Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025: A Glittery Return, But Has Anything Really Changed?
The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show aired with plenty of sparkle, high-profile models, and dramatic wings—proving the brand is determined to reclaim its cultural relevance. Once the most anticipated televised fashion spectacle of the year, the show disappeared in 2019 amid growing backlash over its outdated beauty ideals, lack of diversity, and deeper corporate scandals. But now, after years of restructuring and rebranding, the runway is back—and many are asking: is this progress, or just polished nostalgia?
A Familiar Spectacle with a Few New Faces
This year’s show may have looked like a return to form, but in many ways, it was different—at least on the surface. The iconic VS wings were there, yes, and legacy Angels like Adriana Lima and Candice Swanepoel walked the glittery runway, surrounded by confetti and elaborate set pieces. Yet among them were plus-size and transgender models, such as Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio, a shift from the show’s historically narrow standard of beauty.
In fact, Victoria’s Secret 2025 outpaced much of the fashion industry in terms of size inclusion. According to Vogue Business, only 0.9% of models on runways in the Spring-Summer 2026 season were plus-size. In contrast, Victoria’s Secret showcased a comparatively more diverse body spectrum—even if the majority of its cast remained thin, tall, and conventionally beautiful.
This shift may look like growth, but critics argue it reflects the bare minimum, not a revolutionary step forward. In today’s fashion landscape, diversity shouldn’t be notable—it should be the norm.
The Legacy the Brand Can’t Shake
The show’s glossy return is especially complex when considering Victoria’s Secret’s troubled history. What began as a powerful lingerie empire turned toxic in the eyes of many, especially between 2018 and 2022. During this period:
- Ed Razek, the former CMO, made transphobic and fatphobic remarks, sparking widespread condemnation.
- In 2019, The New York Times revealed disturbing ties between CEO Les Wexner and Jeffrey Epstein, including allegations that Epstein exploited his connections to lure women under false pretenses.
- In 2022, the company faced international criticism after garment workers claimed they were denied severance pay during the pandemic—prompting an $8.3 million settlement.
The brand’s once-glamorous reputation was severely tarnished, and with consumer sentiment shifting toward inclusivity and ethics, Victoria’s Secret had no choice but to adapt—or fade away.
A Rebrand That Prioritizes Profit Over Progress
With a new CEO, new creative leadership, and a reset marketing strategy, the 2025 show marks the culmination of the brand’s years-long effort to course-correct. But as the wings return and Angels take center stage once again, many wonder: is this truly change, or clever marketing wrapped in feathers and silk?
According to industry observers, the diversity in casting is less a moral turnaround and more a business decision. In an age where consumers expect brands to reflect real-world body types, racial diversity, and gender representation, inclusion is no longer optional—it’s profitable.
This doesn’t invalidate the positive impact of seeing more types of bodies and identities on a globally broadcast runway. But it raises a critical question: should brands that caused cultural harm be celebrated for doing the bare minimum?
Nostalgia Is Not a Revolution
The show leaned heavily into nostalgia. “It felt fun,” said designer Adam Selman in an interview with Vogue. And it did—for many viewers, it recalled a pre-2018 era when the VS Fashion Show was about fantasy, glamour, and escapism. But it’s precisely this nostalgia that makes the return feel unsettling for others. The same formula—voluminous hair, soft glam makeup, and unattainably lean bodies—still dominates.
Despite efforts to be more inclusive, the ideal image of a Victoria’s Secret model remains largely unchanged. The new faces may be more varied, but they’re still styled to fit the same fantasy mold. It raises the concern that the brand hasn’t truly evolved—just widened the lens through which it presents the same story.
The Showgirl Returns, But Should We Cheer?
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025 undoubtedly succeeded as a media event. It garnered attention across platforms, generated buzz, and reminded consumers that the brand is back. It showed that corporate rebranding can be effective, even without fully reckoning with a harmful legacy.
But that success comes with a responsibility. This isn’t just a fashion show—it’s a symbol of how brands respond to cultural criticism. Victoria’s Secret’s return should not be seen as a triumphant redemption arc, but as a cautionary tale. Real change involves more than surface-level adjustments; it requires sustained effort, ethical manufacturing, and consistent representation at all levels of the company—not just the runway.
Conclusion: Progress or PR?
In 2025, it shouldn’t be revolutionary to see trans models, plus-size bodies, or diverse identities celebrated on stage. It should be standard practice, not a marketing headline.
While Victoria’s Secret deserves recognition for moving in a more inclusive direction, that progress must be viewed critically. The fashion industry—and its audiences—must continue to hold brands accountable, not just for the bodies they put on stage, but for the values they promote behind the scenes.
The life of the Angel may be back, but the real question remains: Is this the kind of progress we want—or just the illusion of it?
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