This year, the Victoria's Secret fashion show, which is set to air on November 28 on CBS, had some show-stopping moments. Balmain was the chosen designer and debuted his Victoria's Secret line, making this the first ever show where some models strutted down the runway in full-length jackets. Veteran model Alessandra Ambrosio announced that this would be her very last show with Victoria's Secret and would be retiring her wings. But the the best thing about this year's show (we might be a little biased) was that this was the absolute blackest show in the history of the show's 20-year run.
Meet the 17 melanated models that stomped the runway today in Shanghai:
1.Lais Ribeiro
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Lais Ribeiro is this year's bearer of the 600 carat, $2 million dollar fantasy bra. The 27-year old Brazilian-born model is only the 4th woman of color to have such an honor.
2.Herieth Paul
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Herieth Paul is the 21-year old daughter of a diplomat and hails from Canada by way of Tanzania. The African beauty made her debut with Victoria's Secret in 2016.
3.Leila Nda
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Leila Nda is a 26-year-old Burundian beauty that also happens to speak six languages. This is her second time walking for Victoria's Secret.
4.Cindy Bruna
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23-year old Cindy Bruna was the first model of color to be the face of Prada and, in 2013, she made her debut walk for Victoria's Secret.
5.Maria Borges
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Maria Borges is the 25-year-old Angolan best known for breaking fashion barriers. She was the first ever black woman to walk for Victoria's Secret in 2013 with natural hair.
6.Alanna Arrington
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Alanna Arrington graced the VS runaway for the second time this year. At only 19 years old, this Iowa native is one of the youngest to walk in this year's show.
7.Lameka Fox
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Lameka Fox made her second walk this year with Victoria's Secret. The 19-year-old grew up in Maryland training horses with her father, who is a Standardbred horse racer.
8.Leomie Anderson
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Leomie Anderson is one of the more seasoned models this year, as this is her third year stomping the runway. She hails from London, England.
9.Zuri Tibby
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Zuri Tibby is a 22-year-old Florida native that started her career modeling for TeenVogue. This is her second time walking for VS.
10. Jasmine Tookes
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Jasmine Tookes is a 26-year-old California girl that is the daughter of celebrity stylist Carey Robinson. She draws her model inspiration from Tyra Banks.
11. Grace Bol
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Grace Bol made her debut stomp today and served up a beautiful bald head while she was at it. She was discovered at a mall in her hometown of Kansas City.
12. Alecia Morais
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Alecia Morais made her VS show debut this year. The 22-year old hails from Cape Verde.
13. Jourdana Elizabeth
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Jourdana Elizabeth is a Houston, TX native who walked her first Victoria's Secret show in 2016.
14. Aiden Curtiss
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Aiden Curtiss is multi-talented. Not only did the 19-year-old London native make her debut walk this year with Victoria's Secret, but she's also a skilled DJ and music producer.
15. Amilna Estevao
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Amilna Estevao is 18 years old and hails from Nigeria. She currently lives in New York City and hit the VS runway for the first time this year.
16. Samile Barmannelli
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Samile Barmannelli made her debut this year with Victoria's Secret. The 19-year-old Salvador native walked her first career show this year in Paris.
17. Dilone
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Dilone is the show's resident Dominican beauty. Originally from Long Island, NY, Dilone just goes by her last name (her first name is Mary) and made her VS runway debut in 2016.
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Her captivating command of the pole left many of us intrigued, perhaps even tempted, to explore pole dancing ourselves after witnessing the mesmerizing performances at Mercedes Sunday. But it wasn’t just her physical prowess that kept us hooked. Mercedes is a character of depth—empowering, complex, relatable, and deeply human.
These are qualities that Brandee embodies both on and off the screen.
(L-R) Marque Richardson and Brandee Evans on 'UnPrisoned' Season 2
Courtesy: Hulu
A Memphis native, Brandee is no stranger to dance. She boasts an impressive career as a choreographer, having worked with renowned artists like Katy Perry, Monica, Ke$ha, and Ledisi. But while it has been a significant part of her journey, Brandee has her sights set on more—expanding her acting career beyond dance-inclusive roles. This ambition nearly led her to pass on the opportunity to appear alongside Kerry Washington in Hulu’s UnPrisoned, where she plays Ava, Mal's (Marque Richardson) new girlfriend.
“When Kerry Washington slid into my DMs, I nearly said no,” Brandee revealed with a laugh. “She mentioned pole dancing, and I told myself and my team that once I was done with Mercedes, I wasn’t going to do that again.” Fortunately, Washington assured her that the role would be vastly different, leading to what Brandee described as an invaluable masterclass in comedy under the guidance of Washington herself.
“Kerry is a force of nature,” Brandee reflected. “She’s everything you’d hope she’d be—strong, compassionate, and incredibly talented. Working with her was like a masterclass in acting.” This opportunity was no mere stroke of luck; it was something Brandee had manifested years earlier. But make no mistake–she credits her faith and praying hands for her success. “I’m praying, you know what I mean? I’m asking God for what I want and working for it too,” she said.
"When Kerry Washington slid into my DMs, I nearly said no."
(L-R) Brandee Evans, Kerry Washington, and Marque Richardson on 'UnPrisoned' Season 2
Courtesy: Hulu
This role marked Brandee’s first foray into comedy, and while she was eager to embrace the challenge, she found herself in the hands of an incredible mentor. “Kerry was always so kind in her critiques,” Brandee noted. “She’s not a diva by any means. She knows exactly what she wants, but she’s gentle and encouraging in bringing it out of you. That’s something I’ve taken with me to other sets—I want to lead with the same kindness and openness that Kerry showed me. It’s a lesson I’ll carry for the rest of my life.”
Brandee speaks with profound respect and gratitude for her peers and fellow actresses as many have shown her genuine sisterhood and support in an industry often notorious for its competitiveness. “Danielle Brooks sent me a prayer the other day, and I was just so touched. Those are the moments that people don’t see,” she shared. “I call Sheryll Lee Ralph my fairy godmother, and Loretta Devine is like my auntie. Being able to pick up the phone and seek advice from these incredible women is a true blessing.”
And she pays it forward.
Brandee Evans
Courtesy: Hulu
But her commitment to supporting others extends far beyond her career. As an advocate for health and wellness, she empowers women to prioritize their well-being. “Azaria [Carter], who plays my daughter on P-Valley, mentioned wanting to start a weight loss journey and get more fit. I told her, ‘Well, let’s work out together,’” Brandee recounted. But her dedication to healthy living goes beyond physical fitness, encompassing a holistic approach to wellness. “When she came to my house and tried to microwave something in plastic, I said, ‘Let’s use glass instead. At 20, I wasn’t thinking about that, but let me share some tips now so you’re not battling fibroids in your 30s.’”
Because she was.
While filming the first season of P-Valley, Brandee faced enormous stress—not only as a caregiver for her mother, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but also due to the physical demands of the role. Yet the impact on her body was far greater than she expected. “I was literally on my cycle every day while playing a stripper, which is far from ideal,” Brandee revealed. It was Harriet D. Foy, who plays her mother, who urged her to get checked for fibroids.
"I was literally on my cycle every day while playing a stripper, which is far from ideal."
Brandee Evans graces the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Ceremony.
Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE
The statistics are staggering—80% of Black women develop abnormal uterine growths by age 50, making them more likely to suffer from fibroids than any other racial group. But like many, Brandee was initially unaware of these growths and their debilitating effects, and the prospect of surgery was daunting. “I was scheduled to have a myomectomy on my birthday, but I thought about what it would mean for my career. How am I going to climb the pole? The healing process is similar to a C-section.” Determined to avoid surgery, she committed to healing herself naturally.
After a deep dive, she sought treatment at The Herb Shop of Vinings in Atlanta, which ultimately led to a remarkable recovery. “This man saves lives. His name is Jeff, and I call him my doctor.” Brandee shared. “I started detoxing my body with herbs and following his program. During my follow-up with the gynecologist, they said, ‘We don’t know what you’re doing, but your fibroids are shrinking.’”
Emerging on the other side of this journey not only fibroid-free but with a regulated cycle and a renewed outlook on life, Brandee is now focused on sharing her story and advocating for women’s health. “I know y’all want to hear about P-Valley, but I want to talk about regulating your period,” she said with a laugh.
Of course, she didn’t leave fans hanging when it came to what to expect in the upcoming season. “It is worth the wait. The world is about to go crazy. Oh, the world is about to lose it,” Brandee teased. “Y’all might be mad at us right now, but baby, it’s going to be worth it.”
All episodes of Season 2 of UnPrisoned are now streaming on Hulu.
Featured image courtesy of Hulu
They are currently celebrating five years and partnered with Boston’s popular open-air space Seaport for a limited edition, curated box featuring rising Black entrepreneurs.
“The box kind of tells the story of different brands that have participated and have been a part of this journey of Black Owned Bos., but then also this particular activation that we've hosted with WS Development over the last five seasons,” Jae’da tells xoNecole.
Jae'da Turner
Courtesy
Jae’da’s vision of helping Black businesses came to life thanks to a tight-knit team that included relative Quontay Turner. Quontay has gone on to start her own business, Emerald City Plant Shop, which is New England’s first Black-owned plant shop, and credits Jae’da and her company for paving the way.
“I have been with Black Owned Bos. from the start. To see her business blossom and then reap the benefits of my business blossoming from it has been amazing,” Quontay says.
Quontay shares how they began working together. “So I originally was doing a market in District Hall, and kind of life took me in a different direction. Jae’da had just launched the directory, and I asked her if she was interested in potentially doing a marketplace, and I gave her all of my contacts,” she explains.
“And in the following season, the Black Owned Bos. Seaport market was born, and I was able to participate in a market without having to run it, which allowed me to really focus more on my business.”
With launching her business and assisting other small business owners, Jae’da knows what it takes to scale a business. The Boston native shares her three best tips. “Start right, so you don’t have to do it twice,” use resources such as the free resources found with the Chamber of Commerce, and build and nurture relationships with people in your city/ community.
Quontay echoes the statement about leaning on your community, especially for funding and suggests using crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe or Patronicity. As Black Owned Bos. continues to expand, Jae’da gears up for what is next.
“Next for me is really leaning into the retail side of the business and utilizing my platform in the physical space to create more retail and sales opportunities for other businesses and on a more consistent basis,” she reveals.
“So really driving home Black business in the mainstream when it when it comes to your destination for gifting, or your destination for purchasing something for clients or etc. So being that kind of destination and building that name is really one of my goals, and on the horizon for me.”
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