Can Diversity Save Victoria’s Secret’s Reputation?

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has officially returned, ending a nearly six-year hiatus. 

The star-studded event, featuring supermodels like Kate Moss, Tyra Banks, and Adriana Lima, kicked off with a live performance by Cher, drawing significant attention.

The show was cancelled in 2019 due to mounting criticism over its lack of diversity.

Is a Victoria Secret show inherently bad?

On today’s episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by model and actor Milo Hartill to explain whether this version of Victoria’s Secret is new and improved or hitting the same old problematic tropes that caused its downfall in the first place.

In 2018, Australian supermodel Robyn Lawley called for a boycott of the brand for “telling women there is only one kind” of beautiful body.

This year’s show is positioned as a rebranding effort, showcasing a more diverse lineup and products that are immediately available for purchase.

Hartill says the revamped event seeks to connect with contemporary audiences amid a fashion landscape increasingly influenced by inclusivity.

“It just feels like the trickle-down of the big picture, things that are happening is kind of coming down into our fashion, into our media, into our entertainment,” Hartill said.

However, as competitors like Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty continue to gain traction, questions loom about whether Victoria’s Secret can reclaim its former glory.

“I think a lot of the issues people had were that many of these decisions were being made by men about women—how they should look and how they should be presented,” Hartill added.

“This was actually reflected in their market value.”

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