Gigi Hadid defends Elsa Hosk over Victoria’s Secret runway criticism

Model Gigi Hadid has defended fellow model Elsa Hosk following social media criticism regarding Hosk’s runway walk at the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Critics had compared Hosk’s performance to that of Gisele Bündchen, with some describing her movement as “stiff.”

Hadid responded on Threads, stating that Hosk “slayed” and noting that the physical demands of modern shows are often underestimated. She explained that the scale of the runway has increased and the wings have become significantly larger and heavier, sometimes weighing over 75 pounds and standing more than 10 feet tall. Hadid added that these wings are not aerodynamic and models must contend with strong runway fans while navigating the walk. She also noted that it can take three people to remove the wings from a model after the performance.

Hosk also addressed the criticism on Instagram, highlighting the physical difficulty of the ensemble by noting it took three men to carry and attach the wings to her back.