks joined the brand’s highly visible group of contracted spokesmodels during the 1990s and became one of its best-known Angels. Her work with Victoria’s Secret included runway appearances, catalog photography, and major advertising campaigns.

Her association with the company helped make her a familiar face of the brand during the period when Victoria’s Secret was expanding its national television and catalog presence. Banks was also among the first Black models to receive sustained prominence in the company’s marketing.

The wording matters because being a Victoria’s Secret runway model was not always the same as being formally identified as an Angel. The Angel title referred to the brand’s selected group of principal spokesmodels. Banks later moved beyond modeling into television production, hosting, and business.