What's Happening?
The 2025 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show marked a significant shift for the brand, showcasing a more diverse range of models than in previous years. The show featured plus-size models and trans women, including
Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio, which represents a departure from the brand's historically narrow standards of beauty. This change comes after years of criticism and controversy surrounding the brand's previous marketing strategies and leadership. The inclusion of diverse models is seen as a response to past backlash, including comments from former Chief Marketing Officer Ed Razek and the association of former CEO Les Wexner with Jeffrey Epstein. Despite these changes, the majority of models remain straight size and cisgender, highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving full inclusivity.
Why It's Important?
The shift in Victoria's Secret's approach to model diversity is significant for the fashion industry, which has been criticized for its lack of inclusivity. By featuring plus-size and trans models, the brand is aligning with broader societal movements towards acceptance and representation of diverse body types and identities. This change could influence other fashion brands to adopt similar practices, potentially leading to a more inclusive industry standard. However, the fact that only a small percentage of runways feature plus-size models indicates that there is still much progress to be made. The brand's efforts to move past its controversial history and embrace diversity may help restore its reputation and appeal to a wider audience.
What's Next?
Victoria's Secret's recent changes may prompt other fashion brands to reevaluate their own standards and practices regarding model diversity. As the industry continues to evolve, there may be increased pressure on brands to feature a broader range of body types and identities in their marketing and runway shows. Stakeholders, including consumers and advocacy groups, are likely to continue pushing for greater inclusivity and representation. The brand's future actions will be closely watched to see if it maintains its commitment to diversity or reverts to previous practices.
Beyond the Headlines
The inclusion of diverse models in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show reflects broader cultural shifts towards acceptance and celebration of different body types and identities. This move may contribute to changing perceptions of beauty standards and encourage more individuals to embrace their unique identities. Additionally, the brand's efforts to distance itself from past controversies highlight the importance of corporate accountability and the impact of public opinion on business practices. As the fashion industry continues to grapple with issues of diversity and representation, Victoria's Secret's actions may serve as a case study for other brands seeking to navigate similar challenges.
