KATSEYE Performs Pinky Up and Animal at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

We’re so proud of her. She’s really been so brave

That was how Lara described her bandmate Sophia to E! News, capturing the resilient spirit of girl group KATSEYE as they took the stage at the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on Sunday, Oct. 18. Performing without two of their members, the quartet turned the event into their very own KAT-walk while showcasing the brand's new Pink collection. The high-profile appearance marked the first time the fashion show has returned to Los Angeles in 19 years, bringing together an all-female musical lineup and a star-studded roster of models for a night of entertainment.

The event, described by executive Adam Selman as Fandemonium, moved to Los Angeles after organisers said they could not find a suitable New York venue for everything they wanted to include. Yet behind the glamour, the production also reignited debates over its shifting aesthetic, pitting fans who embraced the bold, revealing stage styling against critics longing for a more traditional presentation.

How did KATSEYE and Tate McRae command the stage?

Yoonchae, Megan, Lara and Daniela started out in the audience before diving into the first few bars of their hit Pinky Up, appearing sans bandmates Manon, who has been on hiatus since February, and Sophia, who stepped away in August to focus on mental health. Backed by a fleet of dancers, the four singer-dancers marched onto the runway in custom pink-and-black bustiers and miniskirts. After a brief interlude, they returned to finish out strong with Animal, singing as screens read PINK Class of 2026, and holding their own alongside professional models.

Both tracks appear on KATSEYE’s 2026 EP, WILD, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 in August as the group's first-ever No. 1, with the singles peaking at Nos. 28 and 24 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. On the red carpet, the present members shared that Sophia will return for band activities in January, with Lara horizon-adding, We respect her so much for taking the space and taking time for her health. She’s our sister, so we can’t wait for her to come back.

Taking the spotlight moments after Tate McRae finished her performance, Canadian pop star Tate McRae performed her single Housewife in smoldering red lingerie (though another source notes her hit was Sports Car). Her performance sparked sharp online disagreement. While some social media users questioned whether the event still resembled a traditional fashion show, asking, Why does every show have to be a strip show these days!? and calling for a return to class and elegance, supporters hit back just as sharply. One defender delivered a blunt response: It's a lingerie show. Not the opera, adding, Why we mad at beautiful people? Other performers included Megan Moroney, who strummed a pink guitar while singing 6 Months Later and Wish I Didn’t in furry pink wings, and Megan Thee Stallion, who strutted in her own bejeweled bra and angel wings while rapping Body (and later Her).

Who walked the runway and who sat in the front row?

1. 2018: The year the iconic Fantasy Bra last graced the Victoria's Secret runway before its return.
2. February 2026: Manon begins her hiatus from KATSEYE.
3. August 2026: KATSEYE releases their EP WILD, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and Sophia announces a temporary break for her mental health.
4. Sunday, October 18, 2026: The 2026 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show takes place at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles.

The runway featured a mix of returning legends and high-profile debutantes. Kylie Jenner made her Victoria's Secret debut wearing the brand's Fantasy Bra, returning to the runway for the first time since 2018. Meanwhile, Natalia Bryant fulfilled a childhood dream at age 23 by making her runway debut in a colorful Pink ensemble featuring gem-covered jeans, hot pink velvet sleeves, and a rhinestone belt adorned with puppy charms.

Solange Omon, 21, also made her debut in cream lingerie and gold feathered wings after winning the nationwide casting search on the YouTube series Angels Among Us, securing an IMG Models contract in the process. Returning favorites included the Hadid sisters, Paloma Elsesser, Alex Consani, Irina Shayk, Alessandra Ambrosia, Anok Yai, Precious Lee, Ashley Graham, Joan Smalls, Liu Wen, Barbara Palvin—who walked only six weeks after giving birth—and Elsa Hosk, returning for the first time in eight years.

In the front row, stars like Nicole Kidman took it all in while wearing a crisp white button-down shirt, striped tie, and lingerie-inspired skirt. Kidman sat beside Vanessa Bryant, whose daughter Natalia walked the show, with footage capturing Kidman reacting to McRae's performance.

What were the main highlights of the night?

The celebrations did not stop when the runway lights dimmed. Celebrities headed directly to the official after-party at the Bird Streets Club. Bella Hadid delivered one of the evening's most talked-about fashion moments by recreating the black lacy minidress that Britney Spears wore to the VMAs in 2001. Irina Shayk opted for completely see-through pants, while Tate McRae chose a tiny leopard-print minidress to celebrate the night's conclusion.

For fans following the broadcasts, the full Victoria's Secret Fashion Show can be streamed online, with KATSEYE's performance arriving around the one-hour, eight-minute mark. Viewers tracking the group can anticipate Sophia's return for band activities in January.