How Alessandra Ambrosio Is Prepping For Tonight's VS Fashion Show

POPSUGAR: How have you been prepping fitness-wise for this year’s show?

Alessandra Ambrosio: I was just in St. Barts with my kids, and it was nice to get a little tan and do some outdoor exercises, like walking, running on the beach, and swimming. I’ve been doing a lot of boot camp, Barre Method classes, and Pilates. I love yoga, but I do it more after the show, because before I want to do something that makes me stronger rather than stretching.

PS: What have you been doing in terms of preshow beauty treatments?

AA: I actually tried an infrared sauna. You lay down and you sweat.

PS: Did you like it?

AA: Eh . . . I only did it once . . . I’d rather get a massage. But I did try that. Tomorrow I’m going to get an oxygen facial. For me, it’s really about having a nice tan. If you have a nice tan, it looks really nice on the runway.

PS: Do you plan on getting a spray tan as well?

AA: I don’t know. I might apply some tanner [gestures at her legs].

PS: What’s your favorite Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show memory?

AA: The first show that I did, we took a flight from JFK — so it’s actually very similar to this — to Cannes. We took the concord. We did the show at the Cannes Film Festival, and it was a unique experience. It was amazing and gorgeous. For my first time, it was so glamorous. The girls who were doing the show at the time were Stephanie Seymour and Karen Mulder.

PS: How do you think the London location will add to the show this year?

AA: Going on a trip is always more fun because we get to spend more time together. We are always so busy, so it’s good to be out together and share all of these experiences that we’ve been going through for years. And London is such an amazing city. It’s got such beautiful architecture and is one of my favorites in Europe. I think it’s the perfect backdrop for this type of show. It’s such a fashion city — a fashion-statement place — that Victoria’s Secret fits perfect with it.

PS: What’s your advice for the newer models?

AA: Have fun. Just enjoy every second because you work so hard. It’s hard to be in the show because pretty much every model wants to be in it. It’s a big competition [to get cast]. And so if you’re in the show, you work really hard. And when you get there, it goes so quickly that you just have to have fun and enjoy every moment.

PS: How do you get into that Victoria’s Secret Angel persona before you go out on the catwalk?

AA: Well, I just try to relax. I’ve been working out and prepping for the show, so that’s not the moment to worry about it anymore. It’s done. Whatever you did, you did. It is what it is. The outfits help so much, too. They make you feel like you can become a character. So before the show, I just try to relax and have a good time. When the show starts with the music and the lights go on, the adrenaline hits your body, and you can feel anxious. So you have to try to relax.

PS: You get to wear a pretty amazing outfit, which is the Fantasy Bra. What should we know about this year’s version?

AA: This time there are two Fantasy Bras, which is incredible. It’s such an honor that Adriana and I are wearing them. We’ve been working together for Victoria’s Secret for so long, so we know each other and we’re friends, so it’s nice that we get to share this amazing moment on the runway.

The bras are so beautiful this year. They actually had to put plaster all over my body and made a mold. I’ve worn the Fantasy Bra in the past, but they’ve never needed a mold. They just asked me for my bra size. This year, I had to do this mold, because there are all of these body chains that hug our bodies. It’s so beautiful — it’s very exotic. Mine is red, and Adriana’s is blue. They are worth $2 million each. It’s pretty major.

PS: You have such a full résumé between your own lifestyle brand and all of the campaigns you’ve done. What’s left on your career bucket list?

AA: I have been so busy lately, and I love everything I do, so I just want to keep doing my best. There’s nothing really [left] at this point. Whatever comes my way . . . I don’t know if I have something else I want to be doing. I do have my brand, and I am creating all of my bathing suits, accessories, and clothing. That’s superfun. Usually when I am on flights, that’s when I’m doing it — working on my brand. When I am at home, I’m with my kids. For me, my bucket list is to try to spend as much time as I can with my kids.

PS: I love your blog. It’s like a rabbit hole where you can get lost reading fashion and beauty tips.

AA: It has all of these nice tips. Like yesterday I posted something about scrubbing. So you can use coffee to scrub yourself. Sometimes you can use the things you have at home. That’s what the blog is about — little tips to be a little fashionable.

PS: What beauty products did you bring on the flight with you?

AA: I don’t really have much — just a lip balm and vitamin C serum and moisturizer for when I take the makeup off. In a little bit, I’m going to put it on and go to sleep.

PS: What is one step in your skin care routine that you never skip?

AA: Washing my face and putting on a toner or something to really take all of the makeup off. And I do love the vitamin C serum. So I have a few of them, and I wear them morning and night. I use ones from the dermatologist and my facialist.

PS: Please share some of those Brazilian beauty secrets we Americans are dying to know!

AA: I’m a big fan of coconut water. I think it’s great for your skin, for your body, and for hydration. I’ve been drinking that since I was a little kid.

PS: Do you ever incorporate coconut water in beauty DIYs?

AA: You can definitely wash your face in it — it’s good for that. Grabbing aloe vera is also actually ready good after you’ve been in the sun.

PS: What is your spirit animal?

AA: Well, I think I’m a wolf. I don’t know. I just think wolves are mysterious. I don’t know, I just feel like a wolf sometimes.