Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returns after six years

By Abigail Holliday
Staff Writer

After six years, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is back and better than ever.

Debuting in 1995, Victoria’s Secret transformed the idea of lingerie to the public, making it a fun, fashionable confidence boost, according to Fashionista. The intent was to prove that lingerie can also be high fashion and be a way to uplift women to feel powerful in their bodies.

The models, known as the Victoria’s Secret “Angels,” and their wings became a staple of the brand in 1997 when they launched their “Angel” collection. Tyra Banks introduced the first pair of wings the following year and they haven’t left the runway since.

After the last show in 2018, Victoria’s Secret used the six-year break to rebrand. Victoria’s Secret couldn’t withstand the weight of news allegations at the time. The brand was accused of having a toxic workplace environment, a lack of inclusivity (excluding transgender and plus size women) and trying to eliminate the models altogether, according to The New York Times. 

The brand’s reputation hit an all-time low after it was revealed their CEO Lex Wexner had ties to Jeffery Epstein and its former marketing executive, Ed Razek, was also under controversy himself. 

According to Refinery29, Razek defended the exclusion of plus-size women and had even gone on record saying, “Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy…”

After announcing this year’s show in May, they intended to reinvent the show and open the runway to more inclusive body types while still holding onto its roots. Lisa, a member of the K-pop group BLACKPINK, opened the show, singing as Gigi Hadid rose onto the stage in a pink stain number with beautiful mechanical pink wings.

Gigi Hadid opening the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (photo courtesy of IMDb)

Lisa, Tyla and Cher set the tone for the Angels to walk the runway. Iconic figures including Adriana Lima, who returned after her retirement in 2018, the Hadid sisters, Anok Yai, and original Angels such as Banks, Alessandra Ambrosio and Behati Prinsloo all strutted the runway, according to Vogue.

Anok Yai strutting the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

Staying true to their word about making efforts to ensure the show was more inclusive, Victoria’s Secret walked beautiful plus-size Angels such as Paloma Elsesser, Ashley Graham, Devyn Garcia and Banks. 

The brand also debuted two gorgeous transgender models, Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio.

Devyn Garcia walking the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

Supermodel Kate Moss finally walked the Victoria’s Secret runway at age 50, alongside her daughter Lila Moss, a model herself at only 22.

Lila Moss debuting in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

Closing the 40-minute fashion show was the famous Bella Hadid in a fabulous red set as Cher sang her hit song “Believe.” Victoria’s Secret chose to have the Hadid sisters both open and close out the show.

Many famous faces in the crowd came to experience the return of the fashion show, such as Cardi B, Tyga, Queen Latifah, Phoebe Dynevor, Dylan Sprouse, Ice Spice, Angel Reece and Suni Lee, heightening the excitement of the show’s return.