>> Abbey Lee Kershaw wasn't feeling well backstage, neither was Eniko Mihalik, but they pulled it together to walk in the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which taped today in New York City — on a big, sparkly V-shaped runway — and will air on CBS Dec. 1. Many of the girls chatted about what they had for breakfast — coffee and fruit for many — but Anja Rubik, who was convinced to walk the show for the first time by good friends (and fellow walkers) Mayna Linchuk and Caroline Trentini, admitted: "I've decided this will be my starving day today."

This year's big surprise?  Heidi Klum decided to walk for the twelfth show in a row, after all, six weeks after giving birth to her fourth child. Adriana Lima, on the other hand, who gave birth Sunday, sat this one out; Emanuela de Paula and Flavia Oliveira, rumored to walk, were also nowhere to be seen.

The show features five sections of twelve outfits each — this year's themes are Star Trooper, All Aboard, Pink Planet, Enchanted Forest, and Romantic Journey. As show stylist Charlotte Stockdale explains it: “We came up with the idea of this girl who lands from outer space in Paris. She gets on a train that comes to a halt in Pinkland, where pink girls get on and off. Then they go into this fairy-tale forest and little lady bugs and butterflies land on them and vines grow up on their clothes. Then, there’s Tick-Tock Time; the wings in this section are based on clocks — there’s one modeled after a pocket watch with metallic feathers. And she ends up in this regal realm of princess-ness, where the wings have Swarovski jewels and peacock feathers.”

Zac Posen, Alexander Wang, Carine Roitfeld (in Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2002), and Patrick Demarchelier were all in attendance, and Chanel Iman tossed her handbag into the audience as she walked.

>>  The likes of Chanel Iman and Dorothea Barth Jorgensen are already getting primped and prepped for the two tapings of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show this afternoon — final cut airs Dec. 1 on CBS — but it seems like mood is light.  When Caroline Trentini was asked for a photo backstage, she joked, "Sure! Want me to jump?"

Chanel Iman, meanwhile, prepared for her first Victoria's Secret catwalk by chatting with mentor Tyra Banks and doing a little research. “This might sound corny, but I went on YouTube and I did my homework by going and seeing the different years that Victoria’s Secret has had, the different shows and who did Victoria’s Secret, and studied their walks so that I can turn mine different from everyone else’s!”

>> Daul Kim was found dead this morning in Paris, her agency Next confirms in a statement. "She was a top model and a great friend to all of us at Next. Please respect her family’s privacy at this time of sadness. We will all miss her very much." Cause of death remains unknown, but The Cut reports a source says it was suicide. Daul just posted a video on her blog yesterday, under the title "say hi to forever."

Some recent favorites of Daul, below.

>> Given that the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is taping tomorrow, lots of tidbits have been rolling in between all the fittings and the models' appearance in Times Square this morning.  We've gotten previews of Liu Wen's (two!) outfits, as well as those of VS regulars Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Selita Ebanks, and after this morning's appearance, more clues as to who will be walking — including a few surprises.

Spring 2010 runway newcomer Anastasia Kuznetsova and Dorothea Barth Jorgensen both popped up in the Times Square photos, as did Elyse Taylor, Sessilee Lopez, and Russian model Tatiana Kovylina, who walked for Victoria's Secret in 2005.  Anja Rubik and Abbey Lee Kershaw have also been confirmed as show castmembers, but have yet to make an appearance, and although unconfirmed, Anna Maria Jagodzinska's photo was on the show casting board, so she may show up as well.

UPDATE: Photos of Anna J. and Edita Vilkeviciute have been spotted on the casting board in a newly posted video; word is Emanuela de Paula will not be walking after all because of a conflicting photoshoot. [YouTube, TFS, TFS]

>> Last night, with the help of keynote speaker Alber Elbaz, who doled out gems on the perils of success — "It's like a bottle of perfume. You smell it, you don't sniff it or drink it" — Alaia veteran and Michelle Obama favorite Sophie Theallet took home the 2009 Vogue/Fashion Fund prize of $200,000 and a year of mentoring.  Fellow nominees Patrik Ervell and Monique Pean were named runners-up, and received $50,000 each plus a business mentor.

In her speech, Anna Wintour said that in addition to the US, Italy, and the UK — which just started a similar talent-nurturing program — she just met with the French minister of culture about mirroring the contest there. "And Brazil, India, Russia, and China aren't far behind."

Theallet Tweeted of her win: "my american dream comes true tonight thanks and much love to all of you!xox."  Cathy Horyn, too, weighed in on the choice:

"The money and the mentoring will help Ms. Theallet because she needs to be able to offer more range in her collection, as well as expand her production options. She has such a distinctly feminine eye, and the skills, that I’ve often wondered why a big retailer doesn’t ask Ms. Theallet to design some blouses and summer dresses for them, using the store’s resources and manufacturing connections."

Videos of the nominees going through the competition and the awards ceremony last night can be seen here and here, respectively.