Victoria's Secret model Megan Williams on being discovered at McDonald's, her inspiration to save our oceans
Victoria's Secret model Megan Williams talks about being discovered at McDonald's and why she's compelled to save our oceans. The British beauty also discusses how she stays in shape all year long and her thoughts on Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle.
Megan Williams was eating McDonald’s when it happened.
The then-teenager was discovered by an agent in her small hometown in England — and her modeling career quickly took off. The 25-year-old, who made her mark as a GUESS Girl, is now a model for Victoria’s Secret and a regular during their annual fashion show.
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Megan Williams walks on the runway during the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Nov. 8, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Timur Emek/FilmMagic)
But these days, the British blonde bombshell is determined to give back to the planet. In June of this year, The Lions talent co-hosted Ocean Sounds with Ebonee Davis in honor of World Oceans Day. Vogue magazine reported Williams is also becoming a “sustainability-focused entrepreneur” with the launch of her collapsible coffee cups named “The One Good.” She said it’s her way of raising awareness on using less waste plaguing our environment.
Williams spoke to Fox News about the unlikely way she was discovered, strutting her stuff for Victoria’s Secret, how she stays in shape all year long, and why she’s eager now more than ever to help our oceans.
Fox News: You were eating McDonald's, of all things, when your modeling career kicked off. What happened?
Williams: I was 14 years old and in a shopping center in England [when] someone approached me. I was eating a McDonald's and they were doing a hometown competition, and they asked me if I would like to be a part of it. See, I had a weekly McDonald's in that same shopping center, so it paid off for me. It was really a crazy coincidence, and a dream come true.
Megan Williams attends the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show After Party on Nov. 20, 2017, in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Fox News: How were you then discovered by Victoria Secret?
Williams: I remember flying to New York for the first time when I was 18. That was the first time I met them. It was after I had done a GUESS lingerie campaign and they had seen it so they requested me from the first show to see me. It didn't happen for me, so not that year... I moved to New York a few years later. I slowly started working with them online and I've done three shows now. They've been a family to me for quite a long time now.
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I walked my first year in Paris three years ago. That was incredible. I think Paris was my favorite one because it was the first one, but also it was just so beautiful. Paris is such a beautiful setting, and so romantic. Just a real dream of what I could imagine my first Victoria's Secret show to be.
Megan Williams walks the runway at the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show In Shanghai - Show at Mercedes-Benz Arena on November 20, 2017, in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Fox News: What was going through your mind when you were walking down that runway?
Williams: I think I was super excited because my family was in the audience. My family had never seen me walk, not in person, so that was so special to me to know they were there. I don't know what I was thinking, it was such a blur. It was just pure excitement. All the girls were so excited backstage. It's just like a party with all the girls together. I loved it, really. As soon as I came off, I just wanted to go again. I was like, "Can I do it again? Is it over?"
Fox News: Who was one Victoria's Secret model that you bonded with over the years, and why?
Williams: Over the years ... It's pretty interesting because each year a new friend did the show with me. So, that's been so exciting that already, my close group of friends, we all ended up actually walking together this final year. Georgia Fowler, Sadie Newman, Nadine Leopold are all my good friends. We all got to walk together this year, so that was incredible.
I remember Lily Aldridge speaking to me my first year and she was ... I think I was walking behind her and I was telling her I was nervous. She was just telling me, "You've got it." You know, really chill and just so lovely getting advice because they all know what it feels like to be doing it for the first time.
Megan Williams says she's proud to be a part of the Victoria's Secret family. (Victoria's Secret)
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Fox News: How do you stay in shape all year long?
Williams: For me, working out has always been something I love. I've always been interested in sports and just keeping active and fit. It's not too much of a challenge. I'm not working out every single day. I don't punish myself if I don't. I just love to keep fit, healthy, I love walking around the city, and I think that's a great exercise because we're just always active and running around. And then I love Pilates. I work with a trainer on and off throughout the year who really helps keeps my body in shape as well.
Megan Williams walks the runway during the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 30, 2016, in Paris, France. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret)
Fox News: When it's cheat day, what's on your plate?
Williams: For me, cheat day is ... I love any Italian, so pizza, pasta. But, I can't say that's much of a cheat day because it happens quite often through the week. Just, very carb-y food is definitely a cheat day for me.
Model Megan Williams at Mercedes-Benz Arena on Nov. 20, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret)
Fox News: What's the funniest or most unusual pick-up line someone has ever used on you and has it worked?
Williams: I can't say many of them have worked. I get quite shy on Instagram with people commenting. A weird one I've got ... I get a lot, “Have you fallen from heaven? Because you're an angel." I think that's going with the Victoria's Secret line with the angels.
Fox News: What are three fun facts our viewers should know about you?
Williams: Three fun facts ... I'm from a very small island called Guernsey, which people don't even usually know where it is. It's between England and France in the English Channel. I used to play the flute, and I plan on starting up again and trying to teach myself again, because I got pretty good on stage, but I gave it up when I was 14. A third fact about myself ... I am going to the Grand Canyon this summer, which I think is quite exciting. I'm going on a rafting trip on the Colorado River.
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Model Megan Williams attends the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show after party at Le Grand Palais on November 30, 2016, in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Stewart/FilmMagic)
Fox News: What do you think of Meghan Markle as the Duchess of Sussex?
Williams: I think it’s awesome. Meghan Markle is such a modern take on what we thought of the royal family. She's from a different country, all these things. I think that just gives the royal family an amazing, new perspective, I guess. Also, I love her style. She's really cool. I remember when they were getting married and they kept saying, "Meghan's getting married." I remember my baby cousin was thinking I was getting married, so that was kind of funny. She has the same name, so she must be great.
Fox News: You recently co-hosted Ocean Sounds with Ebonee Davis. How important is it to raise awareness around our oceans' health?
Williams: Well, the oceans are a really key, vital point for all life on Earth. It produces over 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe. But I think the key to it is awareness. I think that's the main word because when we become aware of the damage we're doing and the small changes we can make, I think awareness is key to making a change.
Fox News: The event benefited whale and dolphin conservation. Why is this cause special to you, in particular?
Williams: This cause is special to me because everything surrounding the ocean and ocean health is really important to me. But, I learned that whales and dolphins are two of the most important species in the ocean. The whales have a special biological makeup that actually helps clean the ocean.
Megan Williams recently hosted Ocean Sounds. — Victoria's Secret
So, that's super important. I just think anything benefiting us, our ocean, and our Earth is really important. I'm learning a lot about the different ways we can help. I'm starting my own product which is to help reuse and stop single waste plastic, which is one of the main things affecting all the wildlife in the ocean. I just think learning in every way we can and helping any charity is really important right now.
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Fox News: What can we do to support the health of our oceans?
Williams: I think the main thing we can do is reuse. Use products that aren't single-use. Bring your own straw, bring your own cup, bring your own bag with you, because a lot of the plastic is affecting the wildlife in the ocean. I think it's really important to find new ways and just learn and be more aware of what's happening and take responsibility [for] ... the small things you can do.
British model Megan Williams. — Rowan Papier
Fox News: When did you realize that this was a cause that you wanted to support?
Williams: This year I started becoming much more aware of my plastic usage. I just started researching and looking at ... I think the whole world has become more aware recently. I started looking, personally, at the ways I could change things... a big thing for me is coffee cups.
It's a project I'm starting to try and tackle by making my own product that's a reusable coffee cup. I didn't realize it, but all coffee cups are lined with plastic. We all think they're paper, but they're plastic too. So, it's very hard for them to biodegrade. So, this year I've been really taking personal small steps because we can all make small changes to help outweigh the damage we're doing.
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