Tyra Banks Reveals Shocking Loss of Lifetime Victoria’s Secret Perk
Supermodel Tyra Banks, a revered figure in the fashion world, recently shared a surprising anecdote about the loss of a coveted perk from her decade-long tenure as a Victoria’s Secret Angel. The 51-year-old fashion icon, who first graced the Victoria’s Secret runway in 1997 and became the brand’s first African American Angel, detailed the abrupt termination of her exclusive ‘Free Angels card’ after her retirement from modeling in 2005.
During a candid interview on the Tuesday, July 29, episode of Today with Jenna & Friends, Banks recounted how the head of Victoria’s Secret initially bestowed upon her a card granting unlimited, lifelong purchases at any of their stores. “They were like, ‘Forever. We love you so much. You have this card, and you can go to any shop forever and shop forever with no cap on it,'” Banks revealed. This extraordinary privilege allowed her to acquire entire lingerie collections, ensuring she always had matching sets of tops and bottoms as new lines were released.
The Abrupt End of a Heavenly Privilege
However, the perpetual nature of this benefit proved to be finite. In 2005, at the peak of her modeling career, Banks made the pivotal decision to decline a lucrative three-year contract extension with Victoria’s Secret. Her ambition at the time was to transition into television, specifically pursuing a career as a talk show host. “I was like, ‘I don’t want to. I want to be a talk show host. I don’t want to do it,’” she recalled.
Approximately a year after her official retirement from the runway, the ‘Free Angels card’ was rescinded. The moment of realization came unceremoniously, as Banks attempted to make a purchase at a suburban Los Angeles Victoria’s Secret store. With a pile of lingerie in hand, her card was declined, marking an awkward public end to her exclusive shopping privilege. Banks, visibly cringing as she recounted the tale on national television, admitted, “I hate saying this on national TV! I hate saying this… I don’t match anymore!”
Reflecting on Her Victoria’s Secret Legacy
Reflecting on her decision to leave Victoria’s Secret, which also saw her hosting the highly popular reality competition series America’s Next Top Model from 2003 to 2018, and The Tyra Banks Show from 2005 to 2011, Banks expressed regret during an April 2025 appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends. She previously stated her concern about the brand’s potential lack of ‘age sensitivity’ and her desire to be taken seriously as a talk show host, leading to her departure. When asked by co-host Jenna Bush Hager if she regretted walking away, Banks emphatically replied, “Yes, I do. Oh, Jenna, I regret it.”
A Potential Return to Her Lingerie Roots?
Despite her past misgivings, Banks expressed a renewed interest in returning to her ‘lingerie roots,’ citing a shift from entrepreneurial pursuits and motherhood to simply desiring comfort. She humorously noted her current reliance on “the same underwear that I just keep washing and wearing and washing and wearing.” When probed about a potential return to Victoria’s Secret, Banks laid out a clear condition: “I would do a deal if you gave me my card back. Let’s start there. That’s the most important thing. I want my card and then I have to represent the brand.”
Banks has, in fact, made notable returns to the modeling spotlight since her 2005 retirement. In 2019, she famously graced the cover of Sports Illustrated‘s Swimsuit Issue under the moniker ‘BanX.’ More recently, she made a brief yet impactful comeback to the Victoria’s Secret catwalk at the 2024 fashion show, where she commanded the runway in a striking ensemble featuring a silver cape with black lining, a crystal-crusted bustier, sparkly leggings, and heels. Her recent revelations underscore a complex relationship with the brand that helped define her early supermodel career, now potentially open for a new chapter—provided the legendary ‘Free Angels card’ makes its own comeback.
