Fun & Famous

A SECOND VICTORIA'S SECRET MODEL SPEAKS OUT

“There is so much pressure on us”

I often look at Victoria's Secret Angels as if they are extraterrestrial beings. Aliens almost, who sooner or later have babies and magically strut down the catwalk slim again after ten weeks. Women with perfectly sculpted bodies and a rare DNA, who train smiling deep into the night to sweat off those pregnancy pounds. Meanwhile, they post selfies on Instagram to let everyone know ‘how much fun it is’ to #TrainLikeAnAngel.

Honestly, I often miss a lot of humanity in these models. And that's why I now take a deep bow for Alessandra Ambrosio. Because Alessandra is refreshingly honest in an interview with the The Cut . Instead of the standard model answer “I just really love to exercise,” followed by the almost always false “But I do eat fries sometimes,” Alessandra tells how it really is.

“I was allowed a maximum of 1200 calories a day and hated it”

“After giving birth to my daughter Anja in 2008, I had only 12 weeks to get back in shape. I was on a 1200 calorie max diet where the food was delivered to me. Honestly, I hated it. I could never do that again.”

The fact that the most famous lingerie show in the world is watched by about 6.6 million people in America alone, according to Alessandra, also creates extra pressure. “There is so much pressure on all of us, not just in terms of shape, but all energy is drained from you before and during the show. Afterwards, I prefer to dance. And yes, there is also pizza and drinks, but I don't even care that much. It's more about the feeling of being free. The feeling of being able to live young and carefree.”

“During my last two shows, I was told that I was too fat”

Now it is quite remarkable that a Victoria's Secret model speaks so publicly about the strict regime. Because you don't dirty your own nest, of course. It is particularly striking that Alessandra does this a week after ex-colleague Erin Heatherton spoke out to The Times about the pressure the lingerie brand exerts on its models. I quote: “During my last two shows, I was told that I was too fat. On some days, I came home after a workout and thought: maybe I should just stop eating altogether.” Followed by: “I didn't want to flaunt my body anymore and pretend for all the women who looked up to us that this life is the most normal thing in the world, and that they can do it easily too. Then I would be lying.”

Wait a minute. Have these models, once so unattainable with their wings, floating on a cloud, finally become people of flesh, blood, feelings, and difficulties? I look forward to more of this kind of openness. And in the meantime, I am firmly convinced that life is a lot more pleasant and easier for women who just don't want to be fit girls.