Inside Victoria’s Secret Models’ Diets: Eating Habits, Fitness, and Reality
Unveiling the daily routines, personal philosophies, and real pressures behind what Victoria’s Secret models eat and how they train.
Victoria’s Secret Models: Eating Habits, Fitness, and Everyday Reality
The famed Victoria’s Secret Angels are almost as legendary for their ethereal looks and athletic physiques as they are for their elaborate wings. But what do these models actually eat, and what does it take to maintain their high-glamour figures? This in-depth guide explores Victoria’s Secret models’ actual eating habits, fitness practices, and the realities and challenges that exist behind the glossy runway image.
Understanding the Model Diet: More Than One Approach
There is no single, set Victoria’s Secret Model Diet. Instead, habits differ between models, though many themes emerge. Most focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods and emphasize protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. While variety exists, nearly all avoid or strictly limit processed foods, sugar, and refined grains. Some also employ intermittent fasting or calorie restriction, especially leading up to big shows or photo shoots.
Daily Meals: What Real Models Eat
While there are variations, let’s break down the typical meals for several top Victoria’s Secret models, as revealed in interviews and public statements.
Breakfast
- Lemon Water First: Many start their day by hydrating with lemon water, believed to aid digestion and provide a morning “reset.”
- Coffee or Tea: Most models reach for coffee (often almond milk lattes) or herbal teas. Caffeine is a common wake-up staple.
- Avocado Toast: Popular for its combination of healthy fats, fiber, and satisfying flavor. Often topped with a sprinkle of chili flakes or lemon juice.
- Eggs and Veggies: Scrambled eggs, often mixed with fresh vegetables, are chosen for their protein and quick preparation.
- Green Juices and Smoothies: Some models opt for nutrient-dense smoothies or cold-pressed juices featuring leafy greens, berries, chia seeds, and nut butters.
Sample Breakfast Table
| Model | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| Bella Hadid | Lemon water, green juice; cleanse with mostly greens when needed |
| Stella Maxwell | Almond latte, avocado toast with chili and lemon |
| Jacquelyn Jablonski | Scrambled eggs with any available veggies |
Lunch
- Salads with Protein: Numerous models favor large salads with mixed greens, grilled chicken or fish, avocado, seeds, and sometimes legumes.
- Grain Bowls: Quinoa or brown rice bowls with roasted vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
- Lean Protein + Greens: Grilled salmon, turkey breast, or eggs with sautéed spinach or a simple side salad.
Dinner
- Vegetables Galore: Large portions of roasted or steamed vegetables are a staple for dinner.
- Fish or Poultry: Dinners usually include a serving of grilled fish or chicken for lean protein.
- Healthy Carbs (in moderation): Brown rice, quinoa, or sweet potato appear occasionally, especially those not aiming for low-carb intake pre-show.
Core Foods: What’s In, What’s Out
Foods Emphasized
- Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, asparagus, squash, carrots
- Fruits: Berries, apples, oranges, peaches, pears, plums (rarely high-sugar options like pineapple, bananas, or grapes near a show)
- Protein: Poultry, seafood, lean meats, eggs, plant-based proteins
- Whole Grains: Quinoa, brown rice, oats, couscous
- Nuts/Seeds: Walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds
- Legumes: Chickpeas, beans, lentils
- Healthy Fats: Avocado, olive oil, coconut oil
Foods Often Limited or Avoided
- Processed foods: Chips, cookies, fast food, pretzels, candies
- Refined grains: White pasta, bread, rice, tortillas
- Added sugars: Table sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey
- Alcohol: Generally avoided, especially near auditions or shows
- Starchy vegetables: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, peas (sometimes limited close to major events)
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Fitness Routines: Essential for the Runway Body
Exercise is just as crucial as nutrition to these models’ routines. Workouts are intense and carefully coordinated with diet.
- Boxing: Favored for its cardio intensity and full-body sculpting benefits.
- Pilates and Yoga: Used for flexibility, toning, and stress relief.
- Weight Training: Adds muscle definition without excessive bulk; lower-body focus is common.
- Cycling and Hiking: Popular for cardiovascular health and variety.
Most models train daily, sometimes twice a day leading up to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
The Pre-Show Diet: Sacrifices and Extreme Measures
While the above reflects typical days, models often adopt extreme regimens in the days and weeks before a major runway event. These methods can veer into unhealthy territory:
- Very Low Calorie Diets: Some restrict calories as low as 1,300 per day or less.
- Intermittent Fasting: Limiting all food to specific windows (for example, only within an 8-hour period each day).
- Cutting Out All Carbs: Up to a week prior to events, many models cut even healthy carbs like whole grains or fruit.
- Liquids Only: High-profile cases involved subsisting on liquid protein shakes and water days before the show, sometimes completely avoiding solid food.
- Dehydration: Some engage in water-loading and then decrease fluid intake right before the show to appear more defined.
Famous Model Regimens
- Adriana Lima: Famously spent the final days before the show on only protein shakes and water, while doubling up on workouts daily.
- Georgia Fowler: Reported consuming 80% produce, eliminating all carbs for up to 5 days before the show.
- Barbara Palvin: Confessed to watching food videos or her partner eat to avoid eating before the show.
Healthy Eating or Dangerous Pressure?
While the idea of the Victoria’s Secret model diet is often idolized on social media, the reality can be harsh. Intense industry pressure can push models toward risky behaviors like:
- Skipping meals
- Self-induced vomiting
- Using IV fluids due to nutritional deficiencies
- Emotional distress and disordered eating
Research shows up to 54% of models admit to skipping meals, 25% report forced vomiting, and 40% have used IV drips to offset the impact of extreme restriction.
The Mental Toll
Beyond the physical, the psychological toll is considerable. Models like Bridget Malcolm have publicly shared stories of mental and emotional exhaustion, disordered eating, and punitive work environments within the fashion industry.
Athleticism vs. Extreme Restriction
While a runway body is often compared to athletic physiques, experts argue that “living on water, produce, protein shakes, or watching food videos in place of meals isn’t an athlete’s diet.” True athletic nutrition supports high energy, muscle function, and overall health, not just aesthetics.
Should You Try the Model Diet?
Many nutritionists caution against mimicking celebrity diets, especially highly restrictive ones. The Victoria’s Secret Model Diet lacks universal guidelines and is not designed for overall health. Everyone has individual nutritional needs based on age, activity level, genetics, and underlying health conditions.
- Restricting food groups or calories without professional guidance risks nutrient deficiency, metabolic slowdown, and mental health issues.
- Achieving real health involves balance, not deprivation or following someone else’s template blindly.
Tips for Balanced Eating Inspired by Healthier Model Habits
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, focusing on variety and color.
- Include lean proteins (like eggs, chicken, fish, tofu) in all meals.
- Choose whole grains instead of refined options.
- Snack on nuts, seeds, or fruit instead of processed treats.
- Stay hydrated—water is essential for overall health.
- Listen to your body and seek a realistic balance between nourishing foods and occasional treats.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do Victoria’s Secret models eat carbs?
A: Many models eat moderate amounts of whole-grain carbs like brown rice or quinoa during regular periods but eliminate carbs—particularly refined and starchy varieties—in the week before big shows.
Q: How often do models work out?
A: Most models exercise daily, often combining cardio, strength training, yoga, and Pilates. Frequency and type may increase before runway events.
Q: Are these diets healthy to follow long-term?
A: Extreme calorie restriction, food group elimination, and pre-show dehydration methods are not safe or sustainable. A balanced, nutrient-dense approach is healthiest for most people.
Q: Do all models use the same eating plan?
A: No, there is no universal model diet. Individual choices vary based on personal preferences, genetics, cultural background, and career demands.
Q: Is genetics a factor in model physiques?
A: Genetics play an important role, but disciplined nutrition and training are also critical. However, extreme leanness may not be healthy or attainable for most people without negative consequences.
The Bottom Line
Pursuing health and confidence means adapting the best of model-inspired habits—such as eating whole foods and exercising regularly—without succumbing to extreme or unsustainable pressures. Victoria’s Secret models may inspire with their discipline, but true wellness means listening to your body’s needs, eating a nourishing and balanced diet, and prioritizing mental and physical well-being over any single body ideal.
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