Meet Stella Maxwell & Romee Strijd: New Victoria’s Secret Angels & Headline Makers

Photography: Taylor Jewell
Stylist: Christopher Kim

In the world of modeling, there are few gigs as high profile, lucrative, and career-making as being a Victoria’s Secret Angel.

You know their names: Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Candice Swanepoel, Tyra Banks, Alessandra Ambrosio, Karlie Kloss, etc. This week, Victoria’s Secret is inducting one of its largest ‘classes’ of Angels ever: 10 young models, each earning her first set of wings with the lingerie giant.

Yahoo Style had the opportunity to hang out with two of those otherworldly beauts—Romee Strijd, 20, a 5′10″ blonde stunner from Holland, and Stella Maxwell, 24, originally from the UK (you might recognize her as Miley Cyrus’s rumored girlfriend)—to chat about their favorite workouts and vacation spots, embarrassing bra memories, how they’re handle their newfound fame, and most importantly, their heavenly new job.

YS: What was your first reaction to being named a Victoria’s Secret Angel?

Romee: When I first heard about the contract, I didn’t realize it was about becoming an Angel! So I was so super excited that I went home and I texted my agent like, ‘Does this mean I became an Angel?’ and she texted me back ‘Yes.’ And when I got that message, I was super excited, smiling, and I was calling my whole family in Holland to tell them.
Stella: I just started smiling when I first found out. My agent called me, and I had no idea that that was coming. I had been working with VS a little bit, but I just wasn’t really expecting… you know, it’s kind of a surreal thing; I think any girl would say the same. None of us feel like we’re good enough for it, but we’re lucky enough to have it. So I was just shocked; it was surreal, and I just kind of went home and I lay on my bed and just started smiling. I was just so happy about it.

YS: What work had you done with VS before?

Romee: This is the first thing I did with VS, and also the fashion show last year in London. That was the first time.
Stella: I got put into some amazing shoots quite quickly. I got to do the Christmas catalog cover, and I wasn’t expecting that either; I just did a shoot for them, and they decided to put me on the cover, which is a big honor, as you know. And I’d been doing a lot of catalog work and advertising for print before I got signed.

YS: So far, what’s the best thing about being an Angel?

Stella: It’s a huge privilege and I get a lot of doors opened up for me. Since signing that contract, I think the level of my work just kind of rose, because people really notice you and Victoria’s Secret really propels you in front of people and gives you a lot of exposure. And it’s a really respected brand, so I think that even in fashion, everyone pays attention, and it kind of just helped open up so many doors. Even just thinking in the future, it’s gonna help me to do other projects that I would love to do with Victoria’s Secret, charity work… it just opens up all those doors. So that’s really what I want to focus on, and build myself within the brand and then give back a little after.
Romee: To go along this path with the nine other girls… it’s super nice to have this experience together. Like, it’s all new for us, and I think that’s the nicest thing. And to do the commercials with Michael Bay, of course; it’s so different from a shoot. It’s like those big epic film sets, and it’s super nice.

YS: Is there another Angel, past or present, who you consider your “Angel” Godmother, so-to-speak?

Romee: Definitely Adriana Lima. When I was younger, I always watched the shows and I was always looking to all those Angels, like Alessandra [Ambrosio] and Adriana, and I have so much respect for them having kids and coming back, and they stand for such powerful women. So they’re, like, really inspiring to me.
Stella: I’ve always had a lot of respect for Candice [Swanepoel]; I think she’s beautiful and I love her work, but I think all the girls have their thing, and I think that’s the same with all the new girls: We all add our own individuality to the brand, so I don’t know if there’s a specific one, but definitely I idolize Candice, for sure.

YS: Do you and the other Angels hang out when you’re not working?

Stella: I think me and the newer girls hang out a little more than maybe the older girls… I think they have their clique and we have our clique, but I really get along well with Lily Aldridge; I really like her. I really get along with Doutzen [Kroes]; I’ve met her a few times and really like her. It’s whoever you can really get time to talk to… we’re all so busy.

YS: What’s the hardest thing about being a model?

Romee: Probably traveling… it’s also the nicest thing, but sometimes it makes it hard when you’re on your own, or you go from hotel to another hotel, you fly a lot. It has a positive and negative side, but in the end, I’m super thankful for this work
Stella: All the traveling and being away from your friends and your loved ones.

YS: What’s your favorite way to stay in shape?

Romee: Boxing. I sometimes do private lessons, and we just do one-on-one, and classes where we do jump rope and floor exercises.
Stella: I have a trainer, so i just go see him whenever i can. I like doing weights and cardio, and some jump rope.

YS: What’s your favorite thing to do in your downtime?

Romee: I like to be around my friends and family… go out for lunch and find some nice healthy restaurants, and sit there the whole night and chat.
Stella: I have a knack for always ending up in L.A. whenever I have some days off, because I really like going there… and I really like hanging out on the beach and all the hiking and opportunities and things you can do outside. I love being outside; I love being in nature and exercising like that, other than in a gym in New York. So I try to get out there as much as I can, and I have a lot of friends and a lot of people I really love out there.

YS: How do you deal with your recent fame and the paparazzi?

Stella: I don’t really notice them that often; I just try to stay cool and be myself. I don’t really read into it too much. I don’t look for it, I don’t not look for it… I just kind of am what I am, I see what I see. I don’t know.

YS: So you don’t Google yourself?

Stella: (Laughs) No… I try not to. I think that can be a big mistake sometimes.

YS: What’s your first (maybe funny) memory involving a bra?

Romee: My first bra, I was probably like, 12… and the bra was far too big. But I definitely wanted to wear a bra, and I was trying to find the most crazy straps so that everybody could see I was wearing a bra, you know?
Stella: When I was in school, I remember really wanting to find an amazing push up bra, and I found one of those bras that have, like, three gel fillets within, like a triple push up. And I wore that to school one day, and it was justso horrific, and everyone was like, ‘What happened to you?!’ I never wore it again, and I quickly learned that that’s not the way to look hot. You should find a bra that really fits you for your body. It’s great, because Victoria’s Secret has all those options.

Click through the slideshow for more exclusive photos of Victoria's Secret's newesr Angels, Stella and Romee.