Key Points
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Victoria’s Secret launched a new ad campaign with a model who looks like Office alum Mindy Kaling.
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Kaling responded to the speculation on her Instagram Stories.
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The actress has collaborated in the fashion world on several occasions.
When Victoria’s Secret launched a new ad campaign last month, numerous social media users all wondered the same thing: Is Mindy Kaling modeling lingerie?
An image advertising the brand’s Very Sexy Collection features a woman that looks uncannily similar to the Office alum, and over a dozen commenters compared the photo to Kaling on the Victoria’s Secret Instagram page. But is it actually her?
Kaling reacted to the speculation in a post on her Instagram Stories on Monday.
“This is not me!” she clarified. “I wish! I could not fill out lingerie like this!!”
She added, “But I admire the woman!”
The woman in the campaign is actually Paloma Elsesser, a well-known model who has appeared on the covers of the American and British editions of Vogue. She won the British Fashion Council Model of the Year in 2023, and walked for Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2024.
Elsesser has also modeled for Nike, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, Mercedes-Benz, and other well-known brands, and also appeared in small role in Uncut Gems.
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Elsesser and a representative for Victoria’s Secret for comment on Kaling’s post.
Kaling has dipped her toe into the fashion world on several occasions in the past. In 2023 and 2024, she partnered with swimwear brand Andie for two collections of swimsuits, and helped model both lines of suits.
“I’ve been a fan of Andie Swim for years. I’ve had six different iterations of my body in the past five years,” she told PEOPLE in 2023. “Andie has always been incredibly flattering. So when they wanted to work with me on this collection, I was thrilled.”
Kaling explained why she appreciated the brand. “It’s not like you become a mom and you give up on looking cute and sexy and all you want to wear is a modest navy bathing suit,” she said. “These pieces make me feel young and carefree — they’re not too revealing, they give me support where I need it and the colors are gorgeous. I’m not someone where every piece of clothing is flattering on me. I am curvy and I have big thighs, and the collection is great for my body type. And I think a lot of women will like it for themselves as well.”
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In the same interview, Kaling explained that she tries to ignore public chatter about her appearance. “I know people are really interested in the changes in my body, and I think it’s flattering but sometimes it’s just a little much, so I try not to tune into it,” she said. “The truth is that I spend so much time and energy trying to be healthy. I run or hike 20 miles a week and I lift weights. It’s a big commitment for me. I basically live in workout clothes so I can get it in.”
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
