Lily Aldridge

Discover the journey of Lily Aldridge — from her modeling roots to becoming a Victoria’s Secret Angel, her work in fashion, family, and enduring influence.

Introduction

Lily Maud Aldridge (born November 15, 1985) is an American model widely known for her work as a Victoria’s Secret Angel (2010–2018) and her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Her presence bridges high fashion and commercial modeling, and her career spans brand campaigns, editorial work, fashion collaborations, and brand building.

Early Life & Family Background

• Lily Aldridge was born in Santa Monica, California.

• She is the daughter of Alan Aldridge, a British artist and illustrator, and Laura Lyons, an American model and former Playboy Playmate.

• She has siblings and half-siblings active in creative fields:
    • Ruby Aldridge — sister and model   • Miles Aldridge — half-brother and fashion photographer   • Saffron Aldridge — half-sister (also in modeling)

• As a youth, she spent parts of her schooling both in California and London.

Growing up in such a creatively engaged family influenced her exposure to art, fashion, and visual culture from a young age.

Modeling Career & Achievements

Beginnings & Rise

• Lily began modeling in her teenage years. Her first major modeling assignment was for Abercrombie & Fitch at around age 16.

• Early in her career, she appeared in advertising campaigns for brands including Rocawear, Arden B, Smashbox Cosmetics, Coach, Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, JBrand, JCrew, Charles David, and Velvet Tees.

• She has been featured in editorial spreads and covers for international editions of Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Marie Claire, Tatler, and others.

Victoria’s Secret & Landmark Moments

• Lily made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut in 2009.

• She became an official Victoria’s Secret Angel starting in 2010 and continued until around 2018.

• In the 2015 show, she was selected to wear the Fantasy Bra (Firework Fantasy Bra), a highly prestigious designation within the Victoria’s Secret world.

• She walked in several Victoria’s Secret shows consecutively over the years and served as one of the signature faces of the brand.

Diversification & Other Work

• She appeared in the 50th Anniversary edition of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (2014) as part of its cover celebration.

• She has worked in music videos — for example, the Taylor Swift video “Bad Blood”.

• Lily also ventured into entrepreneurial direction: in 2019, she launched her own fragrance line called Lily Aldridge Parfums.

Personal Life & Family

• Lily met Caleb Followill, frontman of the rock band Kings of Leon, in 2007.

• They married on May 12, 2011 in Montecito, California.

• The couple has two children:
    • Dixie Pearl Followill, born in 2012   • Winston Roy Followill, born January 2019

Lily balances her modeling career with family life, and in interviews she often speaks about preserving cherished items (red carpet looks, archival pieces) for her children.

Style & Influence

• Lily’s aesthetic often blends classic glamour with effortless cool. She’s known to move between high-fashion styles and California-casual sensibility.

• She has collaborated in fashion design: for example, her capsule line “From Lily, With Love” in collaboration with Weekend Max Mara, integrating design influences from her father’s art.

• Her influence extends beyond modeling: she is seen as a model who has tried to maintain creative input, brand partnerships, and entrepreneurial paths rather than just being a passive face of brands.

Legacy & Lessons

1. Versatility is a strength
     Lily moved fluidly across commercial and high-fashion work, editorial and runway, music videos, and fragrance development.

2. Legacy and heritage matter
     Growing up in an artistic family (father a celebrated illustrator, siblings in creative fields) gave her context, and she later honored that heritage in her fashion collaborations.

3. Sustainability in personal brand
     Rather than being defined by a single contract or brand, she has diversified: modeling, brand lines, lifestyle curation, and being selective in her public roles.

4. Balancing public and private
     Her efforts to preserve meaningful fashion pieces for her children demonstrate that one can live a high-visibility life while keeping personal roots intact.

5. Stride through transitions
     When the modeling industry changes or when time passes, having other creative outlets (design, fragrance, branding) helps maintain relevance beyond mere appearance.