Beauty behind the bra

Lingerie lovers look forward to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show every year, especially its blinged-up Fantasy Bra that is worth millions.

The jewel-encrusted Fantasy Bra is the centrepiece of each show, and past wearers included supermodels Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima and Miranda Kerr.

For this year's Paris show, US model and Victoria's Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes, 25, will don the US$3 million (S$4.3 million) Bright Night Fantasy Bra.

Designed by US jeweller Eddie Borgo, it is made of nearly 9,000 precious gems, and is handset with diamonds and emeralds in 18K gold.

The Fantasy Bra may not be the brand's most expensive - that title goes to the US$15 million Red Hot Fantasy Bra worn by Gisele Bundchen in 2000, which featured nearly 13,000 gems, including Thai rubies.

But Tookes's Fantasy Bra is an anniversary edition for Victoria's Secret, marking 20 years of decadent, bejewelled push-ups.

Performing live for this year's show, which will air on US television on Monday, are musical guests Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and The Weeknd .

Here's what you need to know about Tookes, the beauty behind the bra.

BORN INTO FASHION

Since her mother was a celebrity fashion stylist, Tookes grew up around fashion shoots.

When she was 15, she was discovered at one of her mum's showroom appointments.

Since then, she has walked for labels such as Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton and Tom Ford. She became a Victoria's Secret Angel last year after walking in four of its shows since 2012.

"I feel like it almost gets easier every year," Tookes told E! News.

"My first year I was panicking. I was working out everyday, freaking out."

COMFORTABLE IN HER SKIN

When Tookes posted a video of herself in the Fantasy Bra on Instagram looking fairer than usual, a user commented that she must have bleached her skin.

Tookes, who is naturally dark and is of African, Brazilian and West Indian descent, defended herself swiftly.

"Are you kidding me!? Who in the world does that?" she posted in a reply.

"First of all. Lighting is everything... I'm way darker in the summer and much lighter towards the winter, my skin tone changes all the time just like everyone else."

A behind-the-scenes photo of Tookes from her Fantasy Bra shoot on Victoria's Secret's Facebook page showed the Angel with stretch marks on her side.

While Victoria's Secret has been accused of portraying unrealistic female bodies through airbrushed shots, the move was applauded for showing Tookes' real skin, cellulite and all.

BANKS IS HER ROLE MODEL

Tookes is the third-ever black model to wear the Fantasy Bra, after Tyra Banks (1997 and 2004) and Selita Ebanks (2007).

Growing up, Tookes looked up to 42-year-old Banks, and would watch her catwalk shows on television.

"I feel like it's such a milestone for Victoria's Secret to have a woman of colour wearing the Fantasy Bra, because there's only been two in the past, and the last one was almost 10 years ago," she said at the unveiling of the Fantasy Bra at the Victoria's Secret flagship store in New York in October.

"It's major, and I think it's awesome I get to represent that."