As we discussed yesterday, Karlie Kloss just got out of her Victoria’s Secret contract. She will no longer work the runway shows or be one of the many faces of the VS Angel line. It was said that Kloss was leaving to work elsewhere, to study at NYU and perhaps because her rich boyfriend didn’t want her with VS anymore. On the heels of Karlie’s departure, Victoria’s Secret also had to confirm that Doutzen Kroes was leaving the brand too. VS’s creative director Ed Razek posted this message on Instagram:
“After I posted the news about @karliekloss leaving VS I got a number of texts asking me why I hadn’t said anything about @doutzen leaving at the end of last year. Fair question. The simple answer is I should have. Doutzen had a lucrative opportunity in Europe and it would have conflicted with her VS obligations. So, at her agencies request, we released her from contract. There was no conflict. No animosity. None of the nonsense I’ve read on Instagram. She had a great business opportunity, and I wanted to be fair to someone I adore and respect. That’s all. I honestly believe Doutzen is one of the most stunningly beautiful people in the world. And I always will. I have told her that many times. Now you know.”
[From Instagram via E! news]
I’m kind of sad that Doutzen is leaving, just because she’s my favorite model and I love seeing her everywhere, in ad campaigns and on runways and on magazines. But considering that two of VS’s most prominent Angels left so suddenly, people are starting to wonder why. Page Six says it’s because Victoria’s Secret no longer pays their Angels very well at all:
Victoria’s Secret Angels are flying from their contracts because increasing time commitments and relatively little pay are less than heavenly, sources tell Page Six. Both Karlie Kloss and Dutch stunner Doutzen Kroes have flown the coop, and we hear more notable Angels could follow. Today’s Angels are earning far less than the top VS models of yore such as Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks, we’re told.
“The money isn’t what it used to be,” a source told Page Six. “Older contracts like Alessandra Ambrosio were in the millions, now they’re like $100,000.” Remaining Angels still include Ambrosio, Adriana Lima and Lily Aldridge.
We hear Ambrosio could be next out the door — but a source told us she’s in the middle of renegotiating her contract with VS. Money per model has shrunk as the company has hired a larger stable of Angels to walk in their splashy shows and make global appearances. “There used to be just four angels,” a source said. “Now there’s about eight.”
The ladies also have to commit 50 days a year or more to VS, which prohibits them from participating in bigger, better fashion and fragrance campaigns. The brand is also launching a Swim Special on Thursday on CBS.
Former Angel Miranda Kerr ended her contract in 2013, and a source told Page Six then that the time constraint was the issue.
They can’t do other fashion and fragrance campaigns? But Doutzen is one of the faces of Calvin Klein? Maybe that’s something she negotiated with her contract. Still, I think most models would be fine with the 50 day time commitment, but the limitations on what they can do beyond VS seem to be Draconian (in model-terms).
Here are some photos of Karlie out last night in London:
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I will never understand the big deal about being a VS model. I think their bras fall apart the third time you wash them and their ads are silly. Why is it such a status thing?
YES! + eleventy million six hundred and fifty five.
I mean, the quality is crap, the ads are ridiculous and honestly, even the designs are pretty basic. Who knows ?
Because it gets you one step closer to this:
http://assets-s3.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/articles/75654-leonardo-dicaprio-karate-skinny-jeans-yacht-pictures/1406140156_leonardo-dicaprio-lg.jpg
Yeah I was gonna blame the Great VS Model Exodus of 2015 on Rihanna but I didn’t wanna get db’d.
HAHAHAHAH
Who could resist?
THANKS RIHANNA.
YEAH, THANKS RIHANNA
Oh, well, then…
count me in – I have no clue. I think the designs are mostly tacky and the quality… ehhm.
I guess because all their excessive PR-stuff gives their models a celebrity status other gigs don’t? Can’t see any other reason it would be more sought after than being a H&M model or whatever. Well, they probably pay more too, but it’s still catalogue work for a crappy brand.
I agree, platypus. It’s all about fame. Read interviews with their models, they always say: “exposure”. It WAS about money and fame, but now it’s about fame.
“It’s opened up a world to most of us, all of us. So much exposure.” (Behati)
“It opens up so many doors, everyone knows your name, the whole world knows you now. Any model in this world would love to be an Angel.” (Adriana)
Once upon a time, VS panties were the BEST. Thick cotton, super-comfortable cuts, very pretty looking. They were really expensive for panties, but they were totally worth it.
And, at some point, the company decided to be all flash and dazzle and “brand”, and the quality just wasn’t there anymore. I literally haven’t bought anything from them in two decades because I don’t fall for the aspirational, wish-fulfillment BS. If they don’t make good underwear, then I won’t buy their underwear.
I was just about to say this. A long time ago I had some really great bras and panties from them. Now, I don’t waste my time.
aerie has great cotton panties. And they’re not overpriced tot hat degree.
Also, I got a coupon for my free panties from them. No instore purchase needed. 3rd year in a row i’ve sent my husband in there to grab them and leave. I know I get suckered into purchases easily so I hang outside with other ladies that sent their guy in there to do the same. It’s actually funny. The guys keep their heads down so they won’t be caught peeking at the pictures.
Their product is so cheap in quality. VS is a brand that has marketed themselves so amazingly well you buy the name.
I got a pos necklace as a promotional for buying a bra there. It looked to be worth $5. Angle’s wings necklace. The back of the box had a price tag. $75!
Although, some of their wonder bras now are amazing.
It’s been a long time since I bought anything there. Once I wore an underwire bra of theirs and I looked down and a wire was sticking out of my sweater from the underwire coming out of the bra. Most attractive, especially since I was at work and had no idea how long I had been walking around with antennae boob.
If y’all don’t mind me asking, where do you get your bras from? I don’t mind paying VS-level prices, but I’d love to get something that’s actually got the quality to match the price!
A few years back I read that VS was having problems because their advertising and products were skewing to the high school/college demographic and sales were slipping. And yet nothing has changed. It’s like their commercials are trying to sell my husband a bra.
And to answer, I buy either Calvin Klein or DKNY from The Rack. After 2 children and distance running, I don’t need a lot of support (a B cup on a good day) and I just want something pretty and padded.
GNAT
Ugh! I’ve never had it break through my top layer. The underwire has broken through the plastic coating and cuts me.
Mel
If you’re willing to go $80 and up Nordstroms has some nice bras.
If not I have some from Aerie and some from VS that are great. I think it’s the incredible or something. It came back a year ago “by request”. The wire doesn’t come out and it fits verry nicely.
You have to be sure to wash them properly. They go in a bag that gets washed and never dried. It helps greatly.
I’m a solid B if not just under, but fit and a lot of that is toned so i’m not in need of support.
I get my bras from Her Room or Bra Smythe or a department store. I like Fantasie or Wacoal because I’m busty and they have wider straps. I love the pretty little straps, but my breasts are very “dense” according to my doctor, so those straps aren’t comfortable for me. I spend a lot on bras but they last a few years.
Yes, FLORC, it was embarrassing.
I suppose it’s time to announce that I too have decided to unconsciously uncouple with Victoria’s Secret to pursue international opportunities. Good luck to my fellow Angels!
Tis no greater loss than that of an Abbott sans wings.
*rings bell*
May I have Abot’s wings? My pony longs to be a Pegasus.
Angel wings for everyone! Use them wisely. Everytime a bell rings, Ariana Grande gets smacked with angel wings.
ETA: ^^^0^^^
Potato wings!
*runs around all floaty with her new tater wings*
“Everytime a bell rings, Ariana Grande gets smacked with angel wings.”
hahahahahahaha
Abbott – Your first comment was amazing, but man, your second comment re: Grande is the stuff comment dreams are made of. I love you.
IUEhkjvkjkjskjsn YOU NEED YOUR ASS BEAT FOR MAKING ME SPILL WATER OVER THESE REPORT!!
This just made my day
Because they have an annual “fashion show” that’s seen by millions of people. Which is more people than the average fashion show. So the models get more exposure , that’s why it’s such a status symbol for most of them I think
They’ve added a swimsuit show as well so I’m sure the time commitment has increased.
“Kloss was leaving to work elsewhere, to study at NYU ”
“Doutzen had a lucrative opportunity in Europe and it would have conflicted with her VS obligations”
I read it like this:
“Kloss with be Taylor Swift’s bestie on the U.S. leg of the 1989 tour”
“Doutzen will be Taylor Swift’s bestie on the European leg of the 1989 tour”
The thing is I don’t believe that Karlie and Swifty are going to be tight anymore. Notice how there have been no photos ( beside Vogue which I think was done well before) since those photos of them looking extremely chummy in that club. Swifty is all about image and interchangeable friends and I also believe that Karlie’s bf was not thrilled with those photos and that cooled things down as well. I will say this, her ‘ship with Karlie was the only time I did not believe she was a robot.
Okay, that’s not true. There have been instagram pictures of them together. Swift was just at an event to support Karlie last night and they were together in Nashville a few weeks ago. Plus they’ve been interactive with each other on social media.
@ Meryl. I was noticing no pap shots. Did not think about social media.
Why does anyone care?
Ask those who have commented here, including you and me.
Never bought one of those hyped up thingies.
Angels’ wings got stronger I guess, had the courage to fly away at last for better places to do better things! Haha..
Haven’t bought their stuff in over a decade. Bali is my brand now!
Hmm, I predict they are making room for S.I. cover girl, Hannah Davis to become part of hat brand and will fill in the other spot with another “it model” of the moment. They’ll carry on like they always do.
Uhhh 100 grand for 50 days of work? To prance around in undies and bikinis? Those poor underpaid models. Life must be sooo tough.
I can’t believe I’m defending models, but I think that Victoria’s Secret is being really cheap, and $100,000 is way too low to be paying most of their models. It may seem silly, but it is their full time job to look good, so maybe they are only working 50 full days on paper, but they are watching what they eat and working out for hours each day and maintaining a good reputation and turning down other offers to keep working for VS. VS is nothing without their models. VS models are the brand, so they deserve all the $ in my opinion, because the VS products can’t stand on their own, nothing about their quality or design warrants the prices they demand.
Also, keep in mind these girls may be making over a $100,000, but then their agency will take a huge chunk of that. And their other work options are limited. And their career as a model has an expiration date so they have to be saving up essentially for an early retirement. In the end $100,000 is nothing.
MTE! Thank you for writing this. I don’t think anyone else could’ve explained it better.
Hally
Yes that does make sense. I know that some agencies/contracts do pay for your “upkeep” in various forms. Gym membership, Food, travel, clothes, beauty treatments. All things covered that they don’t spend out of pocket for. It’s image upkeep. Not sure about VS. Would you know if they cover this? Or that somehow through being a part of VS they get these perks? On their own it doesn’t seem like much, but added together it’s hundreds of thousands several times over a year. I know Klum touched on it in past interivews. Or was it Tyra?
I agree. I know the contracts are not the same because Ed Razek talked about it a long time ago, but I can’t believe it’s just $100,000. I thought it was like $900,000 or $500,000.
It’s all about fame now. That’s why some models are still there. Fashion models aren’t famous, but I think they are richer than those VS models.
A small amount of models makes a really great living but yes, most models are very underpaid and can be glad if they get paid at all. With too many jobs they get told to be glad they get the exposure or they get some piece of clothing they wore a a Fashion Show.
Isn’t VS becoming a diluted brand anyway? The shows always looked very tacky and unattractive to me.
miranda was only getting $300k / year when she left vs and has since signed many lucrative contracts that would have conflicted with vs. she is 2nd highest paid model behind giselle
giselle left and her income flourished. she has her own lingerie line and models for chanel and louis vuitton
$300k? No. I think it was $1million.