Heidi Klum walks year's sexiest runway weeks after having her baby

It was the big surprise of the evening: during the taping of the Victoria's Secret fashion show November 19 (due to air in the US December 1), German supermodel Heidi Klum -- who was expected to take a pass this year due to her recent childbirth -- appeared on the lingerie label's runway alongside models half her age.

It was the big surprise of the evening: during the taping of the Victoria's Secret fashion show November 19 (due to air in the US December 1), German supermodel Heidi Klum - who was expected to take a pass this year due to her recent childbirth - appeared on the lingerie label's runway alongside models half her age.

Klum had previously told the media that she wouldn't model in the notoriously competitive show this time, since daughter Lou is only six weeks old, and host the event instead.

She must have changed her mind at the last minute. While hip hoppers The Black Eyed Peas performed live in the middle of the V-shaped runway, out she came - albeit wearing a relatively unrevealing ensemble - following her fellow 'Angels,' including Alessandra Ambrosio (who also just recently had a baby), Miranda Kerr, and the just 19-year-old Chanel Iman who appeared in the show for the first time.

Other newcomers included high-fashion top models Anja Rubik and Liu Wen, the first Asian to ever walk the label's runway.

The show was styled in five different themes, including the seemingly Lady Gaga-inspired 'Star Trooper' and  'All Aboard' as well as 'Pink Planet' (the brand's signature color), 'Enchanted Forest,' and 'Romantic Journey.' Rumors that the models would be re-enact George Michael's iconic Freedom video, however, turned out to be false.

Victoria's Secret's cut version of the show will air in the US on December 1 at 10/9C on CBS. The winner of the label's model search will also be revealed on the occasion.