Some of the biggest names in modeling, including Tyra Banks and the Hadid sisters, showcased their iconic wings once again on Tuesday as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned after a six-year break.
This lingerie brand’s promotional event, featuring its contracted models known as “angels,” was a must-watch during its peak from 1995 to 2018.
However, the show was canceled in 2019 amid backlash from the body positivity, transgender rights, and #MeToo movements, alongside controversies involving company leadership, such as L Brands’ CEO Les Wexner’s ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and controversial remarks by then-Chief Marketing Officer Ed Razek regarding transgender and plus-size models, leading to his resignation.
In May 2024, Victoria’s Secret announced the show would return in the fall, promising that it would reflect its evolved values while maintaining elements like glamour, runway, wings, and musical entertainment.
The 45-minute show was streamed on Amazon Prime Video and social media, featuring an all-female musical lineup with performances from K-Pop star LISA, South African singer Tyla, and pop legend Cher, who closed the show with “Strong Enough” and “Believe.”
The runway also saw many well-known angels return, including Gigi and Bella Hadid, Jasmine Tookes, Behati Prinsloo, Barbara Palvin, Taylor Hill, Candice Swanepoel, and Adriana Lima, who had retired in 2018. Claudia Schiffer returned for her second appearance since her last show in 1997.
Additionally, the event marked the debut of iconic models like 50-year-old supermodel Kate Moss and former French First Lady Carla Bruni, 56. Ashley Graham, a model and body activist, expressed her excitement about participating as a woman in her late 30s and a mother of three, aiming to represent curvier women on the runway. She initially hesitated to accept the invitation due to the brand’s challenging past but was reassured by the company’s commitment to include extended sizes.
The show concluded with Tyra Banks, Victoria’s Secret’s first Black contract and cover model, who received a warm welcome as she walked the runway nearly two decades after her retirement in 2005. This moment resonated with fans on social media. However, the event faced criticism for not being as inclusive, especially regarding plus-size representation, as it had claimed.
Victoria’s Secret has struggled financially in recent years due to increased competition in the mid-range lingerie market and a decline in brand appeal among younger consumers.
The revival of the annual fashion show, which once attracted 12.4 million viewers, could help the brand regain some of its lost market share.
