Kendall Jenner may have been noticeably absent when Kylie Jenner took one of Victoria’s Secret’s biggest runway honors, but insiders insist there was no sibling tension behind the scenes.
Kylie made her surprise Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut on October 18 in Los Angeles wearing the revived Fantasy Bra, a diamond-heavy piece valued at $50 million. Kendall, a three-time veteran of the show, was not in the lineup or the audience, prompting questions about how she felt watching her younger sister step into territory long associated with her modeling career.
However, sources say Kendall was firmly in Kylie’s corner and even helped her prepare.
Kendall Jenner Reportedly Thought Kylie ‘Absolutely Killed It’
One source told Page Six that Kendall “thought Kylie absolutely killed it” during the high-profile runway moment.
The insider said Kylie still turned to her older sister for advice despite having previous runway experience. Kendall reportedly offered “some pointers,” but did not believe Kylie needed much coaching.
The source said Kendall considered Kylie “already a natural” and felt she was ready for the show.
A second insider reinforced that account, describing Kendall as very “supportive of Kylie doing the show.” The source also pushed back against any idea of sisterly competition, saying there is genuine support among “all” the sisters.
Kylie’s $50 Million Fantasy Bra Was A Historic Assignment
Kylie Jenner was chosen to wear the returning Fantasy Bra, one of the most recognizable traditions in Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show history.
Victoria’s Secret brought the piece back after an eight-year runway absence. PEOPLE reported that the Jacob & Co. creation contains 4,410 natural diamonds in seven cuts, including a 75.54-carat Fancy Vivid yellow diamond at its center.
The $50 million valuation makes it the most expensive Fantasy Bra Victoria’s Secret has presented.
The brand said the elaborate piece required more than 1,000 hours of work by 15 artisans. Victoria’s Secret executive Adam Selman said Kylie’s influence beyond fashion was part of the reasoning behind choosing her, describing the beauty mogul as a “cultural powerhouse.”
However, the decision was not universally embraced. The Blast previously reported that some viewers questioned why Kylie, who had never walked a Victoria’s Secret show before, received an honor historically associated with established Angels and veteran models. Others defended the reality star amid the backlash.
Kendall Jenner Has Her Own Victoria’s Secret History
The comparisons were inevitable because Kendall’s Victoria’s Secret history stretches back more than a decade.
She made her debut in the 2015 show, telling Vogue that walking the runway was something she had “always dreamed of.”
Kendall returned in 2016 and again in 2018 after sitting out the 2017 show. Her 2018 appearance remains her most recent Victoria’s Secret runway walk.
That history gives more context to Kylie asking her sister for guidance. Kendall has experienced the scale and scrutiny surrounding the event firsthand, while Kylie was stepping onto that specific runway for the first time.
Still, Kylie was hardly unsupported at the venue. Her boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet, and mother, Kris Jenner, were near the runway. The Blast reported that Chalamet enthusiastically applauded as Kylie walked while Kris recorded the moment on her phone.
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Kendall Jenner’s Absence Came During A Packed Weekend
There has been no public explanation from Kendall for why she skipped the Victoria’s Secret show, and reports noted that she was neither in the lineup nor seen in the audience.
Her schedule immediately before the event, however, was packed.
Vogue documented that Kendall began October 17 in Athens, Georgia, for an 818 Tequila college tailgate before flying back to Los Angeles and heading directly into preparation for the Academy Museum Gala.
She wore a custom Valentino polka-dot gown to the gala and spent time with Jacob Elordi, with whom she has been romantically linked throughout 2026.
ELLE reported that Kendall and Elordi arrived separately but were seen sharing affectionate moments after the carpet. Elordi was also captured taking pictures of Kendall while she posed for photographers.
The schedule does not establish why Kendall was absent on Sunday, but it shows how packed her weekend was.
Kendall Jenner Has Become More Selective About Runway Work
Kendall’s absence from Victoria’s Secret also does not mean she has stepped away from modeling.
Less than a month earlier, she returned to the runway during Paris Fashion Week for L’Oréal Paris’ “Express Your Worth” show at Place Joffre. Harper’s Bazaar reported that Kendall was among the major names who walked with the Eiffel Tower serving as the backdrop.
She opened the presentation in a sheer black maxi dress, alongside a lineup that included Heidi Klum, Viola Davis, Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda and Cara Delevingne.
However, Kendall has previously indicated that she no longer feels the need to accept every modeling opportunity.
In a 2024 Vogue interview, she explained that running 818 Tequila had made her more selective about fashion jobs, describing the ability to turn work down as “a privilege.”
She also pushed back against the idea that she competes with her famous sisters. Kendall said she had never viewed her career through that lens, explaining that growing up, their attitude was essentially, “You’re you, I’m me.”
Her interests have continued expanding beyond fashion. In another Vogue interview in 2025, Kendall revealed how serious she had become about home design while building a property out West, even saying she could imagine stopping everything to focus on designing houses.
