It is the end of an era. Adriana Lima officially retired as a Victoria's Secret Angel at the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York City on Thursday. The 37-year-old model closed this chapter of her life in tears as she bid farewell to the lingerie brand, and the show she had done 18 times in her career. Victoria's Secret gave her an epic sendoff; they reportedly thanked her with a video montage of her iconic runway moments, and allowed her to do a solo walk where she was met with a well-deserved standing ovation.
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Despite her massive success, Adriana's fans knew her departure was on the horizon, but maybe not as quickly as it actually happened. She expressed that she felt like she had at least two more shows left in her last November. "I plan to be at 20. Two more years. Maybe more, I don't know," Adriana told People. "It's nature. I'm working out, I'm being healthy, so let's see how the body is going to turn out. But I enjoy it. So let's say 20." However, by December it seemed like she would be putting her wings away even sooner than that.
The model had an epiphany about the negative impact her career choices has on her body image and people that follow her. "I had received a call for the possibility of filming a sexy video of me to be posted and shared in social media," she wrote on Instagram. "[…]I realized that majority of woman probably wake up every morning trying to fit in a stereotype that society/social media/fashion etc imposed… I thought that's not a way of living and beyond that… that's not physically and mentally healthy, so I decided to make that change… I will not take [off] my clothes anymore for a empty cause…"
It's clear that something fundamentally changed within Adriana that no longer aligned with her being a Victoria's Secret Angel. She joined the company when she was only 18 years old, so it is no surprise that she has become a different person after all of this time. Here is a look back at her epic run before she said goodbye.
Adriana is still grateful for her time at Victoria's Secret and wrote the perfect parting message.
“Dear Victoria,” Adrianna shared on Instagram, “thank you for showing me the world, sharing your secrets, and most importantly not just giving me wings but teaching me to fly.”
She left on a high note.
"I think this year is going to be the highlight of my career," Adriana told People. "This has been my 18th fashion show and I am still as excited as I was from the first day. I always love to be on runways and being part of the Victoria’s Secret show. It my favorite to do."
Her star grew exponentially since she joined Victoria's Secret in 1999.
She became an Angel by the following year.
She fit in seamlessly with other supermodels like Tyra Banks, Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum, and Alessandra Ambrosio.
Can you believe that this photo is from 2004?!
Adriana always brought tons of energy to the runway.
Look at her giving some serious attitude back in 2006.
Her charisma is part of what made her a fan favorite.
The black and white wings she wore in 2008 were epic!
Adriana always oozed tons of sex appeal.
Her confidence was everything!
She had the honor of rocking the annual Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on more than one occasion.
She wore an Old Hollywood-inspired, diamond encrusted design in 2010 that was worth $2 million!
Alessandra was a huge part of Adriana's Victoria's Secret journey.
The pair frequently walked down the runway together.
They even shared Fantasy Bra duties in 2014.
We're sure that memory will last forever.
Adriana always pushed herself extra hard to look her best before every show.
Boxing is one of her preferred ways to stay in shape.
She walked the 2012 show just two months after giving birth!
"Adriana does what she has to in the gym. Her work ethic is out of control! When she gets in her mind she wants to get something done, she does it," her personal trainer Michael Olajide, Jr., told Shape at the time.
She was a total rockstar on the 2013 runway.
This red angel moment was jaw-dropping.
Just look at those wings!
She was a seasoned mother of two by then and still ripping the catwalk to shreds.
She killed every single look that year.
So good!
Her abs were on another level in 2015.
Adriana was clearly going even harder with her diet and workouts at this point.
Adriana got to travel all over the world with Victoria's Secret.
Here she is at the 2016 show in Paris.
She walked the 2017 show in Shanghai.
It's no wonder why being a Victoria's Secret model is such a highly-coveted job.
Even near the end of her tenure, Adriana was considered the most influential Angel on social media.
Who What Wear revealed the results of an independent study done by analytics company D'Marie in 2017, which gave Adriana the crown.
There's no question that she was one of the greatest to ever do it.
This regal look from 2012 fit perfectly.
Adriana is looking forward to empowering women in the future.
"I’m looking forward to support women and being connected to different projects which support women around the world," she told People. "That like my future from now on, but I am still happy that I am part of Victoria’s Secret this year. You guys are going to love this year’s show. To me it is definitely going be very special.”
