What Do People Actually Think of the VS Fashion Show?
Since 1995, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show sparks the defining moments in a model’s career as millions of viewers watch each year. In the age of social movements, some are beginning to question why the VSFS has yet to include more diversity in the show and in their models. We looked to women of various ages and backgrounds on their view of the show.
We asked females of all ages and backgrounds what the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show means to them and here’s what we learned…
“While the outfits are beautiful and the models themselves are as well, they are not very representative of the average body type, especially women who cannot control the fact of whether or not they have curves or thicker features. It also can create this idea that in order to look sexy or confident you have to look like those models, and no one should need to feel like that” - Bella, 15
“While brands of course have the autonomy to advertise as they please, they also have a responsibility to the young women and girls who are their consumers to create advertisements (such as the VSFS) which include many body types and are inclusive to trans and non binary people. In 2018, it is tone deaf to create a show which idealizes one body type and excludes all but cisgender people” - Julia, 17
“I think I have watched the show once. My mom was always against it because they were all so skinny… Their brand is making women looking as hot as possible and if they don’t want to expand their demographic to broader audiences, then more women won’t shop there” - Eliza, 19
“Personally, I would never watch that. They can show whatever they want to show because they are marketing to the men, not the women...They should have different age ranges represented. I don’t want to wear a g-string but I want to wear something that makes me feel sexy” - Kim, 48
“Yes, the models are beautiful. And yes, the lingerie is nice. But I can’t help wondering if those young women realize they have so much more to offer. I hope they’re not thinking that their bodies are the only things that are valued.” - Nancy, 53
“I think that they’re a little size exclusive. Maybe it should be opened up for more sizes. Bigger people like pretty underwear too!” - Gail, 68
From listening to these women, it seems America is tired of seeing the same white models striking poses. The tanned, toned skin of Elsa Hosk is an illusion to girls everywhere as only 5% of women have the physical characteristics to actually resemble the current VS Angels. This number does not even account for racial barriers as well. Models with varying nationality only make up 40% of the Angels. As 69% of girls report that the appearance of models in magazines impact their image of a perfect body; various sizes, races, and backgrounds should be promoted in this fashion show. Due to the unrealistic expectations of the models on the VS runway, there is a strong connection to declining mental health and an increase in eating disorders.
Not only does the VSFS promote exclusivity, but recent controversy has surrounded the brand’s messages. Ed Razek, the company’s chief marketing officer, recently implied in an interview with Vogue that “transsexuals” were not worthy to walk in the 42-minute entertainment fantasy. Furthermore, Razek is quoted with saying “no one has any interest” in a plus-size model walking the runway. With these quotes and lack of diversity, Victoria’s Secret has initiated controversy with the LGTBQ+ committee and many livid users on social media.
Looking forward, this lingerie brand will have to make some changes to their 2019 VSFS to recover lost consumers. After all, every race, body, age, and gender deserves to be represented on the runway.