Miranda Kerr’s 30th birthday rumored to be the reason her contract ‘won’t be renewed’

As Victoria’s Secret Angel, Miranda Kerr, fields rumors that her million-dollar contract won’t be renewed, just two weeks before her 30th birthday, it seems a model’s commercial marketability is increasingly short-lived.

Looking back at some of the brand’s most famous Angels, like Gisele Bunchden who stepped down from the lingerie giant at 26, the average age of retirement for an Angel appears to be just 28.375, according to Buzzfeed.

However with current Victoria’s Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio celebrating her 32nd birthday yesterday, the average might just climb, yet.

Too old? As 30-year-old Victoria’s Secret Angel, Miranda Kerr, fields rumors this week that her million-dollar contract won’t be renewed, it seems a model’s commercial marketability is increasingly short-lived

The analysis was based on eight models, including Laetitia Casta, who ended her time as an Angel at age 21, Tyra Banks, who was 32 when she clipped her wings, Izabel Goulart, who was 24 and Selita Ebanks, who was 27.

Buzzfeed’s Amy Odell concluded: ‘So seems like Kerr may as well push a walker down that runway, far as the world of VS modeling is concerned.

Victoria’s Secret was rumored to have ‘fired’ Miss Kerr from her Angel status just before her 30th birthday, because of her purported ‘difficulty’ and expensive contract – which apparently did not sell enough underwear.

Age of retirement: Laetitia Casta (top) ended her time as a Victoria’s Secret Angel at age 21, meanwhile Tyra Banks () was 32 when her wings were clipped

Victoria’s Secret President Ed Razek denied the claims, insisting Miss Kerr was one of the company’s most popular models and would continue to work as an Angel.

He said in a statement: ‘Miranda Kerr is one of the best models in the history of the business — and easily one of the most popular.

‘She is also a consummate professional. Any rumors to the contrary are simply untrue. While her international commitments have kept her away from us more than we’d like over the past few years, she will always be an Angel to me.

Average Angel age: Izabel Goulart (top), was 24 when she said goodbye to her Angel status, and Gisele Bunchden (bottom) was 26

‘In fact, I’ve already invited her to walk the runway in this year’s fashion show and, happily, she’s agreed.’

This morning, Good Morning America speculated that Miss Kerr’s age could be to blame.

However Heidi Klum was 37 when she said goodbye to her Angel wings, Stephanie Seymour was 32, as was former Angel Daniela Peštová.

Steven Simpson, Gay British Teen, Dies After Being Set On Fire At Birthday Party

 Autistic Steven Simpson (top) who died at a party after he was doused in tanning oil and set on fire and (bottom) Jordan Sheard, who held a lighter to his groin and sparked it

A young British man has been convicted of manslaughter after killing a gay teen by setting him on fire.

The BBC reports that 20-year-old Jordan Sheard has been sentenced to three and a half years in jail for the death of Steven Simpson after pleading guilty to manslaughter charges. Simpson, 18, died one day after sustaining “significant burns” in June 2012, according to the report.

Simpson had Asperger’s syndrome, a speech impairment and epilepsy, the Yorkshire Post noted. The teen had reportedly been dared to strip down to his underpants before being doused in tanning oil, after which Sheard set him aflame at the party. Other reports said that anti-gay messages, including “gay boy” and “I love d*ck,” had been found scrawled across Simpson’s body.

Detective Sean Middleton described Simpson to the BBC as “a very caring and likeable young man” and a “generous spirit was taken advantage of and a single thoughtless act resulted in his death.”

A number of local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates said they believed Sheard’s prison term to be too lenient, but prosecuting attorney Tim Warburton nonetheless told The Star that the sentence was “within the range of what would be expected had it been considered a hate crime,” and that it would not be appealed.

“This was a cruel case of bullying based on Steven’s sexuality and disability,” Warburton is quoted as saying. “While we accept Jordan did not intend to kill Steven, his actions did lead to his death.”

Meanwhile, Sheard’s attorney said his client had been “deeply and significantly affected by what he has done and the tragic consequences that ensued,” which describing Simpson’s death as a “stupid prank that went wrong in a bad way,” the Daily Mail noted.

Source: huffingtonpost.com