Victoria’s secret is that it’s a lingerie company run by old white men who have a narrow concept of who their clothing fits.
When Ed Razek, chief marketing officer of Victoria’s Secret was asked if transgender models should be included in their fashion show, his answer shocked many when he said they have no desire to do so.
“Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should.”
The excuse is that the fashion show is a “fantasy” and it would be ruined by any woman that doesn’t fit the unrealistic image that Victoria’s Secret models are known for.
Don’t get us wrong, those women are driven, the exercise routines they follow are intense and they probably don’t eat much other than salads, but that doesn’t make us want to see other women on the runway any less.
For the marketing executive to say that they will never have a transgendered woman on the runway, is to say that they won’t market to those women at all.
Companies that sell clothing items that are staples in any woman’s wardrobe shouldn’t alienate a majority of the women who could purchase their clothing.
It’s not just transgender women stuck under the glass ceiling, the company struggles to represent women on all fronts. Out of the 66 women to walk the runway this year, 16 were women of colour. Kelsey Merritt made history as the first Filipina model cast in the show this year. Winnie Harlow is the first model with vitiligo to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway.
Rezak also admitted that the show won’t support plus-sized models. Apparently, they tried to do a plus-size show in the early 2000’s and the ratings weren’t there and they never tried again.
Well Victoria’s Secret, times have changed and so have attitudes. Looking at Rihanna’s SavagexFenty show at in September, the variety of models was incredible. They had women that were pregnant, of all ethnicities, plus size women and the women you see walking the runway at the Victoria’s Secret shows.
The reaction to women seeing their body types on the runway was astounding. There was no surprise when the reaction to Razek’s controversial comments immediately drew comparison to Rihanna’s show.
Other companies seem to have no issue representing all women on their runway, DKNY cast transgendered, androgynous and plus-sized women in its show at New York Fashion Week back in February, 2014.
Victoria’s Secret is a store that, in a perfect world, would cater to all women. The store should inspire confidence in all women, not push down a majority of their market in favour of a nearly impossible to reach body image.
This company could be supported by women of all shapes and forms, if only they would support women back.