Victoria’s Secret is changing, at least according to the models who walk in the lingerie brand’s annual runway show.
Speaking to Vogue Australia last week, 23-year-old Australian VS newcomer Duckie Thot said, “‘The industry has definitely made strides in terms of representation recently and I’m so glad to be a part of this change.”
However, she added, “Have we made enough progress? Not necessarily. We can still do more and I’m certainly up to the task of creating more opportunities for those who have been underrepresented.”
Continued Thot, “Diversity is important because beauty and fashion are such integral parts of culture, and the runway should represent what’s actually happening in the world. If the representation isn’t there in the shows and marketing, it can be problematic in making marginalized communities feel like they don’t belong. Setting an inclusive standard helps younger girls realize their own potential and visualize themselves in similar spaces. Seeing models of color in previous shows had a similar effect on me. I want to do the same for other young women.”
In the same piece for Vogue Australia, Winnie Harlow agreed with a number of Thot’s points. “The show has a global impact and so it’s important that Victoria’s Secret makes sure the runway is representative of reality,” the 24-year-old model, who has been linked to Wiz Khalifa, explained.
“We live in a diverse world with beautiful women of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities. It’s great that the brand is making efforts to show this on the runway and the industry as a whole is becoming more inclusive, but there’s always room for improvement. It’s important that we continue to make sure representation is not just a trend, but a standard.”
And in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, 27-year-old model Shanina Shaik discussed her return to the runway for the lingerie brand and echoed her colleagues’ sentiments. “I think that over the years Victoria’s Secret has opened up to more diversity,” she said. “I think we will see more and more in the coming years.”
“Victoria Secret [sic] have dominated the space for almost 30 years by telling women there is only one kind of body beautiful,” she wrote. “Until Victoria’s Secret commits to representing ALL women on stage, I am calling for a complete boycott of this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. It’s time Victoria’s Secret recognized the buying power and influence of women of ALL ages, shapes, sizes, and ethnicities… It’s about time Victoria’s Secret celebrated the customers that fuel its bottom line.”
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