Chinese supermodel Ming Xi made a striking return to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2026, bringing back a familiar runway presence after years away from the celebrated fashion event. Her appearance featured two contrasting looks, but it was the emotional significance of seeing the show’s signature wings again that made her return especially personal.
As photographs and runway moments from the Los Angeles event drew attention, Xi’s husband, entrepreneur Mario Ho, added a heartfelt tribute of his own. Calling his wife a “real life angel” and the “Pride of the family,” he turned her professional milestone into a moment of public celebration, raising a familiar question about what it means for a model to return to one of fashion’s most recognisable runways after an extended absence.
Ming Xi Returns to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show After Eight Years
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show welcomed Ming Xi back on October 18, 2026, marking her first appearance at the annual event since 2018. The 37-year-old Chinese supermodel walked the runway at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, Los Angeles, California, bringing a long-awaited reunion with the show’s signature aesthetic into focus.
Her return came after an eight-year gap between appearances. While the occasion offered a clear milestone in her modelling timeline, Xi’s own reaction suggested that the experience meant more to her than simply walking another runway.
In a social media post published on October 19, the model shared her excitement about being invited back. She described the experience as both surreal and familiar, recalling the moment she saw the wings that have become closely associated with the fashion show.
Xi wrote:
“It feels almost surreal, yet deeply familiar, like returning home. The moment I saw the wings, my heart nearly gave out from pure happiness,”
She continued:
“There are simply no words that can fully capture how overwhelmed and elated I feel right now. Thank you so much for having me at the show.”
Her words conveyed a mixture of happiness, nostalgia and gratitude. Rather than treating the appearance as an ordinary professional engagement, Xi highlighted the emotional impact of returning to an event she had not participated in since 2018.
The eight-year interval is central to the story. However, neither her message nor the available reporting confirmed that she intends to participate in future editions of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Ming Xi’s Two Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2026 Looks
While Xi’s emotional message captured the personal side of her return, her runway outfits provided the fashion highlights of the evening.
According to AsiaOne’s report, the supermodel presented two distinct looks during the October 18 event. Each offered a different take on the elaborate styling associated with the Victoria’s Secret runway.
Another Model’s Return After Motherhood
Barbara Palvin also walked at the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, bringing her own experience of returning to work after becoming a mother into the conversation. Explore her runway appearance and maternity-leave context in our Barbara Palvin Victoria’s Secret return report.
1. A Floral Corset With Gauzy Wings and Sleeves
Xi’s first look featured a floral corset paired with gauzy wings and sleeves. The ensemble combined decorative corsetry with the dramatic winged styling that has become a defining feature of Victoria’s Secret runway presentations.
The floral detailing gave the outfit a distinctive visual identity, separating it from a conventional lingerie look. Meanwhile, the wings connected the ensemble to the fashion show’s recognisable runway tradition.
That detail carried particular significance because Xi specifically mentioned seeing the wings in her post-event message. Her emotional response made the design element more than a styling choice: it was the moment she identified as especially meaningful during her return.
2. An All-Pink Lace Ensemble
For her second runway appearance, Xi wore an all-pink lace set, offering a different colour palette and design from her floral first look.
The two ensembles formed the visual centre of her return, allowing her to present contrasting styles during the same event. The pink lace look brought a different aesthetic to her appearance, while the floral corset and wings delivered the more elaborate, winged presentation.
Together, the outfits made her participation a notable part of the evening’s runway programme. Still, the confirmed development remains specific: Xi walked in two looks at the 2026 show after last participating in 2018. Her appearance does not, by itself, establish a permanent return to the brand.
Mario Ho Calls Ming Xi the ‘Pride of the Family’ in Heartfelt Tribute
Xi’s return also attracted a public response from her husband, Mario Ho, who celebrated her appearance through two social media posts.
The 31-year-old entrepreneur praised his wife’s runway moment and referred to her as a “real life angel.” One of his posts included a message that quickly became the defining phrase associated with the family’s celebration.
Ho wrote:
“Jaw dropped. So proud of you. Pride of the family. The angel is back with her massive wings,”
His message combined admiration for Xi’s appearance with an affectionate reference to the wings she wore on the runway. Calling her the “Pride of the family” placed the emphasis not only on her fashion achievement but also on his pride in seeing her return to the event.
The contrast between the couple’s posts added a personal dimension to the story. Xi focused on the emotions she experienced when she saw the wings again, while Ho publicly celebrated her appearance and the achievement it represented to him.
Ho is the son of the late Stanley Ho, the Macau casino magnate whose business interests made him one of the best-known figures in the region. Mario Ho has also attracted public attention through his business activities and his marriage to Xi.
Despite the attention surrounding the couple, their reported social media messages focused on her runway appearance. Neither post was reported as announcing a new professional arrangement or another separate development.
Ming Xi and Mario Ho’s Marriage and Family Life
The couple married in 2019, one year after Xi’s last Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show appearance in 2018. Their relationship provides important context for the years between her previous runway appearance and her return in 2026.
According to AsiaOne, Xi and Ho have two children: their seven-year-old son, Ronaldo, and their daughter, Romee, who turns five in November 2026.
Their family life has developed during the period separating Xi’s two appearances at the annual fashion event. Her return therefore coincided with a later chapter in her personal life, alongside the continuation of her modelling career.
However, there is no established evidence in the available reporting that marriage or motherhood caused her absence from the show. It would also be premature to describe the October 2026 appearance as a broader career comeback without further confirmation.
What is known is that Xi returned to the runway after eight years, expressed how happy she was to be invited back and received a public message of support from her husband.
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2026: Date, Venue and Musical Performers
Xi’s appearance formed part of a larger production that brought together returning models, celebrity appearances, elaborate runway designs and live musical performances.
The 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show took place on October 18 at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles. Victoria’s Secret announced that the event would be streamed globally on YouTube, with the livestream scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time and 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The event’s musical lineup featured four acts, all women: KATSEYE, Megan Moroney, Megan Thee Stallion and Tate McRae. Victoria’s Secret announced the performers ahead of the show, making their appearances part of the evening’s wider entertainment programme.
The production also followed a seasonal concept, with its runway presentations organised around different times of the year.
Adam Selman Explains the Show’s Seasonal Concept
Reuters reported that the 2026 production featured a second winter segment and a dedicated section for the brand’s PINK line.
Executive creative director Adam Selman explained the structure before the show, telling Reuters on the pink carpet:
“I actually did the four seasons, and then I added in a second Winter spot,”
He added:
“So you’ll see Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter one and Winter two, with PINK in the middle,”
The creative framework brought together elaborate wings and designs inspired by details including flower petals, snowflakes and metallic finishes.
Other notable appearances included Kylie Jenner, who made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut wearing the brand’s Fantasy Bra, reported to be worth US$50 million. Established runway names, including Gigi Hadid and other returning models, also featured in the show.
Against that wider backdrop, Xi’s return stood out for a straightforward reason: she had not walked in the annual production since 2018. Her two outfits, emotional response and husband’s tribute gave her appearance a distinct place within the 2026 event.
Does Ming Xi’s Return Mean She Is Back at Victoria’s Secret?
An eight-year gap naturally makes a runway return noteworthy, particularly when the model openly describes the experience as emotionally significant. Xi’s comments about seeing the wings again, alongside Ho’s enthusiastic tribute, made the occasion a personal milestone as well as a fashion moment.
Nevertheless, the confirmed facts should remain separate from assumptions about what comes next.
Xi participated in the 2018 show and returned for the October 18, 2026, production. She walked in a floral corset with gauzy wings and sleeves before appearing in an all-pink lace ensemble. The following day, she publicly expressed her happiness about being invited back.
Ho also celebrated her appearance in two social media posts, referring to her as a “real life angel” and the “Pride of the family.”
The available information does not establish that Xi has signed a new contract, confirmed participation in future shows or announced a permanent return to Victoria’s Secret. Her appearance should therefore be understood as a confirmed return for the 2026 event, rather than proof of a longer-term arrangement.
A Different Victoria’s Secret Comeback
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was another familiar face at the Los Angeles show, returning to the runway after a long absence. See her two looks and return in our Rosie Huntington-Whiteley runway comeback report.
Conclusion
Ming Xi’s return to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show after eight years brought together striking runway styling, a deeply personal message and a public tribute from her husband, Mario Ho. Her floral corset, gauzy wings and all-pink lace ensemble marked her appearance at the October 18, 2026, Los Angeles event, while her words about seeing the wings again captured the happiness she associated with the occasion.
Ho’s description of Xi as the “Pride of the family” added a heartfelt note to the story. Whether or not she appears in future editions remains unconfirmed, but her return to the 2026 runway is clear: after an eight-year absence, she was back, and both her own reaction and her husband’s message reflected how much the moment meant to them.
Source and Research Disclaimer
This article has been prepared using the published reporting and source material listed below, including coverage from AsiaOne and Reuters, official Victoria’s Secret event announcements, the YouTube Official Blog, The Lions Talent Management and People. The details and quotations are presented according to the information available in those sources. The disclaimer does not imply independent verification beyond the material consulted, and unconfirmed future plans have not been presented as established facts.
Sources
- AsiaOne: Ming Xi returns to Victoria’s Secret runway after 8 years, Mario Ho says she’s ‘pride of the family’
- Victoria’s Secret Press Room: Official 2026 Fashion Show announcement and musical lineup
- Victoria’s Secret: Official Fashion Show 2026 page
- YouTube Official Blog: How to watch the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
- Reuters: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show struts through the seasons in Los Angeles
- The Lions Talent Management: Ming Xi’s professional biography and modelling career
- People: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2026 performers
Image Credit:
- Featured Image: Image Credit: @mingxi11 and @victoriassecret / Instagram
- Image 2: Image Credit: @mingxi11 and @victoriassecret / Instagram
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