LOS ANGELES — Amid the glamour of a US$50 million diamond creation and some of the world’s most recognisable supermodels, 19-year-old Sri Lankan model Elina Gunawardena made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to walk the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
The event, held on October 18, 2026, at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles, brought together leading figures from international fashion, entertainment and music.
For Sri Lanka, however, one of the evening’s most significant moments was the appearance of Gunawardena, professionally known as Elina G, whose runway debut placed the country on one of the industry’s most prominent international platforms.
The spectacular also marked the return of Victoria’s Secret’s celebrated Fantasy Bra, worn by American television personality and beauty entrepreneur Kylie Jenner.
Valued at an estimated US$50 million, the diamond-encrusted creation became one of the most widely discussed highlights of the show.
Kylie Jenner Unveils a US$50 Million Diamond Creation
The 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show featured the return of the Fantasy Bra, an extravagant jewellery creation traditionally associated with some of the brand’s most celebrated runway appearances.
First introduced in 1996, the Fantasy Bra became a defining feature of the annual fashion event before disappearing from its runway presentations after 2018.
Its return in 2026 was marked by a collaboration with luxury jewellery house Jacob & Co., founded by renowned jeweller Jacob Arabo.
Kylie Jenner made her Victoria’s Secret runway debut wearing the custom-designed piece, which incorporated 4,410 natural diamonds.
At its centre was a 75.54-carat radiant-cut Fancy Vivid yellow diamond, valued at approximately US$22 million.
The elaborate creation also featured 91 prominent white diamonds among its extensive gemstone arrangement.
According to reports on the design, 15 artisans spent more than 1,000 hours assembling the intricate piece, which was valued at US$50 million in its entirety.
The creation was described as the most valuable Fantasy Bra in Victoria’s Secret history, surpassing earlier designs associated with internationally recognised supermodels.
Elina Gunawardena Becomes First Sri Lankan on the Runway
While the extraordinary jewellery creation attracted international attention, Gunawardena’s appearance represented a separate milestone for Sri Lanka’s fashion industry.
The Colombo-born model, known internationally as Elina G, became the first Sri Lankan model reported to have appeared on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway.
At just 19, she has already established a growing presence in international fashion.
Her career began in Sri Lanka before expanding to major international modelling markets, including Paris, London and New York.
Her professional development has included appearances at international fashion events and work associated with prominent luxury fashion houses.
Gunawardena’s Victoria’s Secret debut marks a further achievement in that progression, placing her alongside some of the industry’s most established names.
The appearance has attracted widespread attention in Sri Lanka, where her achievement is being celebrated as an important moment for local modelling talent.
Global Supermodels Share the Los Angeles Stage
The 2026 show featured an extensive lineup of internationally recognised models, including:
- Gigi Hadid
- Bella Hadid
- Adriana Lima
- Alessandra Ambrosio
- Irina Shayk
- Ashley Graham
Their appearances contributed to an event combining the brand’s established runway traditions with a new generation of international modelling talent.
Live musical performances added to the spectacle, with Tate McRae, Megan Thee Stallion, Megan Moroney and KATSEYE entertaining the audience.
The combination of established supermodels, musical performances and elaborate fashion presentations reinforced the show’s place among the industry’s most recognisable international events.
A New Milestone for Sri Lankan Fashion
For Gunawardena, appearing at Victoria’s Secret represents an important stage in a career that has progressed from Sri Lankan fashion shows to international runways.
Her achievement demonstrates the opportunities available to emerging models from countries that have historically received comparatively limited representation in the world’s largest fashion productions.
It also brings attention to the talent developing within Sri Lanka’s modelling and creative industries.
Although the US$50 million Fantasy Bra dominated international fashion headlines, Gunawardena’s debut carried a different significance for Sri Lankan audiences.
Her appearance placed a Sri Lankan model on a stage shared by some of the industry’s most established figures, reflecting the increasing visibility of South Asian talent in global fashion.
For the country’s aspiring models, the milestone offers a tangible example of how a career beginning in Sri Lanka can develop into opportunities on the international runway.
The evening will be remembered internationally for Kylie Jenner’s extraordinary diamond creation. For Sri Lanka, it will also be remembered as the night Elina Gunawardena stepped onto the Victoria’s Secret stage.
