After six years of anticipation, the iconic Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned on October 15. The buildup to the show was quite the spectacle, as the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum were lit up in a dazzling pink in its honor. Advertisements for the show spread worldwide; showcases popped up across Dubai, Bangkok, London, New York, Madrid, and many other cities. The 45-minute show was streamed on Amazon Prime Video and social media, reaching over 12.4 million live viewers. It was the first Victoria’s Secret show to have a musical lineup featuring all female singers, including Tyla, LALISA, and Cher. A few hours before the stream, official Victoria’s Secret social media accounts teased the appearances of former models who would walk in the upcoming show, including famous “bombshell” Adriana Lima.
Not only did the show bring back these fan-favorite models, but the elaborate fashion and bold wings also made a return. “Victoria’s Secret is supposed to be girly, soft, and ‘angel-like —’ almost unrealistic when it comes to their shows,” senior Angie Giller said.
This recent show also embraced greater diversity, displaying a wider range of body types, that generally resonated well with audiences. However, viewers at B-CC and across the internet believe that it lacked production value and effort. Junior Molly Gibbons said, “It seems like they spent a lot of their budget on bringing back old, iconic supermodels, but not on the actual show.” Various models tripped on the runway platform after getting their shoe heels stuck in cracks, one model was left without wings, and the incorporation of new hairstyles sparked plenty of controversy. “The V.S. blowouts were an iconic and especially trendy piece of the show. Trying new styles like slick backs defeated these expectations,” junior Dani Lacorte said.
Slick backs weren’t the only hairstyle that viewers found disappointing. Giller said, “The models with curly hair had their hair blow-dried and brushed out rather than doing a curl routine — which was absolutely not doing their hair justice. I believe that should’ve been handled better.” Over 248 million posts discussing this topic circulated on TikTok in the weeks following the show. The replacement of the fluffy wings with harsh, metal designs further demonstrated the show’s struggle to connect with both modern trends and viewers who were watching for the traditions.
While Victoria’s Secret responded to past criticisms over the unrealistic beauty standards portrayed in their shows, this year’s controversy proves that the public is impossible to satisfy. It’s no secret that this recent show lacked the elements that once gave it fame, and it leaves viewers wondering what is next in store for Victoria’s Secret.
