Ashley Graham sparks mixed reactions as model makes her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut

Ashley Graham made her 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut as the underwear brand returned to the runway after a six-year hiatus.

The 36-year-old curvaceous model’s — who shared her BTS preparation for the event — participation in the event was announced four days earlier.

In a joint Instagram post, Graham and the line of intimates wrote in a caption, ‘You thought we were done? Not even close. @ashleygraham will be joining the iconic cast of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.’

Fans had mixed reactions to the news, with social media users heading to the comments to share their thoughts. 

Ahead of the event, Ashley told People magazine, ‘I am feeling really excited.’

The 36-year-old curvaceous model’s participation in the event was announced four days earlier

She elaborated, ‘I’m not nervous, and everything’s very secure; we’re not going to have anything pop out, which makes me feel good so I can strut it, and I’m honestly more excited just for the full representation that’s going to happen during the show.’

Graham, who shares three young sons with husband Justin Ervin, requested a look with more coverage after she was initially given a tiny outfit.

She has twins Malachi and Roman, two, and firstborn son Isaac, four.

‘The first thing they gave me was this tiny, tiny little underwear, and I said, “Hello, I just had three children,”‘ the mother-of-three explained. 

She added, ‘Even though it was like two years ago, but I was like, “Is there any more we can put on?” So then I got a bodysuit and I feel really sexy in it, and then when the wings came out, that’s when I was like, “Oh yeah, I feel like an Angel. This is hot.”‘

Graham graced the catwalk in a slinky black lace bodysuit layered over a matching, thick-banded thong.

She added a coordinating, long, thin robe and delicate black wings with gold floral decals throughout. 

The ensemble was rounded out with custom black, strappy heels by designer Rene Caovilla.

Fans had mixed reactions to the news, with social media users heading to the comments to share their thoughts

One person on Instagram wrote about the beauty’s debut: ‘Ashley is paving the way’

Someone else said, ‘Sorry, but I prefer the old VS show with thin models’

One person on Instagram wrote about the beauty’s debut: ‘Ashley is paving the way.’

And another complained, ‘Come on… we want Adriana Lima and all the Brazilian bombshells!’ 

Another agreed, ‘Sorry but I prefer the old VS show with thin models.’

And someone else called out Victoria’s Secret, writing, ‘It’s hypocritical that a brand that fired Barbara Palvin from modeling in the past because they found her too curvy is now trying to gain sympathy with plus-size models.’ 

Palvin was booked alongside Ashley in this year’s show. 

One fan on X came to Ashley’s defense, writing, ‘people are so upset that ashley graham walked but honestly if she was thin it would be completely different.’

And another wrote about the beauty’s debut: ‘Ashley is paving the way.’ 

Graham graced the catwalk in a slinky black lace bodysuit layered over a matching, thick-banded thong

L-R Jasmine Tookes, Paloma Elsesser, Barbara Palvin, and Ashley backstage at Tuesday’s show

Victoria’s Secret made its runway debut in 1995, with Tyra Banks taking to the stage wearing the first set of angel wings three years later.

Ed Razek, former chief marketing officer of VS’s parent company, L Brands, once described the catwalk show as a ‘fantasy,’ excluding transgender and plus-size models from the ’42-minute entertainment special.’

The controversial statement landed the brand in hot water, and led to Razek’s 2019 resignation and the cancellation of the show due to backlash and poor ratings.

Victoria’s Secret then pivoted to promote diversity by including larger models in subsequent campaigns.

Valentina Sampaio, the company’s first transgender model, was also hired to star in a VS Pink campaign after Razek’s exit.