Filmed in Paris a few days ago and having aired on CBS December 5th, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is considered the most-watched fashion event worldwide. Over 9 million people tune in each year to see this hour-long lingerie show on their TV. Despite its undeniable popularity the VSFS and its representation of women’s bodies remains among some of the most controversial topics discussed on the internet each year–making many wonder how realistic, healthy, or fair the standards of beauty set by the show are. Is this event considered more of an empowering celebration of women’s bodies or a degrading representation of it?
I’ve always been extremely passionate about themes related to the representation of women’s bodies and how this–especially in the media and the fashion industry–may affect the way women view themselves and how they’re viewed by society. So, this year, as pictures and videos of the show started popping on every possible social media, I started reading and analyzing the general public response. The more I read, the more interesting the different opinions about the show became. On occasion of this year’s TV premiere of the Show I wanted to reflect on how this yearly event impacts the general perception of the female body.
For those who have seen the show already or those who are planning to see it, here are some things to keep in mind or at least consider before you either condemn it as exploitation of the female body or praise it as women’s empowerment. In my opinion, it’s a combination of both. As we should remember, most things don’t fit in either a black or white category, but rather are a more complex shade of gray in between the two The VSFS is no exception.
It celebrates cultural diversity, but not so much body diversity.
What used to be the classic ‘American girl’ show–with a majority of the models being tall U.S. born and raised blondes–in the last few years has become a more inclusive show. It attempts to celebrate different cultures and include models of many different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. However, the show still mainly represents girls with a very specific body type–the tall, skinny, but not too skinny, extremely toned, sample size woman. Not everyone is blessed with great genes, a fast metabolism, and unlimited access to the gym or to personal-training sessions, therefore, this very specific body type still represents an extremely limited minority of the world’s female population. It excludes many other unique and just as beautiful women who don’t fit this standardized barbie-doll-like appearance.
Some of this year’s Angels who walked the VSFS in Paris.
In life we don’t have a week to edit or erase what doesn’t look great or doesn’t go as planned–but the VSFS does.
The VSFS is the only fashion event which doesn’t air live, but rather has a whole week between the day on which it’s filmed–an event to which only a few elite members of the fashion industry, celebrities, bloggers and family members of the Angels are invited–and that on which it premieres to the public. This week allows plenty of time for editing. It erases any trace of what didn’t look perfect or beautiful. Even if you won’t see any trace of it on TV you should remember that in the VSFS, just like in life, not everything always goes as planned…
Gigi Hadid’s Wardrobe Malfunction at the 2016 Show.
Ariana Grande getting hit by one of the angel’s wings during her 2014 performance in the show.
Sometimes (but not always) models have curves too, but does a baby-bump count?
VS is Known for having models otherwise considered “too curvy” for the industry walk their show. These include many moms and gorgeous women with feminine curves who for most designers are not skinny enough, too toned, or too old. In the latest VSFS Irina Shayk, one of the newest additions to the Angels, walked her first VS runway while pregnant. Despite the fact that many of the other angels didn’t know about it, this was found by many on the internet extremely surprising and empowering.
Irina Shayk in the VSFS in 2016.
If from one side it is said that it promotes objectification of women from the opposing perspective it normalizes female sexuality.
Living in an era that from one side overly promotes the message of objectification of women, but from the other still condemns female sexuality, VS is probably one of the best mixtures of these messages. It both follows the general pattern of the fashion industry promoting female sexuality and normalizes it. In an era deeply–to many overly–concerned with political correctness, Victoria’s Secret constantly blurs the lines between what could be considered objectification or empowerment of women.
It can promote the message to strive for a healthier and more fit body, or just set unreachable standards of perfection.
Seeing the angels and new models train almost 24/7 for weeks before the show and even weeks before the casting for the show is definitely enough motivation for some to finally change their lifestyle. Switching to healthier eating, a strict fitness regime, and leaving no excuses to avoid that weekly visit to the gym seems like nothing compared to some of the Angels’ training. On the other hand, exactly as some of the models sadly do too, some young and easily influenced girls turn to quick-fixes and non-sustainable diets in order to achieve what they hope will be the “dream body”.
So what do you think? Is this show more about promoting and empowering the female body and normalizing its sexuality? Or does it promote a degrading message which negatively affects the perception of the female body? Probably neither, or more simply a combination of both. In conclusion, as everything in life, it is ultimately what you make of it. Some may look at the VSFS and be completely disgusted by the way it portrays women, some couldn’t care less about it, and some may find it revolutionary or empowering.
Our mind, culture, and the way we think, play a huge role in controlling the way we perceive things, but ultimately we’re in control of our own thoughts, and free to think whatever we want. No matter what your opinion is about this show, about the way women are portrayed in modern society, your body, or many other things in life, you should remember to strive to see the beauty in the little things everyday, to make your weaknesses strengths, and appreciate your flaws as what makes you unique. As cliché it may sound, if there’s something you don’t like you can change it, or at least start working towards changing it. Ultimately as Einstein said :“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”