For Christina Nadin, the Filipino-Irish-British model and digital creator, walking in the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was a childhood dream realized.

“I never really thought it was in my bingo cards,” said Nadin, founder of hair accessories brand Bahay Kubo, of landing a spot in the show. She made her debut in the playful Pink collection during Sunday’s Los Angeles event.

“The one thing that I did say to my management [was] that I wanted to work with Victoria’s Secret, but I didn’t expect to be doing the show,” she went on.

It was also a meaningful moment of representation. The 31-year-old became the second model of Filipino descent to walk its runway, following Kelsey Merritt in 2018.

“It’s huge,” Nadin said of representing her Filipino heritage. “Being able to be a role model for someone in the Philippines is the coolest thing ever.”

On her 13th birthday, she explained, a friend gifted her a keepsake box featuring an image of her face superimposed onto a Victoria’s Secret model’s body, complete with angel wings. She had forgotten about it until her runway confirmation prompted her parents to find the box.

“It actually made me cry,” Nadin recalled.

Before receiving official confirmation, she was already training with a runway coach in the Philippines, continuing lessons over Zoom. In L.A., she trained daily, including two-hour sessions at Dogpound five days a week, combining weights and cardio with twice-weekly electrical muscle stimulation sessions.

“I haven’t been this fit in my life,” she said, adding that she aimed to consume more than 100 grams of protein daily to support muscle growth.

In beauty prep, Nadin got a lash lift and brow lamination, along with two at-home CO2Lift masks in the days leading up to the show.

“It was like I was getting married,” she laughed.

On show day, her alarm rang at 4:45 a.m., with a 6 a.m. call time at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City. For the Pink segment, hairstylists created beachy waves with extensions, while makeup artists working under Pat McGrath provided a fresh-faced look.

The staying power of the makeup impressed her. She credited Charlotte Tilbury and One/Size On ’Til Dawn setting sprays, along with Anua skin care used during preparation.

“I was actually still in my makeup until midnight,” she said. “It was still perfect.”

Embracing the playful energy of the runway, Nadin said a prayer before stepping out. After the show, she went to a friend’s house for pizza and watched the footage, becoming emotional as she reflected on the experience.

“I woke up this morning, like, was that actually real?”

In the exclusive photo gallery above, Nadin offers a behind-the-scenes look at her preparation and backstage moments on the day of the show.