A parade of heavenly bodies

MANILA, Philippines -The Victoria’s Secret angels are back as they take to the runway in the latest incarnation of the much-awaited Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Uber-hot supermodels Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima lead the angels this year, as they strut their stuff on the famed V-shaped stage to the music of hot musical acts Akon and Katy Perry. Manila gets to witness the sexiest show of the year when it premieres tonight at 10, exclusively on Velvet.

While Heidi Klum may have retired her angel’s wings, a new crop of beautiful models don the three sexy collections — Tough Love, Heavenly Bodies and Wild Things — from the popular lingerie brand. Rounding up the fit and fabulous list, along with Adriana and Alessandra, are models Behati Prinsloo, Chanel Iman, Lily Aldridge, Candice SwanePoel, Erin Heatherton and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (who is set to appear in the third Transformers film coming out next year).

One piece of lingerie that the audience was excited to see is the much-hyped Bombshell Fantasy Bra, intricately designed by acclaimed Italian Jeweler Damiani, worth $2-M. The model picked to wear the jewel-encrusted — with over 3,000 cut white diamonds, sapphires and topaz set in 18-karat white gold — bra is Brazilian Adriana. In 2009, the Diamond Fantasy bra was worn by blonde bombshell Marisa Miller.

Where there are beautiful women walking the runway in sexy lingerie, Victoria’s Secret makes sure there are killer musical numbers to match. Akon serenaded the ladies with his brand new single Angel, articulating that the song was “dedicated to beautiful women and, you know, just being in an environment with the most beautiful things makes the whole place glowing.” Newly-wed Katy held her own dancing with the angels in her quirky outfits and her energetic performance of her hit songs California Gurls and Firework. 

The fashion show has launched the careers of supermodels and fashion icons Heidi, Tyra Banks and Gisele Bundchen, among many others. Tyra took her final walk as a model in the 2005 show to concentrate on a career on television, while Gisele was a Victoria’s Secret Angel until 2007. In last year’s show, Heidi wowed the audience in a stunning corset-dress and wings that showed off her sexy body, just months after giving birth.

The glamorous Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has encore performances on Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 25, 5 p.m., Dec. 31, 11 p.m. and Jan. 1, 5 p.m.

 For details, log on to www.velvetchannel.multiply.com.