Kelsey Merritt will become the first Filipino to walk down the legendary runway of a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Merritt, 21 and a Filipino-American, will take her to walk into history on Nov. 8 when the 2018 edition of the show, arguably the most popular and followed fashion show on the planet, opens in New York. She will join over 50 top models from around the world, many of the icons of the fashion world and Victoria's Secrets such as Adriana Lima, Behati Prinsloo, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Elsa Hosk and Candice Swanepoel.
On Sept. 7, Merritt broke the news on social media she passed the audition to become one of the models. "We did it the Philippines!" she excitedly wrote on Facebook along with a picture of herself in tears and holding a bouquet of flowers. She said she's walking in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2018 and "I can't believe this!"
She then listed the names of colleagues instrumental in "making my dream come true."
Merritt has long wanted to become Victoria's Secret model and moved to New York to attain that dream after she graduated in 2017 from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Mass Communications. While still in college, she modeled for Maybelline Philippines, Kashieca and Palmolive.
She got her first-ever shoot with Victoria's Secret in May, posing for its active-wear line. More assignments with the brand followed, and many of Merritt's photos made their way to Victoria's Secret online catalog.
Then in June, Merritt (who stands 178 cm tall) was photographed by Australian fashion photographer Russell James for the lingerie line of Victoria's Secret. The good news about Merritt being included in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November followed.
Merritt, who was born in the Philippines but who lived in New York City for most of her life, juggled modeling in New York and studying in Ateneo for four years. She chose to study in the real world along with real students despite having the option of taking online courses. She said she managed to do all this because she had her priorities straight and managed her time well.
As for her taxing workload over the past four years, she said God knows how hard it was to constantly fly back and forth to New York and London from Manila while still in school. She said she had to miss classes, but always made sure she was on top of everything.
She's proud she graduated with the same batch she entered Ateneo with. She thanked Ateneo for the great role it played in helping her become the person she is today. "I learned so much in Ateneo, and I wouldn't have had it any other way."
