Victoria's Secret has hired its first male model. He 'could not be more stoked about it.'
Never has there ever been a male ambassador for Victoria’s Secret — until Darren Barnet, that is.
The Never Have I Ever star, 30, joins the company as an ambassador for Pink's gender-free collection, which includes shorts, T-shirts, accessories and more.
Amy Hauk, chief executive officer of Pink, said that Barnet was an obvious choice for the position because he is a “positive role model for teens and young adults.”
“As we focus on expanding our gender-free offerings and continue to evolve as a brand, we want to ensure our partners not only represent the diversity of our customers, but also embody individuality and self-confidence,” she said in a statement.
Barnet, who in addition to starring on Never Have I Ever, played Nina Dobrev’s love interest in the Christmas comedy Love Hard, took to his Instagram Story to share the news with his more than 2.3 million followers.
“I’m excited to be a part,” he said while sporting one of Pink’s tie-dyed sweatshirts. “They’re focusing a lot on mental health awareness, inclusivity, community. I could not be more stoked about it, and I will be helping to launch more styles in their gender-free collection.”
Victoria’s Secret has undergone a massive rebrand. They ditched their signature models — called the Victoria’s Secret Angels — in 2021, and replaced them with the VS Collective, which consists of a group of inspirational women across many different careers. Founding members include Valentina Sampaio, Adut Akech, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Megan Rapinoe.
Earlier this month, Barnet spoke to Yahoo’s In the Know about his acting career and how he manages the pressure of living in the public eye.
“I try and realize that you’re never going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and you’re never going to please everyone,” he explained. “And that’s not just with acting — that’s in relationships and with anything in life. I think a lot of people have to learn that because that pursuit is an impossible one. And it’s finding comfortability in your own skin and love for yourself, and not for what people expect or want you to be. So you really have to take time for yourself and realize you’re not a machine, you are not at anyone’s expense, and you don’t have to live up to anyone’s expectation other than your own. So, set your expectations high and then love yourself.”
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