What to expect from Victoria’s Secret 2017 in Shanghai

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Here come the supermodels, shining in Shanghai!

The 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, one of the industry’s most glamorous events, is set to kick off in Shanghai on Monday at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, and the angels got together for a group photo on Saturday.

This is the first time the event has ever taken place in both a Chinese city and in Asia. A total of 55 supermodels were confirmed to walk the runway, with a record number of seven Chinese models.

What is expected at the show?

Models for 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show gather for a group photo. /CGTN Photo‍

Six categories of lingerie

Black leather jackets, white T-shirts and skintight jeans… the supermodels arrived at the arena at Shanghai Expo on Saturday morning, waving and cheering at the photographers during the group-photo shot ahead of the show.

According to the official announcement earlier, there will be six categories in this year’s show, including the Nomadic Adventure, Goddesses, Winter’s tale, Porcelain Angels, Punk Angels and Millennial Nation.

Lauren Pilz, who works for the Public Relations and Communications for the show, told CGTN that there are altogether 87 looks.

Fantasy Bra

Victoria’s Secret Angel Lais Ribeiro revealed the 2017 Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra on November 1, 2017 in New York City. /AFP Photo

This year, the most stunning Fantasy Bra that costs some two million US dollars, will be presented by 27-year-old Brazilian model Lais Ribeiro, who will walk her sixth VS show in Shanghai.

The bra is a handmade piece with diamonds, yellow sapphires and blue topaz in 18 karat gold, dubbed as “Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra.”

Ribeiro was quoted by a magazine earlier as saying that she had "never cried so much" in her entire life when she found out she would be wearing the much sought-after fantasy bra, "and I have a baby," added the supermodel.

Luxurious as it is, the fantasy bra for this year’s show has already seen a price-cut compared with last year’s garment which is worth about three million US dollars.

Record number of Chinese models

Six of the Chinese models pose for a selfie. /Photo via Sina Weibo

A record number of Chinese models will walk down the runway this year. Besides Liu Wen, He Sui, Ming Xi and Ju Xiaowen who walked during last year’s show, several new faces will join in Team China.

Xie Xin, a newly rising star in the modeling world who's frequently featured in fashion magazines, will be expected at the show. She was in the editorials for T Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar China and Vogue China.

Estelle Chen, who is only 19 years old, will be another new Chinese face on this year’s line-up. A Chinese descendant raised in France, she will be one of the youngest to have access to the show this year.

Wang Yi, who shot to fame through a Chinese talent show for models, will also walk after grabbing the championship in the show. She has showed up on Saturday's group photo.

First Chinese singer to perform on the show

Jane Zhang. /Photo via Weibo

The performers for the show were finally named, putting an end to months of speculation. Harry Styles, Miguel and Leslie Odom Jr. will be on stage with the supermodels. According to Ed Razek, executive producer of the Victoria’s Secret, Jane Zhang will also join the three to become the first Chinese singer ever to sing on the show.

Razek added that since the 2017 VS show will be the biggest, the brand decided to cast four musical performers to hit the stage.

The lingerie brand has been targeting the Chinese market in recent years, as it opened its first flagship store in Shanghai in February, and only one month later, the second store was opened in Chengdu of southwest China’s Sichuan Province. A Beijing store could also be expected soon.

Victoria's Secret flagship store in Shanghai. /Photo via Global Times

The Chinese women’s underwear market reportedly stood at 21 billion US dollars in 2016, according to the market research firm Euromonitor International. And the number is estimated to hit 26 billion by 2021.

The show will be aired globally by CBS on November 28, 2017. With carpet rolled out and lights turned on, let the show begin!

1074km

[Ty Lawson has also contributed to the story. Photographs by Tang Qi.]