To those slamming the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for hiring exclusively super-skinny, cisgender models, veteran Angel Behati Prinsloo would like to remind you: It’s just a show.
“I think Victoria’s Secret embodies a lot of things,” Prinsloo, 30, told Elle. “There’s a lot of talk about everything but I think people need to also understand that it’s a show. It’s not saying negative or positive about any body type, it’s ‘this is who they are.'”
Continued the model, who’s walked 10 shows for the lingerie giant, “We’re strong, we’re confident, and I think any woman is a Victoria’s Secret woman. But people also need to understand that it’s just a show. I don’t think that it says that they’re not for a certain type of body. It’s cool to talk about it and great to open up a conversation and so much good has happened. I think it’s a show. Let’s just have fun and not make it about anything and just have a great night and celebrate everyone.”
It’s a refusal to celebrate everyone, however, that has Victoria’s Secret in hot water. In an interview with Vogue published last month, the brand’s chief marketing officer Ed Razek attempted to explain why VS’ annual catwalk extravaganza doesn’t look more diverse.
“It’s like, why doesn’t your show do this? Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should,” Razek, 70, said. “Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It’s a 42-minute entertainment special. That’s what it is.”
Razek later apologized for his “insensitive” remarks, but that didn’t stop many on social media — including stars like Rihanna and Tess Holliday — from slamming Victoria’s Secret for its narrow-minded beauty ideals. Even Halsey, who performed at this year’s show, scolded the brand on Sunday, the same night the lingerie special aired on television.
“I have adored the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show since I was young,” the pop star, 24, wrote on Instagram. “Performing this year alongside other amazing artists and hard working models/friends was supposed to be the best night of my year. However, after I filmed the performance, some comments were made regarding the show that I simply cannot ignore.”
Continued Halsey, who is bisexual, “As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have no tolerance for a lack of inclusivity. Especially not one motivated by a stereotype. We stand in solidarity, and complete and total acceptance is the only ‘fantasy’ that I support …”
The star added that she had made “a sizable donation” to GLSEN, an organization working to protect LGBTQ+ youth.