What was once the sexiest and most outrageous night in fashion was yesterday accused of going woke as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned for the first time in six years.
Fans slammed the new staging of the event following a six-year absence – branding it ‘boring’ and lacklustre.
The occasion marked the first walk down the Victoria’s Secret runway for Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio, who had been the first transgender model to represent the brand in 2019.
Fellow transgender model Alex Consani also took to the catwalk as the lingerie brand expanded on its efforts to be more inclusive.
The event has been seen by some as a far cry from the event’s heyday, when outrageous walks and outfits dominated the fashion world for weeks after appearing on the show – before the company was hit by scandals including claims of a ‘toxic’ workplace culture.
Victoria’s Secret has also seen sales slide, with critics suggesting that moves towards more ‘inclusivity’ in recent years – including using plus-sized models – have failed to appeal.
Fans slammed the presentation of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held in New York City on Tuesday, the first time the show has been held since 2018. (L-R) Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid and Vittoria Ceretti seen during Tuesday’s festivities in NYC
Tuesday evening’s show also marked the first walk down the Victoria’s Secret runway for Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio, who is transgender
Also among the models taking part in the show was Paloma Elsesser (pictured)
Plus-sized model Ashley Graham was making her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut
Cher served as last night’s headline performer along with Blackpink alum Lisa and rising star Tyla — making it the show’s first ever all-woman musical line-up.
But there has been a backlash on X, formerly Twitter, with criticisms of what were seen as toned-down production values lacking glitz and ‘woke’ efforts.
The lingerie brand was famed for its sultry catwalks which featured the likes of Cara Delevingne and Miranda Kerr as its ‘Angels’.
Models were seen in the past strutting down the catwalk in 10ft white feathered wings, thongs and basques – yet the new show has been viewed as a letdown by many.
‘Victoria’s Secret came back with the most boring show ever’, said one poster, while another wrote: ‘The Victoria’s Secret show looks so modern and boring now, I’m disappointed.’
A separate commenter said: ‘Victoria Secret has yet to listen to our public demands. This is not the show we wanted. Everyone’s hair is flat, no extremely tall models, the entire production is different.’
Another remarked: ‘Victoria Secret really said go woke, go broke.’
Other comments included: ‘The new Victoria’s secret fashion show feels so SOULLESS omg… and like why are they playing fake crowd cheering sounds? where’s the iconic runway???’
Another viewer posted: ‘This was cute but it wasn’t enough… we need to bring back the glitter runway, more lively performances!
‘What happened to the dedicated sets per look, close up of the looks, backstage chaos let’s get back to our roots #VSFashionShow2024! The inclusion was okay but I guess…
‘The OGs chewed a lot the new girls, we were missing plots like who was new [Angels], who were the old, why should we fall in love with them?.. etc. A lot of no personality haute couture walking this is #VSFashionShow2024 where are the smiles, kisses and waves?!’
Valentina Sampaio’s walk down the runway last night marked the first time a trans model has walked in the retailer’s annual show
Valentina Sampaio appeared last night, having been the first transgender model to represent the brand back in 2019
Transgender model Alex Consani was also walking on the runway on Tuesday night
Lisa kicked off the show with a performance of her hit Rockstar, which saw her ride into the venue on a motorcycle
Surrounded by leather-clad dancers, the singer flashed her toned tummy in a black vinyl bra shaped like angel wings
Airing live on Amazon’s Prime Video, the runway show was held at the Victoria’s Secret flagship store in New York City after a six-year hiatus.
The 2024 show saw the return of Victoria’s Secret vets Alessandra Ambrosio, Tyra Banks and Adriana Lima as well as next-generation icons Taylor Hill and Barbara Palvin.
It comes three years after the lingerie brand’s controversial body-positive rebrand in 2021.
Victoria’s Secret’s iconic Angels were replaced by ‘ambassadors’ such as soccer star Megan Rapinoe – and the company axed its long-time CEO in wake of falling sales and a bombshell exposé that accused the company of misogyny, sexual harassment and bullying.
The company was founded in 1977 by US businessman Roy Raymond, who set up a small chain of boudoir lingerie shops.
Five years later he sold the firm to clothing magnate Les Wexner for $1million – a fraction of its current value. Raymond later took his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
He had chosen the name Victoria after Queen Victoria, thinking it sounded refined, and added Secret to refer to what was hidden under the clothes.
Eventually, hundreds of stores opened coast to coast, but it was the glitzy launch of Victoria’s Secret’s first blatantly sexy catwalk show at the Plaza Hotel in New York in 1995 which made the difference.
Broadcast on network TV to 185 countries, millions tuned in to see supermodels including Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Tyra Banks and Karen Mulder.
But eventually the tide began to turn in recent years when the event was judged to look like a relic of the past in the #MeToo era.
Gigi was pictured on the runway in front of a message that read ‘Welcome back’
Gigi opened the latest edition of legendary show, which had first been held in 1995
The supermodel wore pastel pink wings and a glittering pink costume
Gigi’s short blonde hair was tucked behind her ears, allowing her to show off her hoop earrings
Gigi seen in a red ensemble walking the runway at Tuesday’s fashion show in the Big Apple
Tyra Banks had a celebratory moment as she walked the runway for the company’s comeback
The America’s Next Top Model personality led the way as dozens of models were seen in the background
It was further plunged into controversy when marketing chief Ed Razek came under fire for saying that the firm would not cast plus-sized or ‘transsexual’ models because the show was meant to be a ‘fantasy’.
His statement got the brand in trouble and led to them cancelling the show in 2019 – the same year he made the comments and resigned.
Victoria’s Secret turned to promoting diversity by including larger models Paloma Elsesser and Ali Tate-Cutler in their campaigns.
They also hired Valentina Sampaio, their first transgender model, to star in their new VS Pink campaign after Razek left.
And the lingerie giant’s parent company L Brands confirmed in November 2019 that its annual show would not take place – with the decision being part of a move to ‘evolve the messaging of [the company],’ Fortune reported at the time.
Purchases by women aged 18 to 49 had been declining for several years prior to the move – but the firm has been hoping the return of the show will help boost fortunes.
Performers at previous shows, before it was cancelled, included pop stars such as Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Harry Styles and Ariana Grande.
Last night’s event was kicked off by Lisa’s performance of her hit Rockstar, which saw her ride into the venue on a motorcycle as models got hyped up backstage.
Surrounded by leather-clad dancers, the singer flashed her toned tummy in a black vinyl bra shaped like angel wings.
Gigi Hadid then opened the event — which originally had its debut in 1995 — wearing pastel pink wings and a glittering pink costume.
Adriana Lima walked to the beat of Chappell Roan’s Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl
The Brazilian beauty made jaws drop in a glittery pink and blank plaid bodysuit and pink holographic wings
Lima made her comeback after six years with a triumphant runway strut
There has been a backlash against the staging of the show on social media, with critics accusing the return staging of the event as boring and ‘woke’
Adriana Lima walked to the beat of Chappell Roan’s Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, with the Brazilian model wearing a glittery pink and blank plaid bodysuit as well as pink holographic wings.
Gigi and Adriana’s section also saw the return of Victoria’s Secret vet Doutzen Kroes, 39, who donned silver metallic wings and a tiny pastel pink bra and panty set.
Taylor Hill dazzled in a crystal-covered bra and loose pants with wings covered in beaded tassels, before Tyla graced the runway while clad in an ultra busty silver and gold look with dramatic white feather wings.
Victoria’s Secret favorite Candice Swanepoel also made her long-awaited catwalk return, in a sparkly bra and thong underwear – styled with wings that spelled out ‘Victoria’s Secret’ in elegant cursive lettering.
Kate Moss’ lookalike daughter Lila, 22, made her Victoria’s Secret debut alongside Candice and Leonardo DiCaprio’s model girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, who wore a skimpy iridescent bodysuit.
The next section of the show had a sexy ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ theme that opened with legendary 1990s supermodel Kate Moss.
The 50-year-old sizzled in black feather wings and a sheer, black lace dress over a skimpy bodysuit, while also wearing sky-high heels.
Adam Levine’s model wife Behati Prinsloo, 36 – who became an Angel in 2009 – appeared in an a black skirt with a thigh-high slit, tie-wrap heels and silver chrome wings.
Taylor Hill dazzled in a crystal-covered bra and loose pants with wings covered in beaded tassels
Legendary 90s supermodel Kate Moss, 50, sizzled in black feather wings and a sheer, black lace dress over a skimpy bodysuit
Moss’ lookalike daughter Lila, 22, made her Victoria’s Secret debut at Tuesday’s event
Victoria’s Secret favorite Candice Swanepoel also made her long-awaited catwalk return at the event. The blonde beauty donned a sparkly bra and thong underwear
Water singer Tyla (L) performed as Jessie Aina and Vittoria Ceretti walked the runway during the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Duggal Greenhouse
Tyla was clad in an ultra busty silver and gold outfit with dramatic white feather wings
Valentina Sampaio – Victoria’s Secret’s first trans model – graced the runway in a G-string and a fishnet skirt.
Mother-of-two Alessandra Ambrosio – returning after appearing in the last show six years ago – appeared in sparkly gold wings and black lingerie.
Also on the catwalk, after taking time off from modeling to focus on her Lyme disease battle, Bella Hadid strutted down the runway in an all-red outfit.
Hours before storming the 2024 catwalk, the models allowed cameras backstage as hairstylists and makeup artists transformed them.
Victoria’s Secret had previously announced the return of its annual fashion show with an Instagram post, promising the 2024 event would ‘reflect who we are today, plus everything you know and love—the glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment.’
The popular early aughts mall brand previously returned with a ‘reimagined’ Victoria’s Secret World Tour Prime show in 2023 that was not well received – people called the show boring.
Many former fans watching at home called for the return of former Victoria’s Secret Angels like Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum, Molly Sims, Tyra Banks, Adriana Lima and more.
That was far from the biggest issue with the brand, as Victoria’s Secret has dealt with multiple controversies over the last few years.
After taking time off from modeling to focus on her Lyme disease battle, Bella Hadid looked better than ever as she strutted down the runway in spectacular all-red outfit
Sisters Gigi and Bella walked alongside one another as confetti poured down from the ceiling
Leonardo DiCaprio’s model girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti walked in the show
She wowed the crowd in a skimpy iridescent bodysuit
The fashion show was back with a vengeance after it had been canceled in 2019 after dealing with bad ratings and a slew of controversies, making efforts to become more inclusive
Sampaio attended the afterparty at Crane Club Restaurant in a lithe ensemble
Consani donned a green skirt and sandals as she attended the post-show soirée
In 2020, a bombshell report in The New York Times claimed that Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner mocked the retail industry’s efforts to champion women of different body types.
The Times interviewed more than 30 executives, employees, contractors and models, and looked at court filings to find a toxic culture of sexual harassment.
Employees said Wexner mocked the retail industry’s efforts to embrace a variety of body types by allegedly saying, ‘Nobody goes to a plastic surgeon and says, ‘Make me fat.’
Wexner was said to also berate employees about their weight, including fat shaming an employee for getting seconds at a buffet.
