Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returns with a renewed vision

The women’s underwear brand wants to make a fresh start, and confirms that this year its fashion show will return in a more inclusive and real version.

Victoria’s Secret CFO Timothy Johnson confirmed on March 3 that the well-known brand will bring back its show after a four-year hiatus. Before being able to give this news, Victoria’s Secret has had to spend a lot of time reviewing its public image and studying its moves to move away from the serious controversies produced in recent years.

Rumors about the strict and dangerous diets followed by the models and the misogyny that characterized the brand’s corporate culture were disenchanting the public, which was beginning to have other needs. The masses were more enraged than ever by statements made by the company’s former chief marketing officer, Ed Razek, who made it clear that transgender and plus-size models were of no interest to Victoria’s Secret or its audience.

Sales began to fall in 2016 and it was in 2018 that the brand’s last runway show took place. Society, which was evolving in bigger and faster steps than the company, was starting to choose other firms with a philosophy closer to its reality and to its time such as Savage x Fenty by Rihanna, which from the beginning acquired diversity and inclusion as its main values.

Now, what was for a long time the most popular women’s underwear brand, is trying to get closer to inclusion after reviewing its mistakes and renewing its vision, cutting ties with the controversial company L Brands and replacing its angels with the “VS Collective”, which includes much more diverse models.

This is a win for inclusivity for inclusivity’s sake

But if brands start doing this only because they’ve received backlash then what happens when the ‘trends’ change again?

Do the CEOs of these companies value true inclusivity? Or do they just value money? https://t.co/ykmcUTLayQ

— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) March 5, 2023

Some have questioned the brand’s willingness for this complete rebranding. “If brands start doing this just because they have received negative feedback, what will happen when the ‘trends’ change again? Do the CEOs of these companies value true inclusivity? Or do they just value money?” tweeted Lizzo. On the other hand, many have also shown their enthusiasm for this return of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Will the famous brand be able to win back the public with its comeback?