Frederique van der Wal
She brought a fresh, approachable glamour to the 90s modeling world, becoming the first official face of Victoria's Secret.
Born 1967 (age 59)·Dutch model·Birthday: August 30·Generation X
Biography
Frederique van der Wal became the first official Victoria's Secret Angel in 1997, giving the brand a recognizable public face before the famous fashion show began. She was discovered while on vacation in Greece and built a career on relatable commercial appeal, appearing on covers of Cosmopolitan and Glamour. Van der Wal leveraged her visibility into entrepreneurship, launching the skincare line Frederique's Choice. She also worked as a television host and author. Her modeling defined a 1990s aesthetic that mixed sun-kissed vitality with approachability. Van der Wal's career demonstrated savvy branding, moving from modeling to business ownership and media. She remains active as an advocate for natural beauty and wellness.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Frederique was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frederique Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Frederique's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first official 'Victoria's Secret Angel,' serving as the brand's flagship model in the mid-1990s.
- Appeared on over 250 magazine covers worldwide, including international editions of Vogue and Cosmopolitan.
- Founded and successfully ran her own skincare company, Frederique's Choice.
- Hosted the popular PBS television series 'Natural Meals in Minutes.'
Did You Know?
She is fluent in four languages: Dutch, English, French, and German.
She was discovered by a modeling scout while waiting tables at a beach club in Mykonos.
Van der Wal is an avid gardener and has written a book on the subject titled 'Frederique's Garden.'
“The camera catches the light, but the real work is in the movement.”
