Not many models can claim that their first-ever runway gig was the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. But Solange Omon is one of the rare few. The 21-year-old won “Angels Among Us,” Victoria’s Secret’s 2026 open-casting competition, which meant she got to walk in the brand’s annual fashion show and earn a coveted contract with IMG Models. (The entire competition was documented in a six-episode docuseries available on YouTube.)
Since then, Omon’s life has taken a complete 180: She went on to front Victoria’s Secret’s 2026 holiday campaign and participate in her first speaking engagement as a panelist at the 2026 Black Beauty Roster Creator Summit. And this week, we got to meet the Cameroonian model in New York City at an holiday event for Amazon, as she has an ongoing partnership with the online retailer.
Ahead, she let us in on what she’s gifting this holiday season and on how life has been since walking for Victoria’s Secret and signing with IMG.
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What fashion and beauty items are you gifting this season?
I plan on gifting a Coach bag, Victoria’s Secret robes and I’ve been seeing a lot of the Fujifilm camera, so I’m excited to buy that.
We have to talk about you winning the “Angels Among Us” competition. What was running through your mind when you found out you were Victoria’s Secret’s newest angel?
Honestly, it felt surreal. It was really emotional; I was crying. You guys will probably see it because there is a new episode coming up. But it was very emotional — I felt like my dream was coming true. Since then, my life has been so beautiful.
Solange Omon at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2026. (Photo: Michael Buckner/WWD via Getty Images)
What’s life been like post-competition and post-signing with IMG?
Post-‘Angels Among Us’, life has been really busy. I feel like I spend most of my time with IMG, [either] here in New York or in L.A. I love the feeling of having somebody in the agency being there to support you or give you advice and help you grow your career. It’s been lovely. And because I’m signed with IMG, I’m now here at this event, which I would have never thought [I’d be here] in 2025, so I’m really grateful.
Omon at Amazon’s holiday event in New York City. (Photo: Courtesy of Amazon)
What was running through your mind when you walked in the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show?
Honestly, I was really excited. In my head I was like, ‘Girl, don’t fall. Do whatever you want, but don’t fall.’ As soon as I went out [on the runway], I wanted to give diva and wanted to have fun, but everybody was just clapping. I was laughing the whole runway. It was really fun.
What’s been the most surprising thing about the modeling industry?
Before this, I thought modeling was just, ‘You go and look pretty,’ but [photo shoots] take forever. When you have a shoot day, you literally have to wake up at 5 [a.m.], you have to do makeup all day and you have to take picture after picture. Modeling is something that takes up a lot of time, and that’s something people usually don’t know.
What’s your best advice for aspiring models with little to no experience who want to break into the industry?
You have to believe in yourself. That’s something that I doubted when I started. I was like, ‘Uh, I don’t think they’ll want me.’ When I started to believe in myself and believe, ‘I belong in this room and I need to chase my dream,’ everything became easier. So you should believe in yourself and feel like you’re more than enough.
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