Angel Reese‘s week reached new heights on Wednesday when she took the runway at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City, fulfilling a dream that few could have imagined when she was still a teenager working at a fast-food restaurant.
The Chicago Sky forward, already one of the most recognizable faces in the WNBA, shared her excitement and gratitude online after the event, showing just how far she has come in six short years.
Reese, who once balanced shifts at Smashburger with basketball practices and high school coursework, wore her signature confidence as she strutted down the runway at Steiner Studios, complete with the iconic angel wings that symbolize the lingerie brand’s most celebrated models.
On X, she captured the moment with a post that quickly went viral: “Forever that GIRL. @VictoriasSecret,” Reese wrote, pairing the caption with photos from the fashion show.
Moments later, she added a more personal reflection, one that perfectly summed up her story. “I really used to work at Smashburger & now I’m a VS model AHAHHA,” she tweeted, earning thousands of likes from fans and fellow athletes who have followed her journey.
From college stardom to a global spotlight
Reese‘s leap from a part-time restaurant job to professional athlete and model didn’t happen overnight. Her basketball career began gaining national attention when she joined the University of Maryland in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That same period also marked a turning point for college athletics: in 2021, the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) policy took effect, allowing student-athletes to earn money through sponsorships and brand deals.
For Reese, that change opened a floodgate of opportunities. Her charisma, competitive fire, and growing social media following quickly made her one of the faces of college basketball. In 2022, she transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU), a move that would define her career.
The following year, Reese led the LSU Tigers to their first-ever NCAA women’s basketball championship, defeating Caitlin Clark‘s Iowa Hawkeyes in a nationally watched showdown. The victory cemented her status as one of the sport’s brightest stars and turned her into a household name practically overnight.
Off the court, Reese became one of the most marketable athletes in college sports history. Her endorsements grew to include brands like Wingstop, McDonald’s, and Raising Cane’s, and by 2023 her NIL valuation reportedly climbed to $1.8 million, according to Sports Illustrated. That figure made her one of the top-earning female college athletes in the nation.
Read the full article here
