After a four-year hiatus, the wings, walks and women of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will return Tuesday for the company’s 2024 show in New York City.
Victoria’s Secret pulled the plug on the show in 2019 after it faced poor ratings and the brand itself was embroiled in some controversy. Last year, it launched a revamped, partially revived filmed version of a show for Prime Video.
The show returns as the body positivity movement — a belief system of self-acceptance regardless of body type — is at a crossroads. Many curvy figures have spent their careers advocating for more size-inclusive clothing. But as more people embrace the new class of wildly popular weight loss drugs, some plus-size models have said the fashion industry has once again regressed.
Here’s what to know.
What were Victoria’s Secret’s past controversies?
The lingerie brand was the subject of a 2020 New York Times investigation that detailed allegations of a culture of misogyny at the company. A spokesperson for L Brands, the former parent company of Victoria’s Secret, told the newspaper at the time that it was “‘intensely focused’ on corporate governance, workplace and compliance practices and that it had ‘made significant strides.’”
Victoria’s Secret has also faced criticism for its lack of inclusivity. In November 2018, Ed Razek, then the chief marketing officer for L Brands, came under fire for saying he did not think the brand should include “transsexuals” in its runway show.
The company split from L Brands in 2021 and since made efforts to revamp its approach and become relevant to women again. It overhauled its image and incorporated more diverse, body-positive models in its campaigns.
What’s different about this year’s show?
In its May announcement, Victoria’s Secret said it wants to have a show that reflects “who we are today.”
“We’ve read the comments and heard you,” it wrote in an Instagram post announcing the show this year. “The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is BACK and will reflect who we are today, plus everything you know and love—the glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment, and more! Stay tuned…it only gets more iconic from here.”
The company says in its brand values statement that it represents “all women.”
“We have moved from promoting an exclusionary view of what’s sexy, to celebrating all women throughout every phase of their lives,” it wrote in August 2023. “We will continue this work and look to be an industry leader in retail innovation, fashion, sustainability, and continuous ingenuity—getting to the heart of what our diverse customer base wants.”
How and where can you watch?
This year’s show, which takes place at the brand’s flagship store in New York City, will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Live.
It will also be available to watch on Victoria’s Secret’s Instagram, TikTok and YouTube pages.
The actual show begins at 7 p.m. ET. But social media personality Tefi Pessoa and model Olivia Culpo will host the Pink Carpet pre-show, which begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Who is walking down the runway?
Many of the brand’s most famous “angels” are returning, in addition to some newcomers.
Victoria’s Secret announced that Gigi Hadid, Mayowa Nicholas, Barbara Palvin, Behati Prinsloo, Jasmine Tookes, Adriana Lima, Ashley Graham, Paloma Elsesser and Devyn Garcia are among the models who will make their way down the runway.
Tyra Banks, a former longtime host of “America’s Next Top Model,” will also be walking in her first fashion show in 20 years.
Many of the models shared their excitement in posts on Victoria’s Secret social media pages before the show’s kickoff.
“I am in my late 30s, I just had three children and I am feeling so curvy, so sexy and my outfit is fire,” Graham said.
“It’s been six years and now we’re back,” Palvin said in a different video. “I’m excited to see all the girls, all the performers, the wings, the sparkles.”
“It feels crazy being back on the Victoria’s Secret runway,” Banks said in a video. “I mean, like, ‘cray cray,’ as in ‘cray cray good.’”
Who is performing?
For the first time, Victoria’s Secret said, its show will feature an all-women lineup, which will be headlined by Cher.
“It’s a woman’s world, so it’s understood that you can’t have a fashion show without the mother of fashion herself—@Cher!” Victoria’s Secret wrote on Instagram last month.
K-pop star Lisa and singer-songwriter Tyla are also among the performers.
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