When Paulo Coelho wrote, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it,” in The Alchemist, not everyone believed him. But Angel Reese just turned that idea into a living, breathing reality. Last October, she attended the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show as a guest and then made a bold declaration: “I’m going to be a Victoria’s Secret model one day.” Fast forward less than a year, and the Chi-Town Barbie isn’t just watching the runway—she’s owning it!

And how can you expect a quiet Angel? With perfectly airbrushed makeup, blowout hair, and pink-and-white stripes, she spoke her heart out before going on stage. “It feels amazing,” she told E! News host Grace. Those three words perfectly capture what living your dream life actually feels like. “With my name also being Angel, I think it’s literally perfect. It was destined for me. I think this is already for me. So I’m just really happy to be sitting in this room with so many amazing models, so many amazing women. The team that put this all together has just been amazing, so I’m so excited,” she added.

Destined, yes, it was. Only a few could manifest this blend of sports and fashion, but today, with the W’s tunnel known for its fashion walk, it’s no longer surprising. But what Angel’s doing is something beyond words. She’s been to the Met Gala twice, the ESPYs, fashion shows, and more. As inspiring as her basketball résumé is, she’s making sure her fashion story is just as strong. That’s exactly how she’s creating history in real time.

As she joined Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee, the two became the first pro athletes ever to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. But it wasn’t easy, even for the Chi-Town Barbie. Of course, the 23-year-old was making her debut alongside confirmed models Joan Smalls, Candice Swanepoel, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Gigi Hadid—so how could it be?

But AR was ready to put her wings on, and for that, she took cues from Tyra Banks, the first African American woman to walk for Victoria’s Secret in 1997. “One of the first shows I watched was Tyra Banks,” she said. And just like she does in basketball, Angel made sure there was a coach to correct her before the big debut—so she hired one.

The result? As she put it, “an unforgettable night that I’ll forever be grateful for.” But here’s the twist—this moment wasn’t born overnight. The seeds of manifestation had been quietly growing for years, and now, the universe has finally delivered.

Where did it all start?

It began inside Angel Reese’s mom’s wardrobe—where little Angel would sneak in, grab some clothes, put on makeup, and try to walk like America’s Next Top Model. And to spoil her even more, it was her grandmother who applied mascara and brushed her hair. “My grandma used to put mascara on my lashes, and she brushed my hair up nicely. It was always ‘dress to impress,’” Reese told Vogue back on July 29, 2025. “I always had my hair done, and my nails were painted.” So for her, both basketball and fashion ran side by side.

But like most of us, she too had insecurities. Still, she kept going—and that’s how she got here. As she puts it best, “I think it took me a while to feel confident in heels, going out, because I was already so tall… But once I got older and seeing how much I stood out, it made me feel super confident and bold.” Slowly and steadily, she tailored her skills—and that drive helped her accomplish so much by just 21.

She made it to the ESPY Awards, took home the trophy for Breakthrough Athlete, and even made a cameo in Cardi B and Latto’s “Put It on Da Floor Again” video. Can you believe it? Even when she was about to make her WNBA debut, she first took a private jet to New York, attended her first Met Gala in a stunning custom look by 16Arlington, and then returned to dominate on the court. And now, at 23, she’s imperfectly perfect for her perfectly imperfect world—with Law Roach’s words, “Be confident in your skin… Don’t care what anybody else has to say,” motivating her every moment.