Once-Popular Victoria's Secret Models Who Disappeared From The Limelight

The following article includes allegations of abuse, coercion, and drug use. 

When models finally walk through the doors of Victoria's Secret, they can officially say that they've "made it." They become a select few of the many aspiring models to land a contract with one of the world's most recognizable lingerie brands. This establishes their legitimacy in the industry, gives them access to higher-quality work that results in impressive portfolios, and, if they play their cards right, unlocks the door to global fame. The last thing anyone expects them to do at this point is step out of the limelight, but some of the most popular models of the '90s did just this.

Some models don't make it as far as others, even after working with the brand. That's not unusual. What is weird is when models who were once Victoria's Secret Angels seem to vanish from the spotlight overnight. In some cases, these models grow tired of runways and willingly sign up for other careers with more longevity, but other cases point to the dark side of modeling. With sexism, ageism, and unfair working conditions being rampant in the industry, some formerly popular Victoria's Secret models who disappeared from the limelight have really tragic stories.

In the '90s, Karen Mulder was everywhere. She'd walked for many of the big names in fashion, including Christian Dior and Chanel, and landed a contract with Victoria's Secret in 1992. In 1998, she debuted the brand's first-ever pair of Angel wings on the runway. Everything changed on October 31, 2001, following an interview on a French talk show. 

Per reports, Mulder spoke about being abused, being coerced into compliance, and using drugs. The host of the show even claimed that she stopped talking during the interview and screamed before collapsing. Mulder eventually went to the police with her accusations. However, her claims weren't investigated; the interview was binned, and she entered a psychiatric facility. By the time she came out months later, she claimed that she'd lied about her previous allegations. 

In 2026, the model spoke to Vogue Germany, claiming she'd been "silenced." She told the outlet, "I was forced to say I had made it all up ... All I wanted was for those terrible things to stop." Mulder's story is definitely tragic, but thankfully, after a brief comeback in 2007, she made a bigger return to modeling in 2026 as the cover star of Vogue Germany.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, may be the victim of sexual assault, or needs help with mental health, contact the relevant resources below:

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
• The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
• The Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Yasmeen Ghauri originally started modeling at the age of 17, but right from the start, the industry clashed with her life. Her father was a Muslim cleric, and her religion forbade a lot of things models are expected to do. However, Ghauri eventually convinced him and, after moving to New York, took the runways by storm.

She worked with Versace, Helmut Lang, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Lanvin, among others. Then, by age 21, she became a Victoria's Secret model, which was a big deal because she was the first South Asian model to do so. Unfortunately, after a while, Ghauri grew tired of modeling. "I just want to have an easy, happy life and to have people always watching you is not comfortable and so I would never want to be very very famous because I couldn't deal with that," she told E!. Eventually, in 1997, she abruptly resigned ahead of an Yves Saint Laurent event.

Today, '90s supermodel Yasmeen Ghauri is just as stunning but lives a very private life. The former model married and had kids, but despite having an Instagram account with hundreds of thousands of followers, she rarely posts personal pictures or shares anything about her life publicly. One of her few personal Instagram posts came in 2022, alongside fellow model Helena Christensen, one of the OG supermodels you probably won't recognize today. "Just saw this gorgeous creature after 25 years and we picked up right where we left off! Love you Helena! I've missed your mischievous ways," Ghauri captioned the post.

Some models (like '60s icon Pat Cleveland, who is still a stunning fashion risk taker today) are absolutely devoted to the runway life and the art of modeling clothes. Others, like Trish Goff, always had their eyes elsewhere. "When I started making money, I immediately began buying property and fixing it up," she told The New York Times in 2013. Goff had originally started modeling when she was 15 before walking for Victoria's Secret from ages 22 to 24 but this didn't hamper her love for real estate. "I was always searching for the next neighborhood," she went on. "The first place I bought when I was 19. I found a huge loft on the Lower East Side, almost 3,500 square feet. I did it up, turned it over and sold it."

Goff continued modeling until 2008, when she grew tired of it and wanted something more stable. So she turned her part-time gig with houses into something permanent. In 2012, she secured her real estate license. "I look back with fondness on my time as a model," she told The New York Post in 2019. "But I'm living a different chapter of life and I'm really comfortable with it."

Goff has continued to work in real estate, but unlike many ex-models who've changed careers and still have active social media presences, she's the anomaly. Her Instagram hasn't been updated since 2019, and she hasn't given any recent interviews.