Rachel Hilbert on Prepping for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

by Sydney Sadick

How does Victoria’s Secret PINK model Rachel Hilbert get ready for the sexiest televised event of the year? We asked the 21-year-old  for all of her fitness and diet tips and tricks as she prepares to command the catwalk in Paris for the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, next week. Take notes! 

How were you discovered by Victoria’s Secret?
I would go to Victoria’s Secret as a teenager, and they were looking for someone [to model] for their in-house catalog. They really liked me and started booking me out of house—for online—and then it went on from there. It was the luck of the draw! I became the face of PINK at the beginning of 2015, when I was just turning 20.

This is your second time walking the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Have you gotten over the first-year nerves?
Honestly, no! I don’t think I’ll ever get over the nerves, and I’ll never forget my first year. It’s always nerve-racking, especially building up to it—you get more and more nervous.

What are you most looking forward to this time around?
We’re all pretty excited to be going on a plane to Paris together. My entire family is coming! I went to Paris once for the day, but I never spent time there.

Travel essentials?
I always bring rosewater spray, eye masks, a neck pillow, and moisturizer on the plane.

How have you been preparing for the show?
I have to work out all year long because of my job, so it’s kind of a ritual. Now I’m working out once or twice a day. Leading up to the show I put in more time at the gym, I drink a lot of water, and I try to get more sleep. Everything times two! I also watch my weight. Leading up to the show I try to be conscious of what I’m eating, so I’ll have fish—I need a lot of protein from working out—and anything that’s natural. I’m eating very clean, but I’m not doing any crazy diet because I can’t do that! [Laughs] It’s all about moderation.

What are your go-to workouts?
I have a personal trainer who does different things with me every single day; it tricks my body, in a sense. I’m sore every time I go because we’re working different parts of my body each time. I also box, run, and do pilates. I try to mix it up.

How do you stay relaxed during this time of year?
I like going into the sauna. It’s my one time where I feel like I sweat out my stress almost.

Who from your Victoria’s Secret family has given you the best advice?
I remember when I first started shooting PINK, Elsa [Hosk] came up to me and was like, ”Just take every day with a grain of salt and always be yourself. Take everything in and experience it all.” I just went with it. Of course, Sara Sampaio and I talk a lot. She’s like, “Just keep living every single day. This is your job and appreciate it a lot and enjoy doing it and be yourself.”

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: (back row L-R) Candice Swanepoel, Adriana Lima, Behati Prinsloo, Romee Strijd, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kate Grigorieva, (Front Row L-R) singer Selena Gomez, Lily Aldridge and singer The Weeknd walks the runway during the 2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Lexington Avenue Armory on November 10, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 10: (back row L-R) Candice Swanepoel, Adriana Lima, Behati Prinsloo, Romee Strijd, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kate Grigorieva, (Front Row L-R) singer Selena Gomez, Lily Aldridge and singer The Weeknd walks the runway during the 2015 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Lexington Avenue Armory on November 10, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret)

Is your goal to be a Victoria’s Secret Angel?
I guess that’s everyone’s goal! Right now I’m super happy with being a part of this family and being the spokesperson for this brand, so we’ll see what happens. I’m very happy where I am right now.

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