“Go Woke, Go Broke”: Inclusive Rebranded Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Sparks Controversy

Proof that the world is stranger than anyone gives it credit for.

The rebranded “ inclusive ” and body-positivity Victoria’s Secret Show left viewers divided. While some observers felt that the highly anticipated lingerie fashion event was too “ woke ,” others thought that the show wasn’t inclusive enough. Nevertheless, many agreed that including trans models was a positive step forward.

Airing on Amazon’s Prime Video, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show took place in New York, USA , on Tuesday night (October 15), for the first time since 2018.

The annual event went on hiatus amid a series of controversies that rattled the lingerie brand and a decline in viewership, Forbes reported on Tuesday.

After years of sparking outrage, with many accusing the lingerie brand of perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards and narrow ideals of femininity, Victoria’s Secret announced in May that its iconic fashion show would return, promising to “reflect who we are today.”

This statement likely refers to the brand’s effort to overhaul its image, embracing a more inclusive approach to body types, gender identities , and diverse representations of beauty, as per Forbes .

Hosted by former Victoria’s Secret Angel Tyra Banks , who walked in nine of the brand’s shows before retiring, this year’s event elicited a polarized response from the audience.

A Threads user commented: “I love how inclusive Victoria’s Secret is this year for plus-sized beauty. Amazing to see and Tyra killed it as usual.”

A person commented: “WOW WHAT AN INCLUSIVE SHOW Victoria’s Secret!”

A separate individual chimed in: “If I hear ‘inclusive’ or ‘accessible’ once more in this Victoria’s Secret live stream coverage I will rip my dang wings off.”