As reported by NBC News – After an absence of almost six years, Victoria’s Secret’s highly anticipated yearly runway show, which showcases supermodels with angel wings and jewel-encrusted bras, will return this autumn.
The 1977-founded lingerie company was the focus of a 2020 New York Times investigation that described an alleged misogynistic culture within the organization. At the time, a representative for Victoria’s Secret’s previous parent company, L Brands, told the journal that the firm had “made significant strides” and was “intensely focused” on workplace, corporate governance, and compliance policies.
Victoria’s Secret has also come under fire for not being inclusive enough. When Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer of L Brands at the time, stated in November 2018 that he did not believe the company should feature “transsexuals” in its runway show, he faced criticism.
After separating from L Brands in 2021, the business has worked to update its strategy and appeal to women once more. It rebranded itself and began using more varied, body-positive models in its advertising campaigns. In 2023, it will release a reimagined, partially revived cinematic version of a fashion show for Prime Video.
“We’ve read the comments and heard you,” the business stated on Wednesday in an Instagram post.”The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is returning, and it will have all of your favourite elements—glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment, and more—as well as who we are today! Keep watching; things will only get greater recognition from here.
The announcement coincides with a turning point in the body positivity movement, which promotes acceptance of oneself regardless of one’s physical appearance.
Based on data from the National Library of Medicine, the movement initially appeared on Instagram in 2012, which is when it started to take on its current social media shape. It kept expanding online as additional producers emerged as a result of the pandemic, posting guidance on anything from plus-size fashion advice to body confidence.
However, some of the creators of a new generation of weight loss medications based on semaglutide have expressed concern that body positivity has once again been overshadowed by beliefs they believe to be a part of “diet culture,” a term used to describe a set of beliefs that falsely assume that being thin and losing weight are necessary for good health. Both online and offline, the comeback of diet culture is being seen in the resurgence of “heroin chic” fashion trends and the retreat of inclusive size policies by companies like Old Navy.
Reminiscent of a “clear shift” over the last three years, influencer Remi Bader released a video on TikTok on Tuesday. She has been outspoken in her support of size diversity in fashion.
“Inclusivity at that time was very trendy,” she explained. “And that’s when brands were like ‘shoot, we need to hop on that bandwagon right now and not be the last ones that are going to be called out for not being inclusive…'”
Bader, who was appointed a VS brand ambassador in 2022, now expressed her belief that companies are “backing away from some of these initiatives.”
In the video, Bader did not directly mention any companies. A request for comment was met with no quick response from her.
Commenters on the Instagram post celebrating the return of Victoria’s Secret fashion show included Ella Halikas, Kristina Zias, and Raeann Langas, three influencers who advocate for body acceptance at any size. In the past few years, the company has formed alliances with numerous influencers.
In August 2023, Victoria’s Secret shared a post on its website under its brand values, entitled “We Represent All Women.”
“We have moved from promoting an exclusionary view of what’s sexy, to celebrating all women throughout every phase of their lives,” the brand wrote. “We will continue this work and look to be an industry leader in retail innovation, fashion, sustainability, and continuous ingenuity—getting to the heart of what our diverse customer base wants.”
Still, the company has not performed well since revamping its image. Since going public in 2021, Victoria’s Secret stock has lost nearly half its value, falling from about $42 to $21 per share.
In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for Victoria’s Secret echoed the brand’s Instagram announcement, and said that the 2024 fashion show will “deliver precisely what our customers have been asking for.”
According to the spokesman, the company “is focused on appreciating and encouraging all women, and that is unlikely to shift anywhere soon.”
