Make way for new Victoria's Secret model Kelsey Merritt

Kelsey Merritt is one of the newest models for  the popular lingerie and sleepwear brand Victoria's Secret. Most of all, she is from the Philippines!

For the first time in 23 years, a Filipino-American model will walk in the Victoria's Secret fashion show, an annual lavish event where models are garbed in sexy and elaborate costumes.

"I’m freaking out. Somebody wake me up from the best dream ever," says Merritt on Twitter.

Congratulatory messages flooded the social media as soon as Merritt confirmed on Instagram that she will walk the runway for the Victoria's Secret fashion show later this year.

"WE DID IT PHILIPPINES!!!!!! 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭 I’m walking in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2018!!! Ahhhhhh I can’t believe this!! Thank you soooo much @johndavidpfeiffer, @monica.mitro, @10magazine, and Ed Razek for making my dream come true!! ❤️❤️❤️," says Merritt.

She adds: "But most of all thank you to all my followers you guys are my rock!!! I couldn’t have done this without you guys. Thank you for your never ending support I LOVE Y’ALL!!!💕🇵🇭🙏🏼" Prior to this, she posted call back photos from the "VS" audition on Instagram.

Merritt, 21, who hails from Pampanga, is a communications arts graduate of Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. Later, she moved to the US to pursue her modelling career.

An interview for Preview Magazine says that Merritt has a sweet tooth. In school. she usually wears sneakers, denim jeans and a t-shirt. She loves volleyball and Broadway musicals.

Merritt also describes herself as a homebody. “I don't like going out. I cannot last out longer than 12 midnight. Plus, I can't dance, so what's the point?! Haha! I would rather stay at home and read a good book than stay out late,” according to the magazine.

Merritt says that the title of her thesis in college is "Be Brave Challenge: An HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign Promoting Testing and Addressing Self-Stigma Among Filipino MSM University Students." She adds: I'm very excited because my thesis mates and I were nominated for best thesis!"

The annual fashion extravaganza has been a stepping stone for some of the biggest fashion models in the world. Some of the previous and present "VS" models include Adriana Lima, Tyra Banks, Alessandra Ambrosio, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Miranda Kerr, Taylor Hill, Jasmine Tookes, Lily Aldridge, Liu Wen, etc.

Nine of the models who appeared in 2015 fashion show appeared on Forbes’ list of the world’s 20 highest-paid models in 2016. Aside from being a "VS" Angel, the models become brand ambassadors of popular brands in the world.

Merritt is expected to strut all the way to the bank with a six-figure salary.

In 2017, the highest-paid Victoria's Secret model was Brazilian Adriana Lima who earned $10.5 million (roughly P525 million) in 2016.

In 2016, beauty queen-turned-fashion model Janine Tugonon auditioned for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show but she has failed to make the final round of the popular lingerie runway extravaganza.

Tugonon then was one of the hundreds of models who auditioned for the fashion show which will be broadcast in December 2016. She made it to the second round of the callbacks with 29 other fashion models.

The Miss Universe 2012 first runner-up earlier made waves as a fashion model abroad when she became the first Filipino to be featured in a commercial for Victoria Secrets Pink, which caters to female college students ages 13 to 22.

Tugonon had posed nude in her shoot when she won a modelling contact along with 11 other girls who will be featured in an art calendar. The photo shoot was done by David Belllemere in the Dominican Republic.

In 2017, global net sales of Victoria's Secret amounted to about US$7.39 billion. - ROBERT REQUINTINA