Meet Bianca Balti, The Supermodel Who Was Denied The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show '25 Amid Cancer

Italian supermodel Bianca Balti has long been celebrated as one of the most captivating faces of the fashion world. The 41-year-old has walked runways for some of the world’s biggest fashion labels, including Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, and Victoria’s Secret. But today, the supermodel’s name is making headlines for an unexpected reason that has left fans reeling.

Balti, who was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer in 2024, recently shared her story in a deeply personal essay, which she published on Substack. The former Victoria’s Secret supermodel described how she reached out to the lingerie brand, asking to be included in its 2025 fashion show, but was denied.

It was Bianca’s graceful response to the denial that won hearts online, reigniting fans’ interest in her life as she battles her cancer with a bright smile.

Victoria’s Secret denies Bianca Balti’s heartfelt wish to walk the 2025 runway

Balti has maintained a courageous front as she battles Stage 3C ovarian cancer, a diagnosis she revealed in 2024. Despite her ongoing treatment, the supermodel made a heartfelt request to Victoria’s Secret, i.e., to walk in the brand’s 2025 Fashion Show, which took place on October 15, 2025, with its live broadcast starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. However, what would have marked one year since Balti’s first chemotherapy session instead became a moment of disappointment and heartbreak.

Once a part of Victoria’s Secret’s golden era, Bianca’s request to return to the 2025 runway was turned down. But it’s her graceful stance that has won hearts. On October 18, 2025, the Italian model made a self-published post on Substack, including a letter she had addressed to the ‘Victoria’s Secret Team’. Balti reached out to the company on October 6 and showed her interest in returning to the show’s runway as soon as she saw the announcement of this year’s show. She wrote:

“I don’t know exactly where the courage came from, but I did it. The only things we regret in life are the chances we don’t take. So I asked myself, ‘What do I have to lose?’ and went for it. I searched LinkedIn for email addresses and sent this open letter to anyone I could find at the company… When I saw the announcement that the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was returning this year, I felt something powerful: I should be there too.”

For those who are unfamiliar with Bianca’s illustrious modelling career over the decades, she was an integral part of Victoria’s Secret’s golden era during the early 2000s. The model first graced the Victoria’s Secret runway in 2005, during the brand’s iconic annual fashion show. 

After battling cancer for the past year, Balti was excited to celebrate her strength by returning to the VS runway after two decades. But when she was rejected, it led to disappointment, but not for the reasons you might think. The 41-year-old sought the global fashion show as the perfect platform to send a powerful message to all women across the world that they are greater than the adversities of life. She added:

“I’m not the youngest, curviest, or fittest. But I am strong, brave, and alive — and I’m still damn sexy. Having me on that runway wouldn’t just be a personal dream fulfilled; it would send a message to millions of women: Life goes on in the face of adversity. You are not less of a woman. You are whole. You are unstoppable.”

A look at Bianca’s journey: from runway to cancer battle

Bianca Balti first captured global attention in the early 2000s, gracing campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, and Armani, and even walking the Victoria’s Secret runway in 2005. After spending decades on the runway, the supermodel discovered in 2022 that she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which significantly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. 

Balti even underwent a preventive double mastectomy after the discovery, but only two years later, in September 2024, she was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer after experiencing severe abdominal pain. The model announced the news in an emotional yet powerful post, writing:

“Last Sunday, I checked myself into the ER to find out that my lower abdominal pain was stage 3C ovarian cancer. It’s been a week full of fear, pain, and tears, but mostly love, hope, laughter, and strength… I have a long journey ahead, but I know I will beat this. For myself, my loved ones (my daughters are at the top of the list), and all of you who need strength, you can borrow some of mine cause I have loads.”

Balti’s chemotherapy treatment began in October 2024, and her final round was completed in January 2025. During treatment, she appeared publicly with a shaved head, turning heads with her stunning appearance at Sanremo 2025. Her presence itself was a bold celebration of life and authenticity as she flaunted gowns by Valentino, Armani Privé, and Fendi. Vogue even hailed her as “the power of real beauty”.

Inside Bianca Balti’s personal life

Behind all the glitz and glam and her ongoing battle with cancer, Bianca’s family has been her real strength. The Italian beauty is a devoted mother to two daughters, Matilde, whom she shares with her first husband, Christian Lucidi, and Mia, from her former relationship with American artist Matthew McRae.

Despite her global fame, Balti has often emphasised the importance of maintaining normalcy for her children, splitting her time between California and Italy. In interviews, she’s described motherhood as her “greatest role”, one that gives her strength through life’s toughest challenges. 

Balti’s latest story has sparked widespread support across social media. Many fans and fellow models criticized Victoria’s Secret’s decision, calling it a “bad PR move” and a “lost chance to redefine beauty on their own stage.” Many rallied behind the model for her authenticity and bravery, pointing out how VC missed the opportunity to represent the kind of empowerment the brand has long claimed to champion.

The supermodel has shown yet again how to turn disappointment into empowerment, using her story to redefine what strength and beauty truly mean.

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