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By Janelle Okwodu
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Having a master of vitality at the helm of a brand certainly helps, but Kim Kardashian’s shapewear line relies on more than the reality star’s ability to make headlines. Since its launch in 2019, Skims has masterfully grabbed the internet’s attention with talked-about campaigns featuring some of the biggest names in popular culture. Its ads are intelligent, provocative, and tap into the collective nostalgia for the early 2000s. Case in point: Skims’ new launch highlights the allure of Victoria’s Secret’s once omnipresent army of angels. Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Candice Swanepoel reunite for photographers Sandy Kim & Greg Wales' slick images, and in a twist, Kardashian joins the party.
As the first Black Angel and the creator of a groundbreaking reality television series, Banks was an ideal choice to appear in the ads. She is a supermodel, producer, author, and businesswoman who embodies the kind of multi-tasking ambition that typifies modern celebrity. Behind the scenes, she and fellow entrepreneur Kardaishian had plenty to discuss, including family, fame, and the advice they’ve received from their mothers. Here, Banks shares what the vibe was truly like on set, what it was like to return to lingerie modeling after years off, and why her latest venture may be her coolest yet.
Banks joined the campaign after a heart-to-heart with Kardashian.
Kim reached out to me, and we had a beautiful heart-to-heart conversation about the campaign. I’ve respected her business savvy for quite a while; after that call, my respect grew to an even greater level. Kim dropped words of wisdom from her mom that echoed sage advice my mom has shared with me over the years. I hadn’t modeled lingerie and undergarments in so long, but I said yes after speaking with Kim and hearing her thoughtful, loving, and instinctive words!
The supermodel was already a fan of shapewear—and Skims.
Oh, yes, I am! I’m a fan of anything that helps women feel fierce and fabulous. I’ve used shapewear in many moments throughout my career, other times opting to go au naturel, but ultimately I believe the empowerment is in having the option. I admire Kim for bringing fashion to shapewear and making it so sexy and badass.
You honestly can’t go wrong with the Fits Everybody Cami I wore in the campaign—I kept wearing it after the shoot and still do. They look great under a blazer. And the Crossover bralette I wore was so comfy. It doesn’t have an underwire, which is usually a must for me, but it still fits nicely. I wear it around the house for that support I need while lounging.
Working on the shoot took Banks back to her days as a Victoria’s Secret Angel.
