The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show officially returned last night, with Kate Moss, 50, and her daughter, Lila, 22, making an ‘iconic’ appearance. But it seems that even with glitz, glam, and angel wings, not even they could save the show from controversy.
After first launching in 1995, the annual fashion show, which featured the likes of Tyra Banks, Irina Shayk ,Alessandra Ambrosio and Candice Swanepoel, was a major pop culture event and, at its peak, was watched by millions of viewers each year.
But it didn’t stay that way, and in 2018, it fell to its lowest ratings as it began to attract criticism, including for its lack of diversity on the catwalk and comments about transgender models not being a part of the ‘fantasy’.
Falling victim to cancel culture, the brand announced its runway show would cease in 2019 but revealed earlier this year that it would be making its bold return. So, how has it sat with fans?
Taking to social media after last night’s show, which took place in New York City and was streamed on Prime Video, viewers were quick to share their mixed opinions.
Laurent Culture wrote on X: ‘GIRLHOOD IS HEALING’, with Beyuisback commencing: ‘VS Fashion Show is top notch this time’.
Popculture princess added: ‘I was gasping every single second’.
But another X user, Sav disagreed, criticising the show’s return: ‘No blowing fans, no bombshell curls, no glittery pink lipgloss and shimmery makeup, no strutting, barely any energy to feed off from the models, NO FANTASY BRA, barely any cute wings, not enough cute sets, stage construction looked last minute, short, october??’
Shesoelegant agreed: ‘I didn’t expect old VS, but I expected to see models with Personality, giggling, and smiling all 32 teeth. I’m not trying to serve fierce. H*e, this isn’t Chanel; this is VS!’
PolytheneMagie said on Reddit: ‘Awful looks, cheap looking wings, boring runway and some models looked uncomfortable. Why they decided to revisit the show if they were going to do something like this? Absolutely nothing like Victoria’s Secret.’
While Dripintravenous quipped: ‘Is this the Temu Secret Fashion Show??’
Despite the backlash for the ‘cheap’ and ‘boring’ 45-minute show, which featured performances from Cher, Blackpink’s Lisa, and rising star Tyla, Kate and her daughter Lila managed to impress fans with their ‘iconic’ Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut.
English-born Kate was one of the most famous models in the 1990s after being discovered at just 14 years old and quickly went on to become one of the ‘Big Five’ supermodels of the time, but surprisingly never walked in the lingerie show until now.
Opening the Rock and Roll segment of the evening, the star wore a sheer black lace gown, complete with raunchy lingerie underneath and eyecatching black wings, earning plenty of praise from her fans.
‘MOTHER!! THE OG SUPER MODEL OF ALL THE TIME Kate Moss has returned’, X user Gekoft wrote.
Nanwonderswhy tweeted: ‘Looks fabulous after how many years of walking that runway????? Dang.’
Elsewhere, Yuva Sanchari called Kate the ‘model of the year’ and admitted: ‘I screamed when I saw her’.
Lila, meanwhile, looked the complete opposite of her mother, opting for an all-pink ensemble with angelic wings and plenty of sparkles, but her walk wasn’t any less fierce than her mum.
Extra TV declared: ‘She got it from her momma!’
Nathalie May added: ‘Kate and Lila Moss together on the runway? That’s awesome!’
Most talked about VS Fashion Show moments:
- The one and only Cher headlined the show with her impressive vocals and was joined by Lisa and Tyla, marking the first time the show has had an all-female line up
- Tyra’s participation caused mixed opinions from fans, with some claiming she owes ‘women an apology’ and others praising her for being involved in the show
- Bella has been on a two-year modelling hiatus after battling Lyme disease but surprised fans by closing the show, and they loved it
- Adriana retired from Victoria’s Secret shows in 2018 after walking in them since 1999 so her return to the runway caused plenty of excitement among fans
- Gigi is one of the most recognisable faces of Victoria’s Secret so it only makes sense her opening the show has earned plenty of praise from fans
The show was packed with iconic names, including Tyra, 50, who returned to the runway almost twenty years after retiring. Largely covered up, the star wore a bedazzled black corset and sparkle leggings, along with a dramatic push-up bra.
Her participation in the show didn’t come without criticism, though, and resulted in mixed opinions.
After hosting America’s Next Top Model for almost 15 years, Tyra often became the centre of controversial moments, including commenting on the models’ appearances.
While she has previously apologised for those comments, some fans saw the past comments as inconsistent with the revamped fashion show, which promised inclusivity and body positivity.
Superdobiter1 wrote on Reddit: ‘Tyra banks should be arrested for crimes against women especially black women’.
The Keys Wife said on X: ‘The Tyra Banks of America’s Next Top Model would have ripped her own runway walk this evening to shreds, as well as designated herself as a plus size model at best. Tyra Banks owes a generation of women an apology.’
However, Durge_Kisses disagreed, writing: ‘No matter what you think about Tyra, and yes she’s wild, she looks amazing. And everyone in here does too.’
Gigi Hadid, 29, also walked in the show and opened the night with an angelic look, complete with a silky pink playsuit, larger-than-life hoop earrings and eyecatching pink wings, before slipping into a saucy red fit.
Her sister, Bella Hadid, 28, closed the show in a surprise appearance, marking the second time she has walked a runway in two years following a hiatus in which she battled Lyme disease.
Aashi dubbed her the ‘people’s princess’ on X, while 818lover said, ‘Gigi Hadid opened the show so Bella Hadid could close. What a time to be alive!’
Adriana Lima also made her welcome return to the VS Runway after parting ways with the brand in 2018, with fans dubbing her a ‘queen’ and ‘iconic’.
Elsewhere, Taylor Hill, Barbara Palvin, Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio walked in the show with the last two particularly special as they made history by becoming the first transgender models to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway.
Prior to the hiatus of the shows in 2018, the then chief marketing officer for L Brands Ed Razek, landed himself in hot water after stating that ‘transsexuals’ should not be in the fashion show.
‘Why not? Because the show is a fantasy,’ he told Vogue. ‘It’s a 42-minute entertainment special. That’s what it is.’
While he later apologised for his ‘insensitive’ remarks, he stepped down from his role in August 2019, and later that month, Valentina was hired as a model for the brand.
Speaking to People magazine after the show last night, she said: ‘Today the Victoria’s Secret family has shown the world that being trans is just as exceptional and beautiful as anyone else on that runway.’
While Alex told Paper magazine: ‘I’m so excited. This is my first-ever Victoria’s Secret show, I can’t believe it. I can’t believe I’m here.’