Over the weekend (8/12) we were finally given the opportunity to watch the full Victoria Secret Show. From the backstage commotion to the intense workouts leading up to the day.
Unfortunately, as extravagant as the event was, I couldn’t help but notice the bad and ugly in the midst of all the beauty.
The whole show made me think, ‘how does this fashion show actually benefit me’. Yes, I get to see the lingerie on someone. But, the person looks nothing like me, as all the girls have the same body structure. Tall and skinny.
So are they trying to tell me that only girls that look like that can look good in lingerie. Or that only those with a model’s figure can wear Victoria Secret?
As someone who actually loves a pair of VS undies, it baffles me that there isn’t much diversity when it comes to body shapes and sizes on the runway. I know they have come a long way when it comes to diversity in skin colours, with our very own Duckie Thot walking in the show.
As a 16-year-old, I remember every girl was excited to watch the VS Show but looking back at it now it was probably something we shouldn’t have even been watching.
It’s a runway that only embraces and fantasises skinny figures, which not all can attain.
The show gives us an insight into how the models worked for their bodies, mind you they were already skinny before the fact. So even for them they had to tighten up around here and tone up around there, until they were the ‘perfect’ structure for the show.
We have all heard the phrase ‘sex sells’ and when it comes to VS that saying can’t be truer. Most of the models chosen to feature on the show are chosen because they are the epitome of what society deems as sexy or attractive. Since the rest of us are excluded from the equation. Many girls who don’t match that image are left to believe they are not attractive.
Unfortunately, that was not the only thing that bothered me about the show. The fact that they call the girls ‘angels’ irked me a little. ‘Is this what they want the world to associate the word ‘angels’ with?’
It insinuates that the models are ‘perfect’, and heaven sent. Even though they are just humans like you and me.
With the recent opening of the Victoria Secret Store at Chadstone. Many more people will be flocking to the store which doesn’t even celebrate their body type.
We are going to be caught giving money to a company that tells us our body isn’t seen as sexy if we are not built like a VS model.
All I ask is for more realistic definitions of a women to be advertised by VS. Because most likely than none their average customer doesn’t look like Bella Hadid or Winnie Harlow.
“The world’s best bras. The sexiest panties & lingerie. The most beautiful Supermodels”
Victoria Secret
With receiving some backlash just last month about their slogan ‘The Perfect Body’. Which they quietly changed to ‘The Every Day Body’ but none of the girls looked like the average girl. Victoria Secret doesn’t seem to get the memo.
We love the brand but hate the branding package it comes in.
Not only does VS exclude normal women who don’t fit their mould. They also exclude other models who are too curvy for the brand.
Not to my surprise I couldn’t even finish watching the show. I got tired of the constant reminder that I don’t look like them and never will.
Most of us can’t hire a personal trainer or a dietitian to get us fit enough to finally wear some VS lingerie.
So, is VS really boosting a girl’s confidence in lingerie or just breaking it down by showing her girls who look like the absolute opposite of herself in lingerie?
I guess my 5ft4 self apparently won’t be able to look cute in Victoria Secret lingerie as it’s not an image the brand supports. And I’m fine with that because I don’t need a company to let me know that the image I see in my mirror is beautiful.
Because God already did!