14 NOVEMBER 2001
With the biggest names in modelling taking to the catwalk to promote its smalls, it comes as no surprise to learn that Victoria’s Secret is now venturing into TV. The lingerie giant’s latest fashion collection, enticingly entitled Christmas Dreams And Fantasies, is to be shown on US ABC network in an hour-long, prime-time show tomorrow, featuring beauties such as Heidi Klum, Molly Sims, Tyra Banks, and Gisele Bundchen.

And that’s not all that the TV channel has in store for modelizers – as Sex And The City novelist Candace Bushnell nicknamed guys who only date mannequins. Before the catwalk show, which was filmed Tuesday in New York's Bryant Park, there is a special episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, in which eight of the world’s best-known models compete to win the seven-figure top prize.

The beauties with brains include Bridget Hall, Molly Sims – once a law student at Vanderbilt University – Veronica Webb and Eva Herzigova, who speaks four languages. Each model is guaranteed to walk away with a minimum of $32,000 for the charity of their choice.

The model-packed night will also feature Revlon girl Rhea Durham, who was rumoured to be stepping out with Mark Wahlberg over the summer. She is scheduled to appear in an episode of Spin City, following in the footsteps of Heidi Klum, who once landed a role in the political comedy as Michael J Fox’s love interest.

This will be the sixth year that Victoria’s Secret has hosted its fashion show, but the first time it will be shown on television. The company, which sells 365 million catalogues a year, and notches up annual undie sales of $3.3 billion, is hoping the TV exposure will generate even more revenue.

“It’s the kind of thing that’s going to inspire a lot of women with new ideas about how they can make themselves feel beautiful and sexy,” said Kurt Barnard, a retail analyst. “It’s also going to inspire a lot of men to venture into Victoria’s Secret to buy dainty things for the women in their lives.”

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and R&B singer Mary J Blige will perform at the show.