Victoria's Secret Just Introduced Darren Barnet as First Ever Male Model (2024)

When you think of a Victoria's Secret model, it's likely that an incredibly specific image comes to mind. But the brand is slowly changing that, and has just announced its first ever male brand ambassador: teen heartthrob Darren Barnet.

Barnet, who plays romantic interest Paxton Hall-Yoshida in the Netflix teen comedy series Never Have I Ever, is helping to launch Victoria Secret's Pink line of "gender-free" clothing which purports to be all about empowering young people and shining a light on issues like mental health and inclusion.

"We are so excited to announce this partnership because Darren is such a positive role model for teens and young adults," said Pink CEO Amy Hauk in an official statement. "As we focus on expanding our gender-free offerings and continue to evolve as a brand, we want to ensure our partners not only represent the diversity of our customers, but also embody individuality and self-confidence."

Barnet himself wrote on Instagram about what this collab means to him, saying: "I am beyond excited to share some of these new styles but I am even more grateful that I can be a part of a good cause. I wish mental health was more of a focus when I was a teenager and my hope is that we can reach those young adults who need to be heard and supported most."

He has spoken in the past about his own mental health and mindfulness practices, which include meditation and gratitude. "I spend at least twenty minutes in the morning, waking up and saying thank you for my eyes, ears, nose, fingers, toes, the fact I can walk and breathe," he told Men's Health in 2020. "By starting my day off with something very small and realizing that not everyone has that, it makes the rest of the day easier to tackle."