Why Prime Doutzen Kroes Still Rules the Supermodel Hall of Fame
By James H. Sterling
In 2008, Victoria's Secret elevated Kroes from runway guest to contracted Victoria's Secret Angel, placing her alongside Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Karolina Kurkova. Her tenure with the lingerie giant ran through late 2014, producing some of the brand's most celebrated runway moments.
Kroes brought rare high-fashion credibility to the lingerie extravaganza. Her Angel segments regularly dominated prime-time broadcasts, with Kroes showcasing intricate, weighted wing constructions with ease. The pairing proved immensely lucrative, guaranteeing global consumer recognition and fueling her ascent up financial charts.
| Timeframe | Contract & Major Campaign | Financial & Industry Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2005, 2007 | Calvin Klein Eternity fragrance & Italian Vogue breakthrough | Voted Model of the Year; established editorial authority across Europe. |
| 2006, Present | Global L'Oréal Paris ambassador contract | Multi-million-dollar long-term beauty deal; Cannes Film Festival red carpet fixture. |
| 2008, 2014 | Official Victoria's Secret Angel contract | Reached top 5 on the Forbes highest-paid models list, hitting $6M, $8M per year. |
| 2016, 2020 | Global brand ambassador & Hunkemöller lingerie collection designer | Commercial equity ownership; major retail expansion across European markets. |
By 2014, Forbes pegged her annual income at $8 million, ranking her behind only Gisele Bündchen. The financial figures proved what agents had quietly known for years: Kroes was one of the few models alive whose face alone could move hundreds of millions of dollars in cosmetics, lingerie, and luxury goods.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
