The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, famous for its lavish, angel-winged models and ultra-glamorous atmosphere, was canceled in 2019 after decades of being one of the most-watched runway events in the entire world. The cancellation wasn’t sudden, it came after years of criticism that the brand didn’t have diversity and seemed out of touch with the new era of body inclusivity.

Victoria’s Secret had built an unrealistic image of beauty—its “Angels” were nearly all thin, tall, and conventionally beautiful, with very little variation in body type, race, or gender identity. As societal attitudes changed, people began to criticize the brand for not representing the diversity of real life customers. People wanted models of different sizes, races, and gender identities. This awareness had some negative consequences for Victoria Secret as sales began to decline as customers turned to other brands that celebrated body positivity and inclusivity.

In response to these challenges, the brand canceled its 2019 show and has since been working to rebrand. This year, they announced a “reimagined” fashion show, including models with more diverse backgrounds and body types, like trans and plus-size models. 

 

However, some critics feel this attempt at inclusivity is only surface-level. Despite the promise of a fresh, more inclusive look, some people felt the show still didn't go far enough and that the company might be responding more to backlash than genuinely embracing inclusivity.

 

Whether Victoria’s Secret’s new approach will appeal to modern audiences is still up for debate, the brand is making an attempt to adjust their old way of running the show. With more diverse models in their recent shows, it’s a step toward inclusivity, though many feel they still have a long way to go.