Heidi Klum and the Spice Girls helped draw attention to the Victoria’s Secret Lingerie Runway Show. While it is surely difficult to upstage almost nude women in bras and panties strutting down a catwalk, the Spice Girls stole a share of the spotlight on Thursday as they kicked off a reunion tour with a warm-up at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show.

The Spice Girls, who have sold more than 55 million albums, with 10 No. 1 singles, launch their world tour Dec. 2 in Vancouver while the Victoria Secret’s Lingerie Fashion Show is scheduled to air on CBS Dec 4.

The Spice Girls were dressed in World War Two-era khaki and jaunty military caps, emerged onstage at the Hollywood show to perform their first number in front of huge glittering lights spelling out “Spice.”

Victoria’s Secret is facing increased competition from a variety of retailers who have added similar lines of lingerie. At the same time, the company is taking heat for being outdated at a time when its financial picture is trembling.

The fashion show is geared to help give Victoria’s Secret momentum as it heads into the holiday season but that may be a tall order, and not just because of the rocky retail environment. The Victoria’s Secret show has slipped in ratings of late, and last year ended up in 59th place. That’s down 21 spots from the year before.

CBS has said the show generates a large amount of advance publicity prior to its airing, and still is profitable. The network also may be hungry for such content as it may face a shortage due to the current writers’ strike.

The show’s producers pulled out a number of stops they hope will aid the show’s cause. In addition to reuniting the Spice Girls, supermodel Heidi Klum returned to the show’s runway after giving birth to her third child. Klum not only pranced in several ensembles – including one that featured a giant, unfolding snowflake – she also sang with husband Seal.

Also appearing at this year’s show was Black-Eyed Peas front man Will.I.Am. Rap star Kanye West backed out following the death of his mother.