Victoria Secret's Newfound Inclusivity

How much has the brand really changed?

By: Kaitlyn Tarakji

Credit: HELLO!Magazine

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After six years of silence, Victoria Secret finally unrolled the pink carpet and brought back its fashion show on October 15. From the models’ ferocity to their wondrous wings, every aspect had us glued to the screen as our favorite angels and performers strutted across the runway.

After 23 years of the brand putting on its fashion shows, the Me Too movement from 2017 sparked attention to survivors of sexual abuse and harassment. While advocacy for women's rights soared, support for Victoria Secret’s shows and impossible body expectations understandably plunged. People began to point out the brand’s sexist and outdated standards, leading Victoria’s Secret to put on their last show in 2018, stowing away their infamous bedazzled bras and wings.

Clearly, Victoria’s Secret used their lengthy hiatus to rethink their previous actions and message. The 2024 show connected with its viewers through its recent attention to our generation’s values surrounding body positivity and inclusivity. In an attempt to reclaim its viewers, the brand casted five plus sized models and two transgender models, Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio, to walk alongside some of its former angels. 

While I somewhat understand the allure of their “unearthly” models and can’t say I didn't enjoy the show, my use of the word “attempt” was deliberate. It’s disappointing to advertise their show as “brand changing” and “inclusive” when that didn’t seem like the case.

I felt like I watched 40 out of 45 minutes of tanned, long-legged, unattainably skinny models stride across the runway while the other equally as alluring angels came on only sparingly. The inclusive models were meant to demonstrate how Victoria Secret has evolved with the current world, although seven scattered angels didn’t do a lot to change the brand’s message. 

Another unique aspect of the 2024 show was that they decided to make it shoppable. For the first time ever, viewers could actually purchase what they saw on their screens, adding a certain aspect of normalcy and inclusivity to the viewing experience.

While the show always keeps me entertained with its (somehow) bold and elegant models, glamorous performers and dazzling designs: It seems the brand still has some work to do in terms of inclusivity despite this year’s efforts.

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Kaitlyn Tarakji is an online writer for Rowdy Magazine. When she’s not writing or doing homework on the fifth floor of Marston, she’s probably with friends or reading a book.