It’s Time for Victoria’s Secret to Embrace Real Women

After 24 years, it seems as though the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has lost its wings. Earlier this month, model and ambassador Shanina Shaik confirmed that the lingerie giant would not be holding its iconic fashion show this year. This came after an announcement in May by Leslie Wexner, chief executive of Victoria’s Secret parent company, that the show would not be aired on TV, citing this did not align with the forward-thinking vision of the brand. While some people will be sad to miss scantily-clad models strutting it down the runway, many are relieved to see this pigeon-holed image of beauty stopped. With its absence this calendar year, it is time for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to rebrand itself, and in the meantime, for society to rethink its ideals of female beauty.

When the fashion show first debuted in 1995, models dressed in shiny slips and satiny bras. Only two camera people were present and the event was not televised. Come 2001, Victoria’s Secret took its show to the silver screen for the first time, and drew over 12 million viewers. By airing the event on primetime, it skyrocketed its way into mainstream popular culture. Soon enough, the term “Victoria’s Secret Angel” became synonymous with sex appeal, beauty and femininity. However, many women felt ostracized from this concept.

Despite the stark differences in the original show and its current image, a few potentially dangerous parallels can be drawn. First off, the Angels cast in the show stand 6 inches taller and wear a dress size 10 times smaller than the average American woman. Additionally, the models are majority White and fail to capture the racial diversity that exists within the country. What makes these facts so detrimental to the idea of women’s bodies is the show’s demographic. A 2018 report outlined that over 61% of viewership are women. Millions of women have sat around in their pajamas once a year watching tall, skinny models prance around in jeweled lingerie and often made to feel bad about their normal body types.

Source: hypebae.com

However, at the same time, it is important that this conversation about the Angels does not lead to skinny shaming. At the end of the day, no one can pick the body type they were born with. Some women’s bodies are more conducive to modeling; however, this should not be made to be the ideal for women everywhere. Instead, spectacles like the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show should highlight the beautiful and diverse population of ladies everywhere.

Aside from the potentially demoralizing impact the show has on women, a major public blunder was made on behalf of brand by its former chief marketing officer, Ed Razek, in September 2018 regarding inclusion. While conducting an interview with Vogue.com, Razek claimed the brand had no room for transgendered models because the show is based in fantasy and an entertainment special. He also asserted there was no market appeal for “plus size” models to be featured. Less than a year after these comments, Razek stepped down from his position at Victoria’s Secret. But is that enough?

Currently, Victoria’s Secret is in a unique position and has the ability to reverse harm the brand has done to body image. In the advent of the show this year, a possibility looms to revamp and redefine the message of the show. Instead of hiring all international runway models, Victoria’s Secret can reach out to models like Kate Upton, Ashley Graham and Precious Victoria Lee who have been previously barred from the event for their body types. This can usher a new era in fashion, beauty and pop culture where young girls and boys can look to primetime TV specials and see women of all shapes and sizes portrayed in a healthy way. Other brands like Aerie and Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty have found marketable ways to include real women in campaigns, advertisements and shows. And if after this time, Victoria’s Secret still refuses to expand upon its image, it is up to consumers to show their displeasure and spend their hard-earned dollars elsewhere. Maybe then Victoria’s Secret will get the message; however, it may come just a bit too late.

#bodypositivity #bodyimage #realbeauty #VSFashionShow