The VS Fashion Show is BACK!- and so is our queen, Adriana Lima

By Juliana Valencia & Jayde December

The 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show came back with a completely new vibe—focusing on inclusivity, diversity, and body positivity, which was a huge change from its past shows. The brand, which took a break after years of criticism for promoting narrow beauty standards, returned with a diverse range of models representing different sizes, backgrounds, and identities. This shift wasn’t just about changing how the models looked but about making the brand itself more inclusive. Normally, the models are super-skinny in flashy wings, but this time they had a variety of body types, backgrounds, and personalities on the runway, making it feel more relatable and authentic.

A huge moment in the show was when Adriana Lima returned to the runway. If you’ve watched any of the older shows, you know Lima has been a VS icon for years. She retired in 2018 but returned this year, describing it as a “family reunion.” Lima mentioned how meaningful it was to reconnect with so many models who are also moms now, showing that these women are at new stages in their lives that include being mothers and businesswomen. Seeing all the beautiful models who are in such different stages in their lives be able to come back for this iconic show warmed a lot of women’s hearts who once watched the fashion show as little girls. Lima’s return gave a very nostalgic feel to the now more modern show.

Latinx representation was also a key part of this year’s VS Fashion show. Lima’s Brazilian background brought a strong Latin presence to the runway, connecting with a broader audience that’s been underrepresented in the mainstream fashion world. This aspect of the show feels very relevant in today’s world, as people are looking to see themselves reflected in the media and brands they support and love. Lima’s return symbolizes both a nod to the brand's past and a celebration of Latinx culture and diversity, making the show feel both classic and bold.

Another big part of the show was how it embraced body positivity by featuring a mix of body shapes and sizes. Ashley Graham, who is known for being an advocate for body diversity, walked the runway and represented a plus-size perspective that the brand has mostly ignored in the past. This shift felt authentic and showed that Victoria’s Secret is trying to connect with an inclusive audience. Instead of the show just being about “fantasy” and having unrealistic body standards, it now emphasizes real-life beauty and self-love, making it way more relatable.

The brand’s rebranding isn’t new, though—it’s been in the works for a few years. In 2021, they introduced the VS Collective, which is a group of diverse ambassadors chosen to represent a wider range of voices, talents, and body types. This collective includes models and public figures from different backgrounds, such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, and transgender model Valentina Sampaio. This group represents all kinds of backgrounds and identities, which helps bring a more relatable, modern vibe to the brand. This new image has allowed Victoria’s Secret to move beyond its past, aiming to build a more modern, body-positive image that resonates more with today’s young women.

Many say that even though it is good for the brand to become more modernized and inclusive, the show did not have the same magical feel from before. Overall, the brand is now recognizing that beauty doesn’t look one certain way, and their commitment to diversity feels more authentic. Instead of focusing solely on “fantasy” and unrealistic beauty standards, this year’s show aimed to blend glamour with messages of empowerment and inclusivity, focusing on real-life beauty and self-acceptance. For many, this different direction marks a new refreshing, much-needed change in how beauty standards are represented in mainstream media, making the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show more relevant and relatable than it’s been in years.