London, April 29 (IANS): The largest American retailer of lingerie Victoria's Secret has promoted 10 of its existing models to Angel status. The names include models Elsa Hosk, Sara Sampaio and Lais Ribeiro.

Models Stella Maxwell, Kate Grigorieva, Taylor Hill, Martha Hunt, Jac Jagaciak, Romee Strijd andd Jasmine Tookes have also all been promoted to Angel status and will join existing beauties Candice Swanepoel, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosia, Behati Prinsloo, Lily Aldridge and Lindsay Ellingson in this year's much-anticipated catwalk show, which is rumoured to be taking place in November.

"The expanded Angel lineup gives Victoria's Secret the largest group of contract models in its history and the most powerful collection of established and emerging models in the world," label officials said in a statement.

The news follows the departure of both Doutzen Kroes and Karlie Kloss, who announced they had hung up their wings earlier this year to focus on other projects, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Doutzen ended her contract with the company at the end of last year after being offered a new "business opportunity", while Karlie is ending her collaboration with the brand when her contract runs out later this year to focus on her "myriad commitments".