Not long after revealing Hailey Bieber as a new member of the VS Collective, Victoria’s Secret announced that 24 year-old tennis champion Naomi Osaka would join the elite group, which includes Megan Rapinoe, Paloma Elsesser, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Valentina Sampaio and more.
Naomi, who is one of the most recognizable sports figures in the world, told WWD: “After learning and understanding about VS’s vision for the Collective, I was inspired to join these amazing women. I remember going into [Victoria’s Secret] stores when I was a kid and wondering why none of the women on the wall looked like me. Now, as a collective, we can inspire the next generation from all different backgrounds, cultures and sizes. That represents such progress to me.”
The VS Collective project is seeking to drive positive change for women around the globe. Martin Waters, the chief executive officer of Victoria’s Secret, previously explained that the company is “on an incredible journey to become the world’s leading advocate for women”.
“Tennis is an individual sport, so it’s not often that I get to be part of a team and a collective,” Osaka said, in a statement. “I’m so excited to get going and partner with all of these amazing women and to see what we can achieve together as the VS Collective.”