Elsa Hosk is a Swedish supermodel and one of the most recognisable Victoria's Secret Angels of the 2010s. In July 2026 she was back in the spotlight when the press reported that Hosk had become a mother for the second time. It is a good moment to look at her whole path — from professional basketball to contracts with major fashion houses — because Hosk's career is a clear illustration of how modern modelling works and what keeps someone booked for years.
Who is Elsa Hosk
Elsa Anna Sofie Hosk was born on 7 November 1988 in Stockholm; she is half-Finnish on her father's side. Before modelling, Hosk played basketball professionally — a sporting background that gave her both the discipline and the physical condition that later served her on the runway. She started modelling as a teenager, shooting for Swedish catalogues before moving on to the international market.
Hosk's route — from sport into fashion — is not that rare: the industry values people with stamina and the ability to work a punishing schedule. For more on how a modelling career actually begins and what data it takes, see our guide on how to start a modelling career.
Career: from catalogues to Victoria's Secret Angel
Hosk's international breakthrough came with Victoria's Secret. She first modelled for the younger PINK line, then earned Angel status — a contracted face of the brand — in 2015, holding it until 2018. In 2018 it was Hosk who was given the honour of wearing the "Fantasy Bra", the most expensive piece in the Victoria's Secret show, entrusted each season to a single model.
Beyond Victoria's Secret, Hosk has worked with Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Ungaro, Guess, H&M and Anna Sui, and over time became a notable street-style figure — her fashion-week looks are regularly dissected by fashion media. That is an important modern skill: today a model earns not only on the runway but as a media brand in her own right.
Measurements and type
Elsa Hosk stands about 178 cm tall, which fits the high-fashion and Victoria's Secret Angel standard. But her example is more useful seen not as an "ideal in centimetres" but as a combination of data, athletic condition and the ability to sell a look on camera. We break down the real requirements for height and measurements by segment, without the myths, in our pieces on how tall you have to be to model.
Personal life: fiancé and children
Since 2015 Elsa Hosk has been in a relationship with businessman Tom Daly. In February 2021 the couple had their first daughter. In July 2026, according to the press (People, Just Jared and other outlets), Hosk and Daly announced the birth of their second child — another girl. Hosk has previously been open about pregnancy and motherhood on social media, in keeping with her image of a model who combines a career with family.
We deliberately avoid speculation about anyone's private life and report only what is confirmed by publications. But the news illustrates a trend: brands increasingly work with models for the long term — through pregnancy and motherhood — rather than writing them off.
What Hosk's career teaches aspiring models
The main takeaway from Elsa Hosk's path is that longevity is built on reputation and the ability to evolve, not on a single season. She went from catalogues and the PINK line to Angel status, and then to an independent media brand that stayed in demand after leaving Victoria's Secret. For anyone starting out, the point is not to chase instant fame but to build a base: honest data, a strong portfolio and the right agency. You can browse real work on our castings board.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Elsa Hosk?
Elsa Hosk is about 178 cm tall. That is a typical height for high fashion and Victoria's Secret models, though commercial and photo work take shorter models too.
Was Elsa Hosk a Victoria's Secret Angel?
Yes. Hosk became a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2015 and remained a contracted face of the brand until 2018, wearing the "Fantasy Bra" — the show's centrepiece — in 2018.
Where is Elsa Hosk from?
She was born on 7 November 1988 in Stockholm, Sweden, and is half-Finnish on her father's side. Before modelling she played basketball professionally.
How many children does Elsa Hosk have?
According to the press, by July 2026 Elsa Hosk and her fiancé Tom Daly have two children: their first daughter was born in 2021, and a second child arrived in 2026.
Which brands has Elsa Hosk worked with?
Besides Victoria's Secret and the PINK line, Hosk has shot for Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Ungaro, Guess, H&M and Anna Sui, and is also known for her street-style looks.
Elsa Hosk is an example of a model who built a long career on reputation and an ability to adapt to the industry. Her story is an argument that modelling can be a stable profession rather than a brief flash. If you want to try, start with real castings and find a modelling agency that fits your data.
Photo: YantsImages, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).