Something iconic about the Victoria Secret Fashion shows is the runway models. The Victoria Secret angels always walk out in a beautiful set that everyone admires. However, the lack of different body types is overlooked by the audience and this problem can be seen throughout many different fashion shows.
The average Victoria Secret model weighs between 120-130 pounds and their height is around 5'10. The average Victoria Secret model also has to meet many different requirements such as a chiseled face, small nose, high cheekbones, and so much more. Also, the models are required to have a skinny, toned body. These kinds of beauty standards are the reasons why so many girls may feel insecure about themselves and unhappy with the way they look. Fashion show models portray a certain look that girls may feel like they have to resemble which is something that needs to change.
On top of the fact that Victoria Secret models are required to have a certain body type, they are also required to be very tall with long legs. Hardly any of the runway models you see nowadays are petite, which is a big problem in the fashion show industry. Short girls have such a hard time becoming models because many companies require their models to be very tall. This should not even be an issue because the clothing should be made to fit all heights and not just tall girls. This is an issue that needs to be talked about more.
Along with that, Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer of the brand's parent company, L Brands Inc., told Vogue that transgender women would not be cast in runway shows. In 2018, he said "If you’re asking if we’ve considered putting a transgender model in the show or looked at putting a plus-size model in the show, we have ... Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy." He also said, "We attempted to do a television special for plus sizes. No one had any interest in it, still don’t." Comments like these are part of the reason that the fashion show industry is so discriminative towards many girls. Following this issue, Victoria Secret hired their first transgender model, Valentina Sampaio. This shows that if Ed Razek had not made that comment, transgender women may still not be allowed to model at Victoria Secret.
The fashion show industry lacks body diversity within their models and is something that needs to change!
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