Unapologetically sexy is back: Stars sizzle in sheer ensembles at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show after woke backlash
Countless stunning beauties walked the pink carpet ahead of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York on Wednesday.
Last year, Angels returned to the runways after a six-year hiatus with a more diverse lineup, including plus-size and transgender models.
But this year, Victoria’s Secret’s new CEO announced plans to move away from the new branding and return to its “unapologetically sexy” brand.
Madison Beer, 26, kicked off the event looking sultry in a sheer black dress that left little to the imagination.
The design gave a glimpse of the black underwear she wore underneath and featured two revealing slits.
Jodie Turner-Smith, 39, stunned in a low-cut, ruffled white mini dress that revealed her cleavage.
Madison Beer, 26, Jodie Turner-Smith, 39, and Rainey Qualley, 36, stunned on the pink carpet ahead of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York on Wednesday.
Andie MacDowell’s 36-year-old daughter Rainey Qualley showed off her legs in a white lace mini.
The Hills’ star, 40-year-old Whitney Port, showed off her slim figure in a stylish black dress with cutouts on the sides.
Idris Elba’s 23-year-old daughter Isan fascinated with a lace-up black mini dress that revealed her shapely legs.
Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker (60) looked stylish in her black dress and matching black jacket.
Kylie Jenner’s 28-year-old ex-friend Jordyn Woods drew attention with her cheetah-patterned puffer coat, black tights and platform heels.
26-year-old Tessa Brooks attracted attention with her black low-cut dress.
50-year-old Chloe Sevigny captured the aesthetics of the fashion show with a ruffle-collared pink mini dress.
Patrick Schwarzenegger, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 32-year-old son, sported a stylish all-black look, which he completed with a silver chain.
Actress Karen Gillan, 37, wore a sheer black dress that showed off her black bra underneath.
The show stars many former Victoria’s Secret angels, including Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Doutzen Kroes, Candice Swanepoel, Behati Prinsloo, Lily Aldridge, Taylor Hill, Stella Maxwell, Barbara Palvin and Grace Elizabeth.
Other returning models include Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls, Irina Shayk, Ashley Graham, Anok Yai, Alex Consani, Paloma Elsesser and Yasmin Wijnaldum.
The design gave a glimpse of the black lingerie Madison wore underneath and featured two revealing slits.
Her sizzling appearance comes after Victoria’s Secret’s new CEO revealed plans to return to the ‘unapologetically sexy’ brand as it moves away from a rebrand
Jodie showed off her legs in her low-cut, ruffled dress
The actress was adorned with a chunky necklace
Rainey looked chic in her strapless mini
26-year-old Tessa Brooks attracted attention with her low-cut black dress
Kylie Jenner’s 28-year-old ex-friend Jordyn Woods showed a stylish look with a cheetah-print puffer coat, black tights and platform heels.
She attracted attention with her sexy look and cleavage
50-year-old Chloe Sevigny captured the aesthetics of the fashion show with a ruffle-collared pink mini dress.
The Brown Bunny actress wore her blonde hair in loose curls
Xandra Pohl, Ashtin Earle and Micaela Erlanger dazzle in black suits
Actress Karen Gillan, 37, wore a sheer black dress that showed off her black bra underneath.
Her brunette hair created a striking contrast with the dress.
Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker (60) looked stylish in her black dress and matching black jacket.
The star’s blonde hair is pinned halfway back
He wore shiny diamonds in his ears
The Hills star Whitney Port (40) showed off her slim figure in a stylish black dress with cutouts on the sides.
Idris Elba’s 23-year-old daughter Isan fascinated with a lace-up black mini dress that revealed her shapely legs.
Her dark hair cascaded in voluminous curls
Iris Kendall and Hallie Batchelder shined in white mini dresses
All eyes were on Christina Kirkman in her fishnet dress
Ashley Cooke, Halley Kate and Kate Bartlett stunned with their metallic looks
Patrick Schwarzenegger, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 32-year-old son, sported an all-black look.
Adorned with a silver chain
There will also be newcomers to the runway show, including WNBA star Angel Reese, influencer Quenlin Blackwell, nepobaby Iris Law, plus-size model Yumi Nu, model Daiane Sodre, actress Barbie Ferreira and plus-size model Precious Lee.
Past musical artists for the event have included Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Cher, and this year’s lineup includes Missy Elliott, Karol G, K-Pop group TWICE and Madison Beer.
For decades, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was one of the most popular fashion show events in the fashion world.
It first launched in 1995 and became an instant hit, with some of the world’s biggest models walking the show.
By 2001 it was broadcast live on television, with millions tuning in each year to watch stunning models parade and A-list performers dazzle on stage.
But in 2019, after more than two decades at the top, the annual fashion show was canceled following intense criticism of the brand’s lack of diversity in body types, followed by then-chief marketing officer Ed Razek’s eyebrow-raising comments about transgender and plus-size models.
The lingerie company is embracing its bombshell roots after years of sales struggles and a tepid response to last year’s various catwalks.
CEO Hillary Super, 53, who took on the role in September 2024, admitted that her predecessors had allowed the brand to be “watered down”.
“When I took over, Victoria’s Secret was seen as inappropriate and ugly, and we needed to fix those mistakes,” said former CEO Martin Waters. the Wall Street Magazine.
After a long period of time, the company scaled back its provocative branding strategy. 2020 New York Times article reported that many employees and models faced a lot of misogyny and harassment.
Angel Reese and Alessandra Ambrosio were photographed getting ready backstage at the show
As they prepared for the catwalk, they tied their hair up with curlers and wore Victoria’s Secret bras.
(LR) Marina Moioli, Abeny Nhial, Law Roach, Ashlyn Erickson and Blesnya Minher pose backstage
At that time, the brand was under the leadership of Leslie Wexner and Ed Razek.
However, Super said many decisions were made ‘out of fear’ as the company moved away from sexualised branding and towards more convenience following a wave of backlash.
The brand’s seductive underwear has been replaced by products with more coverage and simpler designs, as well as a greater focus on athletic wear and comfortable pajamas.
The company’s move to a more diverse and inclusive brand comes after Victoria’s Secret came under fire following accusations of the brand’s problematic environment.
Casey Crowe Taylor, a former public relations employee for the company, told the WSJ: ‘What was most concerning to me, as someone who was always raised as an independent woman, was how ingrained this behavior was.
‘This harassment was laughed at and accepted as normal. It was almost like brainwashing. And anyone who tried to do anything about it was ignored. “They were punished,” he added.
Razek denied the allegations at the time, describing them as ‘categorically false’ or ‘taken out of context’.
‘I’ve had the opportunity to work with countless, A-list models and talented professionals and have taken great pride in the mutual respect we have for each other,’ he added.
For decades, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was one of the most popular fashion show events in the fashion world; (Jasmine Takes in 2018)
Hillary Super, 53, became the company’s CEO in September last year and said the company would return to its “sexy” brand.
A spokesperson for Wexner, who reportedly has close ties to Jeffrey Epstein, declined to comment to the outlet at the time.
Epstein was said to have lied to many Victoria’s Secret models and aspiring models, claiming to work for the company.
Victoria’s Secret also faced a wave of backlash in 2019 for poor quality and lack of diversity among its models.
That same year, CFO of Victoria’s Secret parent company Stuart Burgdoerfer announced that the annual VS Fashion Show would be canceled.
The VS Fashion Show returns in 2024 with a new focus featuring plus-size models like Ashley Graham, as well as transgender models and diverse ethnicities.
Following Razek’s departure, they hired their first transgender model, Valentina Sampaio, to star in the new VS Pink campaign.
But the show was derided as lackluster and lacking the traditional glamor for which the brand is known.
