End of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show legacy – Women against women?
Written By: Beverly Valenzuela
Many feelings and thoughts flared up this past week when news broke out that Victoria’s Secret was no longer going to have their annual fashion show.
Being broadcasted annually for the past two decades, this news broke the internet, or so it felt that way. Outraged fans took to social media, specifically Twitter, to express their feelings. Women began to shame other women for their weight and went as far as to say that “sensitive fat b******” were the reason why the show was canceled, and “I hope those obese women are happy.”
Now, I’ve never been a fan of Victoria’s Secret to begin with and never watched more than five minutes of their fashion show…but is it really THAT serious? Must women really bring down other women to get a point across? It’s very confusing to me that there is always talk about how we as women should support other women but then something like this happens and it all goes instantly out the window. We are part of a society where all odds are against women, where we should be united and have each other’s backs but then a fashion show gets canceled and women want to be mean to each other?
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Victoria’s Secret in the last couple of years due to their thoughts on transgender and plus size women. According to the chief marketing officer for Victoria’s Secret, Ed Razek, there are no plus size women on the runway because there is no interest for it and no transgender women because the show is a fantasy. Now this is the reason why I personally have never been a fan of Victoria’s Secret. I completely understand that not every brand wants to cater to thousands of people but I do think saying such statements that certain type of women cannot fulfill the fantasies of men, is not correct. Women come in all shape and sizes and just because they don’t fit what you see your brand as, does not mean they are any less acceptable. Yes, there are many brands that cater to women when it comes to shape, size and now gender, but feeling included and validated within this brand would have made many women feel accepted.
Since receiving backlash on both topics, they have included a plus size line in their brand, along with their sister branch, Lane Bryant. They also did cast their first transgender women, Valentina Sampaio. It is very interesting that they had to receive criticism and backlash to have some change in their brand.
It’s 2019, almost 2020 people, times are changing. Let us learn to grow and evolve with the times. But enough of me – what are your thoughts?