Behind the Victoria's Secret Runway: Miranda Kerr, Kelsey Merritt & Jasmine Tookes Get Real

In this special episode, Valeria revisits some of her most powerful and revealing conversations with iconic women in modeling - going beyond the runway & behind the camera to explore identity, resilience, motherhood, and the experiences that shaped who they are today.

Kelsey Merritt opens up about growing up in the Philippines with a strict mother, navigating the modeling industry as a biracial woman, and how her immigrant family values gave her thick skin. Next, Jasmine Tookes reflects on being raised by a young single mother, always knowing she wanted to be a model, and building confidence in an industry where she was often the only Black woman in the room. Finally, Miranda Kerr joins Valeria for a deeply honest conversation about life after Victoria’s Secret. Her motherhood journey - as a mom of four boys, miscarriage, breastfeeding, aging, and more. Miranda shares how her priorities have shifted and tells us more about her brand, KORA Organics. 

Together, these conversations peel back the layers behind globally recognized faces to reveal the real women underneath - their values, doubts, lessons, and quiet strength.

Follow The Women -

Kelsey MerrittInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseymerritt/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kelseymerritt

Jasmine Tookes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtookes/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jastookes

Miranda KerrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirandakerr/KORA Organics: https://koraorganics.com

Valeria’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/Valeria’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@valeria.lipovetsky

Not Alone’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notalonepod/Not Alone’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notalone.pod

Shop My Looks: https://shopmy.us/collections/3871837?tab=collections

What we talked about:

0:00 – Introduction

1:57 – Kelsey Merritt: growing up Filipina & being scouted online

4:05 – Kelsey Merritt: Strict immigrant parents & modeling feedback

6:03 – Kelsey Merritt: Identity, representation & being “the first”

11:16 – Kelsey Merritt: Commercial vs high fashion modeling realities

14:49 – Kelsey Merritt: Discovering independence in New York

18:04 – Kelsey Merritt: Beauty standards in the Philippines

24:25 – Introducing Jasmine Tookes

26:13 – Jasmine Tookes: Dreaming of Victoria’s Secret from childhood

28:03 –Jasmine Tookes: Modeling young & having a protective mom

33:18 – Jasmine Tookes: Being the only Black model in the room

35:21 –Jasmine Tookes:  Motherhood & identity shifts

39:23 – Jasmine Tookes: Daddy issues & family boundaries

42:52 – Introducing Miranda Kerr

45:34 – Miranda Kerr: Choosing not to return to Victoria’s Secret

47:06 – Miranda Kerr: Motherhood & breastfeeding

49:02 – Miranda Kerr: Miscarriage

52:17 – Miranda Kerr: Raising boys & navigating teen years

56:06 – Miranda Kerr: Wellness, skincare & aging with gratitude

1:00:49 – Final reflections

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