Filipina model Kelsey Merritt shares first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show experience

FILE: “Victoria’s Secret is such a big deal in the Philippines. So I feel like this was something I could give back to Filipinos.” – Kelsey Merritt (Photo: @kelseymerritt/Instagram)

She’s made history as the first Filipina model to ever walk the iconic Victoria’s Secret (VS) Fashion Show. Twenty-one-year-old Kelsey Merritt shares her experience following her unforgettable debut.

The event took place in the Pampanga-born’s new home city, New York, last Saturday, November 11. Kelsey begins her consistent posting the day before, seen dressed in a white turtleneck, white denim jacket, and leather jeans captioned, “Just did Victoria’s Secret rehearsals today! So excited for the show tomorrow! I don’t know if I can sleep, I’m too excited.” She then breaks the internet after posting an “It’s Showtime” caption with her wearing black lingerie as well as a black silk robe against the notable pink background. A few minutes later, Kelsey is seen with Adriana Lima, who walked her last VS runway after almost two decades. As she embraces Adriana, Kelsey says, “Growing up watching the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, I wanted to be like Adriana Lima! She is such an inspiration. I can’t believe I get to say I’ve walked the show with her on her very last one after eighteen years.” In addition to Adriana, Kelsey is also able to interact with angels Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel, and Sara Sampaio.

In the series of photos at the backstage of the show, Kelsey also shares images wearing a stunning silver cut-out dress on the pink carpet during the VS after-party, to which she was escorted by boyfriend Olympic swimmer Connor Dwyer. “I’ve always wanted a photo on the pink carpet! Pinch me, all of this isn’t real!” And although Kelsey gushed that “photos of the entire night will keep coming,” she also takes a moment to send a post of appreciation to her parents, who flew from the Philippines to watch her work the runway. With a photo taken in the streets of New York, Kelsey shares her appreciation saying, “Shoutout to the best parents! They are my biggest supporters! Love you ma and pa.”

Prior to the show, Kelsey told the New York Post, “Victoria’s Secret is such a big deal in the Philippines. So I feel like this was something I could give back to Filipinos.” She also told Fashionista writer Tyler Mccall, “Growing up, I’ve been watching this show, and it always made me feel like I was beautiful, too,” adding, “What these girls made me feel, I can finally get to make other girls feel that way.”

The television premiere of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2018 is on December 2. Performers include Bebe Rexha, The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Rita Ora, Shawn Mendes, Kelsea Ballerini, and the Struts.