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| photo credits: people.com |
The Victoria’s Secret show has been a point of contention for years, especially in light of movements like #MeToo and the evolving discussions surrounding female empowerment and representation. However, critiques often miss an essential point: the show does not objectify women—how you think about it might be the problem.
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| photo credits: tatlerasia.com |
The Power of Expression
Let’s begin with what the show actually represents. The Victoria’s Secret show, in its recent iterations, has gone beyond the traditional beauty standards that dominated fashion runways for decades. We saw supermodels of different body types, ages, and identities, including transgender models and older women. These models weren’t just walking to sell lingerie—they were reclaiming their spaces, expressing their individuality, and celebrating their bodies on their terms. If a woman chooses to express herself in lace, wings, or feathers, who are we to call that objectification? The real issue may be in the perception that women wearing lingerie is inherently degrading.
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| photo credits: fashionweekdaily.com |
The Fantasy Isn’t Universal, and That’s Okay
The argument that women "playacting" as presents to be unwrapped feeds into the narrative that women are dressing or acting for the male gaze. This line of thinking assumes that all lingerie or runway shows involving scantily-clad women are primarily designed for men, which erases the agency of the women involved. The truth is that many women enjoy wearing lingerie not to fulfill anyone else’s fantasies but to express their own sense of empowerment and confidence. It's a form of self-expression, not an invitation for objectification.
In fact, the VS show explicitly stated that “the women hold the reins.” This new chapter is about offering models and women a space to be celebrated on their terms, not the terms of male fantasy. If someone interprets these displays as objectification, it’s a reflection of their own ingrained biases rather than the intentions of the show.
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| photo credits: cnn.com |
Representation Matters
It’s been noted that the latest show included more diverse body types and showcased a range of women, including trans models and older women. This is progress. This is representation. But the critique continues to undermine this effort, claiming that it is still about objectification. Why? Just because a woman is wearing lingerie doesn’t mean she’s a vehicle for male fantasy. It means she’s confident enough to own her body, no matter its size, shape, or age. Celebrating that is not regressive; it’s empowering.
What some critics fail to realize is that being empowered looks different for everyone. For some women, strutting down a runway in lingerie may feel like the pinnacle of empowerment—an assertion that they are comfortable in their skin and proud of their bodies. For others, it might look entirely different. But no one has the right to dictate what empowerment should look like for anyone else.
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| photo credits: hearstapps.com |
It’s About More Than Clothing
The argument that the Victoria’s Secret show should be “retired” because it’s a “relic of another time” entirely dismisses the importance of progress in reclaiming spaces that were once considered problematic. The show has evolved, and so has its message. By featuring a variety of models and body types, it acknowledges the mistakes of the past and shows a commitment to growth.
Sure, the wings and the feathers may look like fantasy, but let’s not pretend that the fashion world isn’t built on fantasy and spectacle. Just because there’s a "giant bow" or "feathers" doesn’t mean it’s about men’s fantasies. Women, too, can dream in glitter and sequins, and women, too, deserve to revel in their own idea of beauty.
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| photo credits: eonline.com |
Empowerment Is Subjective
Finally, let’s address the claim that "parading scantily clad bodies... down a runway is simply not about empowerment." This statement reveals more about the viewer than the show itself. Empowerment isn’t something that can be boiled down to one definition. For some women, wearing lingerie and walking down a runway might be objectifying; for others, it’s liberating. Who are we to say that their choice is invalid?
The real problem isn’t the lingerie or the wings—it’s the assumption that women can’t express themselves in certain ways without being sexualized or objectified. The Victoria’s Secret show has made strides toward inclusivity and diversity, but until we change the way we view these displays, we’ll keep circling back to the same tired argument.
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| photo credits: immediate.co.uk |
Conclusion
At its core, the Victoria’s Secret show isn’t about objectifying women; it’s about celebrating them in all their diverse beauty. It’s about reclaiming spaces once tainted by narrow beauty standards and offering a platform where different body types, ages, and identities can shine. It’s not the lingerie, the wings, or the runway that’s the issue—it’s how we, as viewers, interpret these displays. If you see objectification, perhaps it’s time to rethink how you perceive women and their choices. Empowerment comes in many forms, and it’s time we respected all of them.
- FASHION DOOHICKEy
