Kylie Jenner’s Reported $5 Million Victoria’s Secret Fee Sparks Debate Among Models

Kylie Jenner’s reported fee for appearing at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show has prompted criticism and renewed debate about who gets the biggest opportunities in fashion. The event took place in Los Angeles on October 18, and reports citing unnamed sources claimed Jenner received as much as $5 million for her brief appearance. The figure was reported by Rob Shuter, but no publicly available documents have confirmed the exact sum. Claims that Jenner earned more than some of the show’s established models should therefore be treated as unverified. Comparisons in the coverage included Gigi and Bella Hadid, as well as Gisele Bündchen, who addressed the audience in a video. The appearance was a milestone for Jenner: the report described it as her first time walking the runway for the lingerie brand. She also presented the event’s celebrated Fantasy Bra, a lavish design said to be worth $50 million. The piece was created by jeweller Jacob & Co. and reportedly features 4,410 natural diamonds, including a yellow diamond weighing 75.54 carats. Fifteen specialists are said to have worked on it for more than a thousand hours. The choice of Jenner did not win universal approval. Adrienne Curry, winner of the first season of America’s Next Top Model, questioned the decision during a livestream. Curry said her criticism was not personal, but argued that Jenner’s modelling experience did not make her the obvious choice to showcase such a prominent item. She suggested the opportunity could have gone to a model who had spent years building a career on the runway and working with the brand. Curry’s comments also reflected wider concerns about a fashion industry increasingly influenced by social-media reach and public recognition. Victoria’s Secret creative director Adam Selman, meanwhile, reportedly defended Jenner’s selection by pointing to her influence beyond fashion, including her presence in television, entertainment and popular culture, as well as the size of her audience. Other claims surrounding the Fantasy Bra, including an account that an unidentified Turkish man bought it for his wife, were also reported, but were not substantiated in the article. The fee remains unconfirmed too, leaving the headline-grabbing sum at the centre of a debate built on reports rather than disclosed contracts.