The Victoria’s Secret runway show held in New York City on Wednesday night (10/17) featured the famous “angels” in big wings, high heels, and tiny underwear, bringing back the brand’s lost sexy image.
More specifically, as The Sun reports, this year organizers appear to have listened to loyal Victoria’s Secret fans and abandoned the brand’s image of recent years that led to a drop in sales and the show’s cancellation for five years.
Instead, they emphasized the sexy 2000s, when Victoria’s Secret‘s iconic models Giselle Budden, Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum dominated.
Bella Hadid was one of the stars who stole the show in a hot red bra and garter belt set, while her new blonde hair and tan made her look like Giselle (model and ex-wife of NFL legend Tom Brady).
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Her sister, Gigi Hadid, wore a white bra and corset with silk shorts and quilted feathers.
Sexy Emily Ratajkowski made her debut at 34, wearing a pink Dream Angels push-up bra and thong along with pink gloves.
Pregnant Jasmine Tooks opened the show in a nude lingerie set and a gold mesh dress, sending a strong message in every direction for pregnant models.
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Bigger and bolder than ever in recent years, Victoria’s Secret is back to its sexy roots.
The tradition and cancellation of the MeToo movement
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show was a prime-time television show that aired in 100 countries from 1995 to 2018.
Some saw it as a playful celebration of female empowerment, while critics called it outdated and lacking in diversity.
In 2018, an uproar was caused when the brand’s marketing director, Ed Razek, claimed the public “wasn’t interested” in plus size models and insisted the brand would never hire transgender women “because the show was a fantasy.”
In the midst of the body positivity and #MeToo movements, and with viewership dwindling, the then-managers in a panic move moved to cancel the 2019 show.
Victoria’s Secret moved away from its traditional, sexy image and focused on marketing sportswear and pajamas. And predictably, the company’s sales took a hit.
Hillary Super and the “comeback” of the sexy identity
When new CEO Hillary Super took the reins as CEO in September 2024, she pledged to bring the company back to the days of its glorious, sexy past.
Under her leadership, Victoria’s Secret launched the aptly named Very Sexy line. After all, sex sells.
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show returned last year after 2019, with celebrities like Tyra making their grand return.
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Fans demanded “much more glitter and flawless makeup,” and this year’s fashion show gave it to them.
They were delighted to see Brazilian “goddess” and mother of three, Adriana Lima, who first walked for Victoria’s Secret in 1999 at age 17, return in gold wings and a full-length glitter.
Plus-size supermodel Ashley Graham returned and walked the Victoria’s Secret runway for the first time last year and has already been dubbed an icon.
Speaking ahead of her second show, Ashley said she wants young girls to see her on the runway and “know that I’m happy with my body… and that you can be happy too, even if you have back fat and cellulite, it’s not that big of a deal.”
Lila Moss, daughter of supermodel Kate, wore a grey long-sleeved leotard. And Aris Law, daughter of actor Judd Law and designer Sandy Frost, walked in a black crop top and shorts.
To avoid a scandal seven years ago, the brand hired trance model Alex Consani again.
The American influencer made history as one of the first trans models to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway last year.
Victoria’s Secret also boosted its star power with artists Karol G, Madison Beer, Missy Elliott, and K-pop group Twice.
“What is a modern Angel?”
When asked “what is a modern angel,” VS CEO Hillary Super replied that she is a supermodel. An Angel who must be ambitious, bold, and sexy, with legs that reach to the sky.
Ultimately, the reason we loved Victoria’s Secret was that it was a pure escape from reality. We don’t want the usual, we want fantasy… in and out of the bedroom, the company’s CEO stressed.
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