Are Adriana And Alessandra Retiring?

They´ve been part of theVictoria's Secret line-up for more than a decade, but Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio are notably absent from this year's swim shoot in St Barths, so does this mean that they're finally hanging up their wings? The brand did not respond when contacted this morning, but let's look at the evidence.

The other three established Angels - Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge and Behati Prinsloo - are present at the shoot, along with most of the crop of new Angels who joined this year. The Victoria's Secret swim shoot takes place every year following the show and usually features all Angels and key model names in a sundrenched location. Last year, for the first time, the shoot was also turned in to a televised special.

The images and footage are then used to promote the brand's swimwear and sports ranges, in the same way that the show imagery showcases the lingerie, but it is also generally a good indication of moves within the brand's Angel ranks. Last year the group of models featured, with the exception of Joan Smalls, all later became Angels; while Karlie Kloss - who had not yet revealed that she was leaving the brand - was a notable absentee from the shoot. This year, two of the new Angels - Jac Jagaciak and Kate Grigorieva - are also missing, and one non-Angel, Vita Sidorkina, is taking part in the shoot.

As is customary, Victoria's Secret has posted very little about the shoot on social media but - unlike at the show, when a social media blackout is in place in the hours leading up to the event - it allows its models and shoot crew to post pictures at will. Nick Jonas also posted from this year's shoot, where he performed on the beach surrounded by the girls.

Lima and Ambrosio joined 16 and 15 years ago respectively, and have each walked in 16 shows (Lima missing the 2009 showcase due to the birth of her eldest daughter). Interestingly, the Brazilian models held differing views about their potential longevity as Angels when we met them ahead of the 2014 show in London.

"I will keep doing this as long as I can hold back nature," Lima - show veteran and the self-confessed "mother Angel" - told us. "I never want to retire, so I'll do this for as long as my body can hold out!"

"I feel the opposite of her!" Ambrosio laughed. "I don't want to go on forever. I know there comes a time that I'll have to hang up my wings, and I'm OK with that. Everyone moves on eventually."

While the shoot was talking place, both Lima and Ambrosio were active on social media - the former posting an image of herself holding hands with rumoured new boyfriend Joe Thomas, and Ambrosio shooting in New York.