It’s no secret that, in many critics’ eyes, Victoria’s Secret has struggled in the changing fashion climate. Its Chief Marketing Officer, Edward Razek stepped down from the company in August, following a November Vogue interview in which his comments regarding transgender models caused controversy. Over the summer, the company brought on its first openly-trans model, Valentina Sampaio, and earlier this month, it released a campaign in partnership with U.K. label Bluebella that features trans and plus-size models.
Photographs for the collaboration with Ali Tate Cutler (who has also modeled for Reformation’s inclusive-size collection), May Simón Lifschitz, Olivia Sang, and Laura Rakhman-Kidd mark the first time the brand has had a size- and gender-inclusive campaign. This capsule’s photos will also be the first ones with this kind of diversity to be displayed in stores.
While this seems like a huge step for the formerly-stubborn brand, some are less than happy. For one: Victoria’s Secret did not hire these models—Bluebella did. Also, Twitter users have some thoughts about categorizing a size 14 model as “plus-size” in the first place. (FYI, the Bluebella and Victoria’s Secret line goes up to size XL, which, according to its own size chart, is a size 16.)
She’s a size 14. That’s less than the average size of an American woman (which is a 16). But go off I guess. https://t.co/D4favMtexI
Shame on Victoria’s secret I hardly think a size 14 is a plus size!!! The average female in the uk is a size 16-18 FACT https://t.co/9sneDRjzOe
PSA a size 14 is barely a plus sized woman. This is doing the bare minimum. pic.twitter.com/HiGMn4tC8M
In addition to the backlash about sizing, people are not happy about some comments Cutler made in response to Alysse Dalessandro’s article “11 Reasons Your ‘Concern’ for Fat People’s Health Isn’t Helping Anyone.”
She wrote, “Sorry but I don’t care about people’s health who are fat, that’s their own prerogative and their own life to lead. They are free to make their own choices.” Then the rest of her comment continued:
Commenters were quick to jump on her past remarks.
some buried ledes here:
Ali appears to have been brought on by Bluebella, with whom she’s worked before, NOT by VS
Ali is… hmmm maybe not the best first plus representative to choose, considering she’s developed a reputation as being fat-shaming (https://t.co/5q7b2Knne1) https://t.co/kwZ8JuxuFT
Victoria’s Secret Hires Anti-Fat Plus-Size Model https://t.co/DEGHECf62H pic.twitter.com/GWYsBegOxv
Still more fans are implying that all this adds up to equal too little, too late.
It is 2019 and Victoria’s Secret JUST NOW hired a plus-size model. God damn y’all are late on this.
Not to mention that said model made the comments below and she’s a size 14 (the average size for American women)#GoodbyeVS 👋 https://t.co/e4JfYuNKLl
pic.twitter.com/ZpceU9Y29C
Neither Cutler nor Victoria’s Secret have responded to the backlash.
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