The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of her campus.
This article was written by a student writer from the Brown campus chapter.
The Victoria’s Secret runway show returned on October 15th after a six-year hiatus, and the internet is divided. The show received low ratings for its lack of diversity and was suspended following controversy over how the brand contributes to women’s body image. Now, Victoria’s Secret is promising a new-age “body positive” runway show that embraces women of all backgrounds and body types.
But at the height of the show’s notoriety in the 2000s, concerns about self-awareness and unrealistic beauty standards were non-existent. The runway show was amazing. Brand executives spared no expense, and viewers appreciated it. The sight was fashionable as well. Eye-catching wings, expensive costumes, crowd-pleasing dance numbers, a completely original VS lingerie set, and some of the world’s most beloved models. The show was a pop culture spectacle and iconic.
But behind the glitz and glamor, this show had undeniable problems. Victoria’s Secret reinforces ideas of femininity and beauty that are centered around the male gaze. There was a lack of ethnic and body diversity among models, creating an unfair image of the ideal woman. Models practiced unhealthy habits to maintain their ethereal perfect looks.
This show unabashedly profited from the unattainable beauty standards that the 2000s were notorious for.
So when Victoria’s Secret announced it would be bringing back its runway shows in 2024, everyone turned heads. In the 2020s, diversity and inclusion will become important values in an evolving society. The show was a chance for the brand to evolve its image and adapt to today’s more inclusive beauty standards. Otherwise, you risk being seen as outdated and outdated.
Feminomenon: Big names and big changes!
The show featured an all-female guest list of some of the biggest names in the music and modeling industries. K-pop idol Lisa from the band Blackpink opened the show, and Gigi Hadid started her runway walk. The show featured some of the most iconic Victoria’s Secret Angels of all time, including Kate Moss, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Tyra Banks, and Bella Hadid. Fans were delighted when model/TikTok star Alex Consani debuted as the first transgender Victoria’s Secret Angel alongside Valentina Sampaio. The brand featured performances from Cher and Tyra, mixing music icons old and new with a fanfare of women.
The 2024 show saw a dramatic change, appearing to feature more black and brown models than any other show. Even more daring, these models wore their hair naturally and in big curls. Tyra Banks looked stunning as she strutted down the runway with her natural hairstyle. When it comes to racial/ethnic representation, Victoria’s Secret seems to be getting the message and moving in the right direction. However, this does not mean there is no room for improvement. I, like black women all over the world, want to see darker skinned models.
Plus Size Tokenism rebranded to “Body-Positivity”
Victoria’s Secret made history by walking in its 2024 show as the first plus-size Angel to walk. The show featured six plus-size models, including Tyra Banks, who currently works in the plus-size category, as well as Ashley Graham, Paloma Elsesser, Kai Soleil, Devin Garcia, and Jill Cortleve. . Victoria’s Secret was committed to inclusivity and celebrating bodies of all sizes, but most of their plus-size models wear sleeves, torso-covering slip dresses, and leggings to cover more of their bodies. I was doing it.
The brand claims to celebrate plus-size models and body positivity, but covers their curves.
Many critics claim that Victoria’s Secret uses plus-size models to avoid further criticism without truly empowering curvy women. . Victoria’s Secret’s minimal diversity and inclusion is tokenism in its truest form, and their audience clearly understands that.
Not great due to lack of funds
As I watched some of the most famous women in the modeling industry walk, glowing and glamorous, I found my attention shifted away from the models and towards the runway they were walking on. It was boring. It’s plain black, not raised, and has visible seams. There was nothing great about it. After that, I started paying more attention to my costumes. Although it was a creative theme, the wings were nothing compared to the wings that VS fans are accustomed to. Some wings (cough cough Candice Swanepoel’s) looked like a PTA mom’s DIY project. Even Adriana Lima’s wings, perhaps the most anticipated Victoria’s Secret model to return to the show, seemed to fall short of typical VS standards. The size and material didn’t surprise me. In fact, there was nothing that really struck me about this show other than the beauty and talent of the models. The model’s performance also left something to be desired. There were no fancy dance routines or holiday-themed features, and some lesser-known models showed no energy at all in their walk. Everything about the design and execution seemed…cheap.
Where did Victoria’s Secret’s ballooning budget go? From an outsider’s perspective, it appears that most of the show’s budget was allocated to hiring some of the most famous models in the industry. Perhaps the brand thought the best promotional strategy to increase viewership was to bring in as many celebrities as possible. But what is Victoria’s Secret really worth if the brand is willing to sacrifice quality for celebrity appeal? Victoria’s Secret’s rebrand has shifted its focus from fashion artistry to attention span. If this is a shift towards a higher marketing strategy, is this brand really thinking about women or just about sales?
Is the Victoria’s Secret runway show good for women?
No one expects sharp sociopolitical commentary on diversity and inclusion from Victoria’s Secret. No one expects the brand to reach much beyond its expertise in women’s fashion. Nevertheless, Victoria’s Secret, as a women’s fashion (originally lingerie) company, has a significant responsibility to exercise its power over women’s perceptions of beauty with great care and awareness. are.
Well, it’s fun and exciting to watch the VS show and gush about how great the models are. But Victoria’s Secret must not forget that the girls watching the show were wondering why all the models were so perfectly skinny, toned, and fair-skinned. . And what’s even more frustrating is that if Victoria’s Secret is going to commit to diversity and appropriate representation, it has to go all out to deliver, not just a superficial show to appease critics.
Are VS Runway Shows Good for Women? Allure’s writers share something that will make you stop and think. “They would never put on a show like this that featured basically naked men.” In its most basic form, the Victoria’s Secret show is about sexualizing women. It is a show that glorifies the world. They show women wearing lingerie on the runway, insisting that a woman’s body and beauty are the most important parts of the world. On the other hand, the effect of the show may be more important. It’s so refreshing and encouraging to see women have confidence in themselves. This show makes femininity feel like something to be celebrated, glamorously and unapologetically.
If real women watch the show and find it enjoyable, it might be worth it.
Love it or hate it, today’s Victoria’s Secret Runway Show is just as it always has been: skinny, sexy models in skimpy lingerie. The only difference now is that brands’ entire budgets are spent on hiring A-list models, and routines, runways, and wing designs are given a cheap pass.
But is our culture’s need for nostalgia enough to keep the show going? Will our society’s fascination with the Angels’ beauty lead to obsession and adoration like it did in the 2000s? Or will it spark the same outrage that ended the show six years ago? Now, we wait and see if Victoria’s Secret can find a balance between reviving its iconic past and catering to the demands of a more progressive and socially conscious audience. are.
