Sporting diamonds, Swarovski crystals and barely there outfits, Victoria's Secret angels strutted down the runway in the company's annual runway event. Each year, the women's lingerie chain kicks off its holiday selling season with a star-studded show to generate excitement about its products.

This year's show started with a circus theme, complete with acrobats and sword-swallowers. Other themes were: Dangerous Liaisons, Calendar Girls, PINK Is Us, Silver Screen Angels, and Angels in Bloom.

Singers Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars performed at the New York City event, which was held at the National Guard's 69th Infantry Regiment's headquarters. Just one week before the show, Hurricane Sandy wiped out the venue's electricity, and Victoria's Secret came to the rescue by lending generators to the National Guard.

The show will air on CBS on Dec. 4 at 10 p.m. EST. Click ahead to see scenes from this year's event.

By Updated 9 Nov. 2012

Kerr wears a silk plastron with Swarovski crystal accessories.

Wearing an outfit designed to look like a pink poodle, Doutzen Kroes, one of only a handful of models who hold the Victoria's Secret "Angel" status, poses.

Kroes blows a kiss to the crowd while wearing feather wings and a cage corset during the Dangerous Liaisons segment.

Victoria's Secret Angel Erin Heatherton added to the runway lights with circus sign wings.

Joan Smalls models a satin palm motif gown with Swarovski crystals. Smalls also appeared in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2011.

Circus performers, including acrobats and even a sword swallower, entertained the audience while the models posed on stage.

Adriana Lima shows off her flora side with a rose petal shrug with leaf bustle in this shot. Lima also appeared in the circus segment.

Hilary Rhoda wears a tissue lamé gown with a hand-painted deco motif. Rhoda was one of the newcomers at this year's show.

Kloss dons trumpet flower wine wings and a leaf bustle during the Angels in Bloom segment.

Bruno Mars performed with his band.

Candice Swanepoel wore feather wings, a custom top hat with bow, and a garter belt during the Calendar Girls segment of the show.

Something borrowed, something blue, something old, and Victoria's Secret's Lindsay Ellingson is modeling something new. In this photo, she models bridal veil heart wings and a silk tulle veil during the Calendar Girls segment.

With a $2.5 million price tag and about 5,200 precious stones, this is not your average bra and panty ensemble. Alessandra Ambrosio had the honor of wearing this year's fantasy bra, which contained an array of diamonds, sapphires, rubies and amethysts.

Miranda Kerr, seen here wearing a velvet trapeze corset and matching cape with Swarovski crystals, was last year's lucky model of the fantasy bra.

During the Calendar Girls segment, Karlie Kloss donned a feather headdress and suede vest along with animal print and turquoise accents. If she had actually worn this during the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving, we're not sure she would have fared well during the harsh winter.

During the show's Silver Screen segment, Kerr wore this deco jeweled look with feather-fan wings.

Candice Swanepoel channels her inner tightrope walker with feather wings and a parasol in this look.

Rihanna performs during the Victoria's Secret runway show.

Wearing firecracker wings and a painted flag skirt, model Lily Aldridge displays her patriotic side on the runway. Aldridge also appeared during the "Angels in Bloom" segment.

Models prepare to go onstage. For the models, the Victoria's Secret show was the culmination of weeks of intense workouts and dieting before they hit the stage in skimpy outfits. In the days before the event, models took to social media to record their runway regimens. On Sunday, Hilary Rhoda Tweeted, "#VSFashionShow training...You get out what you put in! @Gotham Gym."

If it's November, it must be football season. Izabel Goulart posed as a cheerleader with pom-pom wings and a knit varsity sweater.

Victoria Secret's models walk down the catwalk following the end of this year's runway event.

Kerr prepares for the beginning of the Victoria's Secret show.

Lindsay Ellingson models a beaded corset and phoenix wings during the Silver Screen Angels segment of the show.

During the Calendar Girls segment, Barbara Palvin walks down the runway at this year's Victoria's Secret show in velvet wings and a leather dress.

Goulart poses during the show's Circus segment with a snake charmer outfit and bejeweled accessories.

Kroes wears a vintage style body piece and headdress during the Silver Screen Angels segment.

Model Constance Jablonski poses while wearing feather wings and a silk brocade corset.

Elsa Hosk hits the runway with an automated pinwheel accessory and PINK rainbow jacket.

Justin Bieber performs. The teen idol sang "As Long as You Love Me" during the show, and tweeted shortly beforehand to fellow performer Bruno Mars, "tough life @brunomars. #VSFashionShow."

Models return to a confetti-filled stage at the end of the show.