After five years, Victoria’s Secret’s infamous show is returning to the runway - but should our Angels have stayed in the past?
Angels Return:
From Male Gaze to Female Empowerment
In the winter of 2018, Victoria’s Secret took their final curtain call. A true time stamp of the 2010 fashion era, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show encapsulated the personality of that entire decade. Following a severe decline in viewership and public opinion, however, the household name was forced to hang up their wings, until now. Five years later, the show is making its momentous return and it stands still stands to be seen whether the show will rise to expectations or crumble under pressure.
Known first and foremost for their lingerie, Victoria’s Secret garnered criticism for its un-inclusive and fat-phobic appearance. With every fashion cycle, the company continued to promote a stereotypical ‘perfect’ body by only selecting Angels with proportions of the likes of Adriana Lima, Gigi Hadid, Candice Swanepoel, or Taylor Hill. They refused to refresh their model line up by consistently selecting Brazilian Bombshells and size zero beauties. In the end, the lingerie atelier received massive backlash for their played-out ways, inevitably contributing to their loss in relevancy.
Victoria’s Secret fashion shows were not without their high-points. Who could forget a lustful The Weeknd and underwear-clad Bella Hadid sharing the runway post breakup. Its this level of intrigue and conflict the company is attempting to reignite. Further as they aim to come back stronger than ever, Victoria’s Secret is redirecting their show’s vision in new ways.
One of Victoria’s Secret’s representatives states that their modernized show “will deliver precisely what our customers have been asking for—the glamour, runway, fashion, fun, wings, entertainment—all through a powerful, modern lens reflecting who we are today.
Already announced in their singer lineup are three powerhouse female artists who need but one name: Lisa, Tyla, and Cher. Notably, This selection avoids implications of ‘The Male Gaze,’ which past performer selections had certainly done so such as The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes, and Kanye West.
Only time will tell how Victoria’s Secret executes the rebirth of their runway show. The brand has taken arrows, to be sure, but it is their response and adaptation to the-
commentary that will make the mark of true legend. Is it going to be heaven on Earth or will it be… well, I’ll leave that up to you to decide.
Written by
Molly Waters