Blogger Poppy Cross reveals what it’s like to work out like Victoria’s Secret model

THE Victoria’s Secret Angels are hailed as some of the hottest women on the planet. A fitness blogger took the models’ workout challenge and discovered it’s not all genetics.

How to get a Victoria’s Secret body

THE figure of a Victoria’s Secret model is often put down to genetics and diet, but London-based fitness blogger and journalist Poppy Cross shows exercise plays a huge role in the development of these angels.

Cross undertook a four-month Victoria’s Secret workout challenge and concluded on her blog that #TrainLikeAnAngel, which the models use to describe their workouts, was a “devilishly deceptive term”.

“It would be far more apt if it were #workoutlikeafiend given the relentless and intense exercise involved, all performed on restricted diet,” Cross wrote.

To put simply, these girls aren’t starving themselves for the runway, they’re working for it. From weight training to running, yoga to boxing, the angels are sweating it out for their heavenly glow and unmatched definition come show time.

Cross quotes Victoria’s Secret creative director Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou, saying, “It’s really like being an Olympian — they have to be in peak condition”.

But just as training for the Olympics is intense, Cross reveals through her experience it’s also rewarding. “Yes I felt exhausted. Yes I got run-down, but … my energy comes back in leaps and bounds. My endurance has improved and I feel proud of my new mental and physical strength — not to mention my cholesterol and body fat are both lower and my muscle mass has increased.”

The standards to become an elusive Victoria’s Secret angel is to be at least 175cm, have a body fat percentage of 18 per cent or less and have a waist no greater than 61cm. During her workout program, Cross gained 0.6kg yet lowered her body fat percentage from 22.2 to 17 per cent. Her waist line also shrunk from 66cm to 56cm. Being 175cm herself, Poppy technically met the bill at the end of her four-month workout schedule overseen by Victoria’s Secret trainer Dan Roberts and nutritionist Charles Passler.

Diet played a role, with Cross adhering to a no-carb diet. Yet this routine isn’t for all year round. Cross quoted Dr Passler as saying, “No carb diets are not meant for long-term use. The potential long-term negative effects are nutrient deficiencies and an imbalance of normal flora bacteria”. Due to this, Cross instead intends to switch back to a low-carb diet.

But Cross revealed what truly made a Victoria’s Secret Angel, quoting Dr Passler as saying, “Genetics play a large role in what each individual has to work with as a foundation. The rest is hard work, dedication and talent.”

“Anyone who thinks that the VS models rely solely on starvation and genetics is wrong,” Cross concluded.

So, next time the angels are on the runway, we’ll know just how much effort and preparation went into that one night.