Victoria's Secret made headlines with its 2024 fashion show, which returned after a six-year hiatus, and featured two transgender models, Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio, marking a pivotal moment in the brand's controversial shift toward inclusivity. This move comes after years of criticism for its previous lack of diversity and exclusion of transgender models. While some have praised this change as a step forward in embracing body positivity and gender inclusivity, others, particularly from conservative circles, view it as a capitulation to progressive ideologies.
The October 15 show, held in Miami, was part of a broader rebranding effort by Victoria's Secret to distance itself from its historically narrow standards of beauty. Once celebrated for its supermodels like Gisele Bündchen and Adriana Lima, the brand faced a sharp decline in viewership and sales over the past decade. This decline followed backlash against its refusal to include transgender and plus-size models, famously stated by former executive Ed Razek in 2018. Razek's comments were widely condemned and contributed to the brand's image problem.
alex consani is the first-ever trans model to walk the victoria’s secret runway.
— pop culture (@gagasyuyi) October 15, 2024
Valentina Sampaio, one of the two transgender models in the show, is no stranger to breaking barriers. She was the first openly transgender model to be featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and has modeled for high-profile fashion houses. Sampaio has been vocal about the importance of representation, particularly in the fashion industry, which has historically excluded LGBTQ+ individuals. Alongside Sampaio, Alex Consani, a rising star in the modeling world, also walked the runway, marking a significant moment for both the brand and the trans community.
Despite the praise for inclusivity from some quarters, conservative critics argue that this shift dilutes the brand's core identity, which was once synonymous with glamour and traditional femininity.
Valentina Sampaio and Alex Consani made history as the first transgender women to walk in the #VSFashionShow! đź‘Źđź’“
See all the pics đź”—: https://t.co/JCE4r0Q6wp pic.twitter.com/u2jlLzO142
— ExtraTV (@extratv) October 16, 2024
Many long-time fans of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show miss the extravagance and exclusivity of the early 2000s, when the brand’s runway events were must-watch television moments. The inclusion of trans models, for some, is seen as the latest in a series of changes that stray too far from the brand's original vision.
This controversy also aligns with broader cultural debates about gender and representation in media. Victoria's Secret’s pivot toward inclusivity reflects a growing trend in the fashion industry, where brands are attempting to cater to a more progressive, younger audience. The brand's executives have framed these changes as necessary to stay relevant in an evolving market, with CEO Martin Waters emphasizing the importance of diversity and a modern definition of beauty. However, some conservative voices claim this is a form of virtue-signaling, designed to appease a vocal minority rather than reflecting the desires of the brand’s traditional customer base.
The 2024 show wasn’t just about inclusivity in terms of gender. The brand also highlighted models of various body types and ethnic backgrounds, further attempting to shed its reputation as a symbol of unattainable beauty standards. This rebranding effort has been a calculated risk as Victoria's Secret seeks to regain its footing in a competitive market that has seen newer brands, like Savage X Fenty, gain popularity by championing diversity and body positivity from the start.
The debate over Victoria's Secret’s latest move continues to highlight the cultural divide in America. While some celebrate the brand’s evolution, others view it as a sign of the times, where traditional values are being eroded by progressive trends. Whether this strategy will pay off in the long term remains to be seen, but for now, Victoria's Secret is at the center of a conversation about beauty, identity, and cultural change.
