Elsa Hosk, one of the most recognizable faces in the fashion industry, has carved out a remarkable career as a model, gracing the runways of top designers and becoming a Victoria’s Secret Angel. But her journey to stardom was anything but conventional. In a recent interview, Hosk opened up about her unexpected entry into the modeling world, her ongoing love for basketball, and how she maintains her stunning physique and beauty.
Elsa Hosk’s modeling career began when she was just 13 years old, living in Sweden. Unlike many aspiring models who dream of being discovered, Hosk had no such aspirations. In fact, her introduction to the fashion world was entirely orchestrated by her father, who sent photos of her and her siblings to two modeling agencies without her knowledge. “I was such a tomboy,” Hosk recalled, reflecting on her early days. “I was playing basketball, living in Sweden, and I didn’t give a sh*t—I mean, I obviously did not have dreams to be a model.”
When both agencies responded with interest, Hosk’s father insisted that she go for a test shoot. Despite her initial reluctance and unfamiliarity with the modeling world, this moment marked the beginning of a journey that would take her around the globe and onto some of the most prestigious runways in the industry. “I remember I was wearing hand-me-downs from my brother and sitting there, trying to be cool,” she said, highlighting how foreign the experience felt to her at the time.
For Hosk, modeling has been a double-edged sword. While it has provided her with the opportunity to travel the world and see places she might never have visited otherwise, the constant travel also comes with its challenges. “My favorite part about modeling is probably my least favorite part as well. It’s traveling,” she admitted. “It goes both ways. It’s so amazing to get to see the world; we’re so fortunate to go to all these places that I would never be in unless I was a model.”
Despite the grueling schedule and the demands of the job, Hosk has managed to find balance and appreciation in her career. Her early days as a model in Japan were particularly intense, with a work schedule that started as early as 5 AM and included multiple jobs each day. “I came back from there thinking that was what modeling was,” she said. “But obviously, that’s not the case in Europe and America.” Her experience in Japan, however, set a foundation of hard work and dedication that has carried her throughout her career.
Before modeling took over her life, Hosk was deeply passionate about basketball. Growing up in Sweden, she practiced every day, often seven days a week, with games on the weekends. Basketball was her life, and she dedicated countless hours to improving her skills, even practicing on a hoop her father put up on their street. “I lived for it. I went to school and then I practiced after,” she recalled. “It was just nuts. But I miss it. Whenever I see a ball, I get itchy!”
Hosk’s love for basketball never truly faded, and it continues to influence her approach to life and her work as a model. The discipline and commitment she developed on the court have undoubtedly contributed to her success in the fashion world, where maintaining a rigorous fitness regimen is essential. While her days are now filled with photo shoots and runway shows, the competitive spirit she honed as a young athlete remains a core part of who she is.
When Hosk first started modeling, the idea of walking in a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show seemed like a distant dream—if it even crossed her mind at all. “When I first started, I had no idea that I was even gonna get one job,” she said, reflecting on her early days in the industry. But as her career progressed, opportunities began to arise, leading her to one of the most coveted positions in the fashion industry: a Victoria’s Secret Angel.
Hosk’s journey to becoming an Angel has been nothing short of extraordinary. The transition from playing basketball in Sweden to strutting down the Victoria’s Secret runway is something she still finds surreal. “It’s all still really surreal to me,” she confessed. Even her brother, who had witnessed her transformation firsthand, was taken aback by her success. “When I told him the first time, he was like, ‘You? On that catwalk?'”
Today, Elsa Hosk is celebrated not just for her beauty, but for her determination, work ethic, and the unique path she has carved out in the modeling world. Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring models and young women everywhere, proving that with hard work and an open mind, one can achieve the unimaginable—even if it wasn’t part of the original plan. As she continues to shine on the world’s most prestigious runways, Hosk remains grounded, never forgetting the tomboy from Sweden who once lived and breathed basketball.
