The Victoria’s Secret 2024 runway show promised inclusivity, so where was it?

I wanted nothing more than to turn on the TV and return to the youthful joy I felt through that show, but now I’m older and I realize that even though I thought being an angel meant something at the time, the real meaning was the legacy of adhering to unrealistic and exclusive standards of beauty, which the company continues to benefit from even as it tries to expand its scope. In fact, thanks to my endless research and deep immersion in this world, I was shown TikTok videos on the Victoria’s Secret Runway Show. I delved so deeply into this knowledge that I found myself on the unknown side of the web – among pro-ana believers who, in 2024, still want to perpetuate the narrative that VSFS can only be great if lean is the standard. “Victoria’s Secret LISTEN, we don’t want plus size models, we don’t want men on the VS runway. PLEASE LISTEN, we want the old, iconic shows from the 2000s.” Hundreds of comments repeating the same thing: “It’s true, it’s not about being inclusive, it’s about looking good.”

While the original VS ethos created these believers, the new and “improved” Victoria’s Secret team cannot be held responsible for random internet users spreading this toxic narrative. I honestly believe that the team wanted to create a more inclusive program, representing a more inclusive brand. But the proof is in the ass, and apart from a few “plus” models (who, it’s worth noting, mostly fit straight sizes), it was extremely tight on the runway.

We were surprised by the angelic debut of Paloma Elsesser and Ashley Graham, but these gorgeous and popular models were clearly different from their slimmer peers. They were more covered, wearing short dresses and bodysuits compared to the thongs and bikini bras of models like the Hadid sisters. The highlight of the night for me was seeing Graham’s bare thighs reigning supreme on the runway, visible to the world – and something Graham herself has been advocating for for almost 10 years. However, for a show that was positioned as more inclusive than the brand’s past, it felt like a punch in the gut that not only were there very, very few plus models, but that they weren’t treated the same way when it was their time to shine.

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