New Victoria’s Secret Angel Solange Omon Makes Catwalk Debut at 2026 Fashion Show (Exclusive)

Victoria’s Secret has officially named its new Angel.

On October 18, at the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Solange Omon, 21, walked the runway as the winner of a national casting call.

The nascent model entered the process along with thousands of others. Everything was captured for the brand in a documentary series, Angels among usbroadcast on YouTube since September. Over the course of several episodes, fans were taken to casting and training, traveling with Adam Selman, executive vice president, chief creative officer at Victoria’s Secret & Co., and a rotating team of models and experts, through Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Chicago to find the next big thing.

Viewers first meet Omon in Chicago, where his bubbly personality immediately caught everyone’s attention, earning him a spot in the top 10.

“I was speechless,” Omon told PEOPLE after receiving the call that she had moved on to the next phase of the process. “I started screaming, and as soon as I finished that call, because I live alone, I was like, ‘I’m driving to my mom’s house because I need to share this news with someone.’ So that day was the happiest day of my life, honestly.

Omon, who is originally from Cameroon but lived, worked and attended school in Maine, calls the overall casting experience “really fun.” Following her selection for the top 10, she traveled to New York with the other models, where they participated in catwalk workouts, photoshoots, fittings and more. Along the way, contestants were eliminated until the final three were named: Omon, Andreína Martínez and Tatyana Tinsley.

Each elimination was “stressful” for Omon until it neared the end. As the group got smaller and Omon saw the finish line, she began to feel more confident in what she had learned and how much she had improved.

The moment she heard her name as winner, Omon said she was “shocked.”

“I expected my name, but I didn’t expect my name,” she says. “I’m just here, and I’m just waiting for this beautiful news. So I’m screaming in my head… I’m thinking about the last two months and everything that happened. And I also have my friend next to me because we’re all together. So I was so happy, but I was also so sad. I couldn’t explain this feeling because we became friends, and I have this good news, and I also want you to have good news so we can celebrate together, but I’m just standing and just looking at them and seeing how sad they were, but also happy for me. So it was mostly a mixture of feelings in the moment.

“Solange has a spark that is entirely her own, and that’s exactly what makes her such an exciting addition to the next generation of angels,” Hillary Super, CEO of Victoria’s Secret & Co., tells PEOPLE. “Her joy, confidence and individuality embody what the next generation of Angels stands for: women who are unapologetically themselves, who dream big and who inspire others to do the same. We are thrilled to welcome Solange to the Victoria’s Secret family, and I can’t wait for the world to get to know her.”

Selman previously told PEOPLE that the casting call was born out of the general public’s desire to try their luck on the catwalk.

“I got thousands of DMs last year after the show like, ‘I want to be an angel. How can I become an angel?'” Selman said. “It’s the idea that we’re in America’s backyard and everyone has a unique story and connection to Victoria’s Secret. Finding that out directly from fans was really, really special and really meaningful, and it also informs everything we do beyond the show.”

He tells PEOPLE of Omon: “What made Solange stand out wasn’t just her presence, it was her authenticity. From the moment I met her, there was a warmth and individuality that was infectious. Her story is incredibly inspiring, and the determination, resilience and passion she brought to every step of the journey truly impressed us. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has always been about creating unforgettable moments, but it’s about also to discover and celebrate new talents. Watching Solange transform into an angel from the casting process to the show has been truly special. She represents a new generation of talent shaping the future of fashion, and we are delighted to give her this platform as part of this year’s show.

Omon tells PEOPLE that modeling has always been on his vision board. Prior to this new position, she worked at a nonprofit organization as a program coordinator.

“I usually helped black and immigrant kids – mostly teenagers – by helping them apply for jobs and navigate networking and that sort of thing, as well as teaching them about climate change,” she says. “Previously, I also worked as a program coordinator at another nonprofit, helping people between the ages of 16 and 24, connecting them with mentors, helping them with school assignments, connecting them with the community and things like that. I was also going to school as a student.”

As part of her win, Omon received an exclusive modeling contract with IMG Models, where she believes her future is heading. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is just the first step in her modeling career. Days before the show, she tells PEOPLE that she’s incredibly excited to strut her stuff among the icons working with the brand. From then on, she had big dreams.

“This is the life I want to have.”