Model Sydney Roper has sued Victoria's Secret, alleging that a perfume advertisement showed about 95 per cent of her face despite an agreement restricting how much of her appearance could be revealed. The figure is Roper's estimate, not a finding by the court.
Roper claims she was hired for a limited, unrecognisable appearance in a video promoting the retailer's Joyride fragrance. She argues that footage published on Instagram went beyond the permission granted for the shoot and used her identifiable likeness for commercial purposes. Her allegations have not been established in court.
Model Claims Agreement Limited Facial Exposure
The dispute stems from a four-hour modelling booking on 3 April 2026. Roper's agency agreed to a $1,000 (£750.58) talent fee plus a 20 per cent agency fee for work that the complaint describes as an "Unrecognisable/Parts Model" assignment.
Roper says the arrangement permitted selected features and body parts to appear, rather than a conventional full-face modelling appearance. The planned footage included parts of her face, such as her nose and lips, together with her hands and an arm. The distinction between a recognisable face and selected features is central to her claim.
The lawsuit alleges that a Victoria's Secret representative gave a written assurance that she would remain unrecognisable. Roper also maintains that the agreed use would reveal less than 30 per cent of her face. Both the numerical restriction and the assurance are described in her complaint; the court has not determined whether the company breached either provision.
Roper says the video subsequently posted to the brand's Instagram account showed substantially more than the agreed partial appearance. She estimates that roughly 95 per cent of her face was visible and argues that her eye, nose, lips and other features made her identifiable despite shadowing in the footage.
The disputed advertisement formed part of the Joyride perfume campaign. The complaint centres on the extent of Roper's appearance in that particular video, rather than a claim that she had not agreed to participate in the fragrance shoot at all.
Dispute Over Payment and Image Rights
After discovering the Instagram advertisement, Roper's agency sought further compensation for what it regarded as recognisable use of her face. The requested sum comprised an additional $2,500 (£1,876.44) talent fee and $500 (£375.29) agency commission, bringing the proposed extra payment to $3,000 (£2,251.72).
The lawsuit alleges that the company later removed the Instagram post but did not pay the additional fees. The request was made by Roper's representatives; it was not an amount awarded by a court. Removal of the advertisement is also not, by itself, a determination that its publication was unlawful.
Roper contends that the initial booking covered a narrower form of modelling work than the finished advertisement displayed. Her legal complaint treats the alleged expansion of her visible appearance as a dispute over both the agreed terms and commercial use of her likeness.
The model has worked with the golf apparel label G/FORE for about six years. That professional background is referenced in coverage of the case, but it does not establish whether the Victoria's Secret advertisement exceeded the agreed permissions or what compensation, if any, may be due.
Roper is seeking financial relief in connection with the alleged use of her image. The complaint requests unspecified damages, profits attributable to the disputed use and legal fees. The amount she may ultimately recover, if any, has not been decided.
Federal case filed in California
The lawsuit, Roper v. Victoria's Secret Stores Brand Management, LLC, was filed on 29 September 2026 in the US District Court for the Central District of California under case number is 2:26-cv-11305.
The publicly available docket identifies Roper as the plaintiff and Victoria's Secret Stores Brand Management, LLC as the defendant. It records the filing of the complaint and related opening documents. Those entries confirm that proceedings were initiated, not that the allegations have been proved.
The dispute includes allegations of breach of contract and unauthorised commercial use of Roper's likeness. The precise legal claims and any subsequent defence must be assessed against the filed pleadings and updated court record. No ruling on liability is established by the initial docket entries.
The publicly accessible docket snapshot reviewed for this article was last retrieved on 29 September 2026, so it does not provide a reliable account of any later filings or responses. A current court-record check is necessary before describing Victoria's Secret's latest position in the proceedings.
For now, the case concerns Roper's allegation that the fragrance advertisement went beyond the limited appearance she says she agreed to provide, and her request for compensation arising from that alleged use.
