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Suni Lee didn’t just walk the Victoria’s Secret runway — she strutted past the haters.
The six-time Olympic medalist, 22, faced some online shade over her petite stature after making history at the VS Fashion Show as one of the first major athletes alongside WNBA player Angel Reese to hit the catwalk at the lingerie and loungewear brand’s star-studded event.
Lee posted a TikTok clip of herself lip-synching to Ariana Grande‘s “Successful” in response to the critics on Saturday, October 18, captioning her video, “Can u guys stop bullying me.”
“You were on the runway and they were mad and at HOME,” one fan fired back at her haters.
Another social media user passionately defended her milestone moment, responding, “Girl I got your back. Why are people bullying you because of your height, like u can’t control that bro,” to which Lee replied, “Like, literally.”
“Who’s bullying you?! I won’t allow it,” Ming Lee Simmons commented while joining the chat.
Lee not only liked several of the comments, but also went on to thank her supporters, writing, “I love yall 😭🥹 my girls 🤍🤍”
The 5-foot-tall gymnast oozed confidence when she stepped out wearing a bright pink sports bra and underwear set, low-rise shorts and a matching jacket featuring miniature wings while members of the K-pop group Twice were performing during the event on October 15. Her look was completed with sparkling pumps.
“Stepping into something like the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show felt like a dream outside of my co
mfort zone … But that’s exactly why I said yes,” Lee told Marie Claire in an interview prior to the show. (Lee is a famed member of the “Golden Girls” squad that won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.)
Lee noted that she also wanted to inspire other girls to embrace their individuality.
“Growing up, I didn’t see many girls who looked like me in spaces like this. To now be here as an athlete, as someone who’s worked so hard to achieve her dreams, it feels powerful,” she added. “I want young girls to know they don’t have to fit into just one box. You can chase Olympic gold and still own your femininity.”
As for Reese, she made her mark as one of the ladies featured in the “Wings Reveal” lineup.
The two-time All-Star, 23, wore a pink floral lingerie set paired with a feathered stole for one look, also hitting the runway in lace lingerie paired with a cropped shirt and iconic angel wings.
Reese echoed Lee’s sentiments while speaking to Us Weekly ahead of her catwalk moment.
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“I’m really excited,” Reese gushed to Us. “I’m happy to be here in a room full of amazing women. Just a dream come true.”
As for how she felt about being one of the first athletes to make their debut in the runway show, Reese told Us, “It means everything. I know a lot of people are gonna be watching today, and hopefully young girls today get inspiration that they can do these same things.”
She added, “Be a multi dimensional athlete, businesswoman, fashion girl, podcaster, entrepreneur — everything that I’ve done already — and just continue to live the dream.”
English (US) ·