Victoria’s Secret 2025 Fashion Show- A PR Move or Authentic Display of Diversity?

By. Victoria Smajlaj


Images provided by Victoria’s Secret (Photos by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret)

Close your eyes and envision what a “Victoria’s Secret Angel” looks like. Images come to mind of a tall, thin woman with a perfect face and a blow-out hairstyle. 

On October 15th, Victoria’s Secret hosted its long-awaited fashion show, known for embracing the stereotypical woman straight out of a “hyper-curated fantasy,” in New York City. This was the brand’s second annual show since its hiatus following its 2019 cancellation. 

The 2019 cancellation of the show wasn’t only due to the company’s declining ratings or former marketing chief Ed Razek’s problematic interviews, but also due to a cultural shift. Since 2019, people have become more interested in seeing authenticity.

However, this year's show looked different compared to years past. The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show represented a diverse image of women, with a range of races and body types strutting the runway. 

Jasmine Tookes kicked off the show by strutting the runway nine months pregnant with her second child. She proudly showed off her baby bump to the audience while wearing a gold outfit with decorative wings. This was a contrast to the stereotype of the thin Victoria’s Secret model body that was once praised.

Jasmine Tookes. Photo courtesy to Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

In October 2024, Valentina Sampaio and Alex Consani became the first transgender models to walk the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. They walked the runway once again this year, demonstrating a sense of agency within a space that previously excluded transgender models.

In addition, plus-sized models, namely Ashley Graham, Paloma Elsesser, Precious Lee and Barbie Ferreira strutted the runway, displaying body diversity beyond the stereotypical “size extra-small” image of the past. Black, Asian and Latina women also walked the runway.

Ashley Graham said she was eager to return to the show for the second time since last year. In an Instagram video for Victoria's Secret, Graham said she knows “there are young girls watching this that are looking at images (and) watching videos, and I want them to know that I’m happy in my body.”

Veteran models, such as Gigi Hadid, Candice Swanepoel, and Adriana Lima, also returned to the show.

In addition, basketball player Angel Reese became the first professional athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Reese said that she hopes she “can inspire women and girls everywhere and remind them that we can dominate in our field but also chase our goals outside of it.” 

Angel Reese. Photo Courtesy to VOGUE, Gilbert Flores/Getty Images


Olympic gold medalist gymnast Suni Lee also represented the PINK line in athletic attire by walking the runway. Having two professional athletes may represent a new era for Victoria’s Secret by giving a more inclusive vision and serving as a powerful statement to encourage a younger generation of women to pursue their goals in fashion and in athletics. 

But was this embrace of diversity a superficial attempt or an authentic symbol of inclusivity? Or an apology for years of exclusivity?

Some critics believe that this is the brand’s attempt to rebrand, and the show’s inclusivity efforts are simply a marketing ploy. However, others said they were glad to see diverse models finally on the runway.

Jon Morgan, co-founder at Venture Smarter, said she believes Victoria’s Secret made a corporate decision to regain buyer support by rebooting their visuals to be inclusivity-based due to their buyer demographic that now values authentic beauty standards. She said this was a “survival shift to recover lost brand equity.”

Many also pointed out that consistency is more valuable than a marketing tactic of inclusivity attempted years after the brand became notorious for promoting a certain body type.



Previous

Rock Glam Royalty: David Bowie
Next

Paris Fashion Week Recap: Dior’s New Deal