After a six-year hiatus, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show made its highly anticipated comeback on October 15, 2024, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Duggal Greenhouse in New York City. The lingerie giant aimed to showcase a revamped image of inclusivity, diversity, and female empowerment.
A Star-Studded Affair
The 2024 show featured a dazzling array of supermodels, iconic veterans, and fresh faces. Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, and Kendall Jenner graced the runway alongside trailblazing plus-size model Ashley Graham and barrier-breaking transgender models Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio. Fashion icon Kate Moss, 50, made a stunning Victoria’s Secret debut with her daughter Lila Moss also walking the show.
One of the biggest highlights was the return of Tyra Banks, 50, who came out of retirement to strut the catwalk once again. Banks walked in nine previous shows before hanging up her wings in 2005. Another major moment was the runway return of veteran Angel Adriana Lima.
Female-Powered Performances
For the first time, Victoria’s Secret featured an all-women musical lineup. Blackpink’s Lisa kicked things off with an electrifying opening number. Pop legend Cher brought the house down with show-stopping renditions of “Believe” and “Strong Enough.”
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Evie Magazine tweeted about the fashion show, “The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show felt rushed, cheap, and was overall underwhelming. Where was the glitter? The iconic VS wavy hair? The fantasy bra? The over-the-top runway design? It was exciting to see the OG Angels again, but this wasn’t the comeback Victoria’s Secret thought it would be.”
A More Inclusive Vision
The 2024 show reflected Victoria’s Secret’s efforts to modernize and embrace inclusivity. In recent years, the brand has faced backlash for promoting unrealistic beauty standards and lacking diversity.
The company hinted at this shift in an Instagram post back in May, promising a show that will “reflect who we are today” with “precisely what our customers have been asking for.” This translated to greater racial, body, and gender diversity on the 2024 runway compared to years past.
However, some critics felt the push for inclusivity fell short. While groundbreaking, Ashley Graham and other plus-size models were noticeably more covered up compared to the skimpier looks worn by their straight-size counterparts.
“Victoria’s Secret is so committed to women’s confidence,” remarked show host Olivia Culpo, a statement met with some skepticism. Teen Vogue’s Aiyana Ishmael argued that simply stating a commitment to body positivity does not make it so, pointing out that most models still represented a very narrow standard of beauty.
Viewership and Engagement
As a first, the 2024 show streamed live on the brand’s social media channels instead of airing as a pre-recorded television special. The show garnered millions of views across YouTube, Prime Video, TikTok, and Instagram.
This multi-platform approach allowed for an interactive experience, with looks made shoppable on Amazon in real-time. While official viewership numbers have not been released, the high engagement signals enduring interest in the fashion spectacle.
Looking Ahead
As the dust settles on the 2024 show, the question remains – will this rebranding be enough to restore Victoria’s Secret’s relevance? With consumers increasingly demanding authentic representation, the company still has work to do to prove this pivot is more than just lip service.
Only time will tell if Victoria’s Secret can fully shed its controversial past and soar into a more inclusive future. But one thing is certain – the 2024 show marked the beginning of a new chapter for the iconic lingerie brand. All eyes will be watching to see what happens next.
