The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on Oct. 15 was evidence that comebacks do happen. After being cancelled in 2019 due to declining rating and controversies, the show returned bigger and better than ever this year with beautiful blow outs, glittery eyeshadows, and new, bold looks. Six years after some thought the show was gone for good, the evening was highly anticipated by many beloved fans. For them, the evening truly delivered, with a diverse range of popular influencers, veteran supermodels, professional athletes, and new faces that tied it all together for an enjoyable watching experience.
Sure, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has long been used to promote the Victoria’s Secret brand, but it now does so much more, showcasing inclusivity and female empowerment. The angel wings that are highlighted in these fashion shows have a symbolic meaning, symbolizing feminine beauty, freedom, and confidence.
“I really liked how they brought back the wings, and seeing Gigi Hadid,” said FCHS senior Victoria ScottoDiVetta. This year’s show incorporated the wings in dramatic ways, designing some to look like artistic sculptures.
The opening of the show set the stage, as Jasmine Tookes made history by opening the fashion show despite being nine months pregnant. It had a shock factor that I appreciated, in a positive way.
This show traditionally includes well-known musical performers to up the entertainment factor for viewers, and this year’s musicians didn’t disappoint, including Missy Elliot, Madison Beer, Karol G, and TWICE.
The runway this year welcomed some of the most popular model faces of Victoria’s Secret, such as Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Candice Swanepoel. The sense of nostalgia created a timeless appeal that helped welcome these icons back for the first time in years.
The show’s targeted approach towards diversity was refreshing to witness. Some of the angels include Angel Reese, Suni Lee, Alex Consani, and Ashley Graham. Reese, in particular, made a splash by becoming one of the first pro athletes to star in the fashion show. In previous years, the lack of diversity in Victoria’s Secret fashion shows was often criticized as they were not inclusive to all body sizes and ethnicities, leading some to question whether the company was encouraging toxic beauty standards for women. Thankfully, the fashion show has stepped it up and added inclusivity to its line up.
The result was positive, not just for viewers like me, but for their press coverage, which was significantly better than in previous years. However, fans still raised concerns involving Bella Hadid, a veteran angel who has walked the runway countless times. An article from E! News said that fans were claiming she looked tired, or that she looked like she wanted to cry. Later, her mother, Yolanda Hadid, revealed that Bella had been suffering with Lyme’s disease since her diagnosis back in 2013.
The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was at times shocking, exciting, entertaining, and refreshing to watch. It definitely exceeded my expectations, leaving VS fans like me looking forward to the 2026 show.
