Australia’s Angels

Luckily Victoria’s Secret isn't something one quickly tires of, seeing as VS was the post-de-jour for both yesterday and today! 2009 was the second consecutive year we saw three Aussies walk in the show; the fourth since the first Australian walked for the lingerie label. That initial model, and ‘Angel,’ as she has been for the past three years now, is none other than Miranda Kerr. Kerr started working with the company in 2005, and made her runway debut in 2006. A year later, she was named an Angel, with the likes of Heidi Klum, Adrianna Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio. Her fourth runway appearance caps off a successful year- she remains the face of retail giant David Jones, released her own organic skincare line; Kora, and made her debut at Paris Fashion Week after being hand-picked by designer Nicolas Ghesquière to walk for Balenciaga. (The latter I’m hoping is a sign of things to come!)



Another Aussie who appeared on the runway, after making her debut last year, was Melbourne-born Abbey Lee Kershaw. Abbey Lee, as she is simply known in fashion circles, is by no means runway-shy. After winning the 2004 Girlfriend CoverGirl Model Search Competition (a year after fellow Australian success story Catherine McNeil took out the title), Kershaw has been a regular fixture on international runways, as well as landing exclusive editorials and advertising campaigns-she is the face of the Gucci fragrance “Flora.” Models.com has her ranked as equal 13th in their list of 2009’s top 50 models- tying with fellow VS pal Sessilee Lopez. Although this year was only her second working for Victoria’s Secret, 2009 has been a stellar year for the catwalk queen. She was named as Fashion TV’s ‘First Face’ for the Spring/Summer 2010 season; opened for Versace in Milan, closed for Fendi in Paris and appeared on nearly every runway in between.



Our third model export featured in this year’s show was Australian Vogue’s November 2009 cover girl Elyse Taylor. Riding high after her success as the face of Sydney’s Fashion Festival, she replaced fellow Aussie Sarah Stephens who walked for VS last year. Taylor has also worked for Just Jeans and Sportsgirl as well as Tommy Hilfiger Jeans before walking for designers such as Roberto Cavalli.



Photos: fashionologie