Martha Hunt's dreams came true when she found out she was officially going to be getting her first pair of wings to walk the iconic runway at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. As someone who had modeled for the popular lingerie company for several years now, being one of the twelve new Angels to join the 2015 show really was an honor for her.
She had walked in Victoria's Secret shows before, but becoming an official Angel is an extremely big deal. And as if this news alone wasn't exciting enough, the 26-year-old blonde beauty recently found out she'd be the one wearing the Swarovski lingerie and wings on this year's runway.
"I've worn wings before, but those are special," she told WWD. "They're heavier than ever before and light up like a firework." Wearing this elite blinged-out set is the second highest honor in the show, and a highlight in her career.
She started modeling during her early teens, and entered modeling contests in her home state as most models do. "I was so long and awkward and skinny, and I hadn't really grown into my features yet," she told Hamptons Magazine of her preteen years. "People were like, 'You can be a model; you look really different,' so I just got so used to hearing it."
With too many flawlessly sexy photo shoots to count, 1.2 million Instagram followers and a ton of famous friends, it's hard to go anywhere without seeing her gorgeous face, but there's a lot about Hunt you may not know!
Here are 5 things you absolutely need to know about Hunt before she walks the New York runway with the most incredible wings of them all in tonight's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
1. She started as a Free People model
Hunt had modeled for the trendy bohemian brand prior to her Victoria's Secret days, and was one of their original and classic models since their website launched in 2004. "Between then and now, Martha has been on countless catalog shoots and has hit the homepage more than a handful of times," Free People wrote in their blog. "Down to earth, super friendly, and one mega-babe, she always brought the best energy on set."
Free People allowed her to really make a name for herself in the business, and she couldn't thank them enough for her success. "Working with Free People over the years has offered me so many incredible experiences," Hunt said on the blog. "I'm blessed to be able to work with everyone at Free People. In this business it's extraordinary to find a client that feels like family. It's always fun to look back and see how much FP has evolved, and how much it's influenced my own style."
2. She has no shame stripping down for the camera
As if constantly posing in tiny lingerie for Victoria's Secret isn't revealing enough, Hunt has no problem getting completely naked for the camera. She's done several nude photo shoots showing off her incredibly toned body in true model fashion. From her topless shoots in Liu magazine and Marie Claire Italia, the blonde bombshell really has done it all in the business.
3. She doesn't let her Scoliosis affect her everyday routine
Hunt has struggled with Scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine that can be very painful, since she was 14, but she doesn't let that stand in the way of a career that requires you to be in amazing shape at all times. "Fitness is very important to me because it helps give me a routine when I travel," she told Free People. "It gives me one hour of 'me' time, and passes the time when I'm lonely. Living with Scoliosis serves as a constant reminder to keep my core and back strong. If I get lazy, I feel it in my back first."
As for her workout routine, she likes to stick to Pilates and resistance-band-based workouts. "These days I try to keep it very low-impact," she told Hamptons Magazine. "I have Scoliosis, so exercising can be really hard on my back...I try to mostly do softer exercises that build strength from the inside of the muscle."
After graduating high school, she had back surgery to help straighten out her spine, which had progressively gotten worse. "It has worked out great," she continued to say. "But it's a little harder to exercise, and I have to be more careful in life in general. It has definitely made walking the runway a little more of a challenge for me, but I'm just so thankful that I've been able to walk runways and achieve so much, even with this condition."
4. She's in Taylor Swift's squad
I mean, who isn't? But Hunt is one of the special few who got to appear in Swift's "Bad Blood" video and even walk up on stage with her to accept the VMA. "She has such an infectious personality," Hunt told People about Swift. "Everyone just wants to be around her at all times. She really brings out the best in everybody."
She's even gone as far as admitting that Swift is her role model. "I can't say enough good things about her," she told Hamptons Magazine. "I admire her so much as a person and a role model for young women. I think we need more people like her; people who want to bring women together and not over sexualize themselves. Plus, she's talented, and she's just the best."
5. Her Victoria's Secret Wings make her feel like Beyoncé
"I was feeling very Beyonce-inspired when I put [my costume] on, because it [creates] a perfect hourglass," she told Us Weekly during her final fittings for the show. "So gorgeous. I'm so lucky!"
"All of the late night work outs, early call times, last minute fittings, media training, walking in heels with weights, all comes down to this very moment," she captioned a photo of the runway earlier today. "I'm so proud and honored to walk another #VSFashionShow. Good luck to all the [angels] and congrats to everyone that works hard on this show! Let's kill it."
