Victoria’s Secret rose to fame as a palace of pink dreams, a place where lingerie shoppers found a sexy fantasy world in the form of push-up bras and feathered wings. Its so-called Angels – era-defining bombshells like Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum and Gisele Bundchen – became household names, and the annual fashion show was a televised spectacle watched by millions. But as beauty norms shifted and the company struggled to adapt, it was caught off guard by an online backlash that included accusations of sexism, ageism and refusal to hire plus-size models. In 2020, the founder’s daughter, Sharon Wexner, resigned as CEO, and former president Ed Razek, who had criticized transgender women in a Vogue interview, left as the brand’s reputation suffered.
The new three-part series “Victoria Secret: Angels and Demons” reveals what happened, chronicling how the brand strayed from its roots of inclusivity. The first episode opens with a backstage scene just before the annual fashion show begins. Several photographers mill about, waiting to capture the Angels in their pre-show prep. It’s a moment of tension and excitement as the Angels, wearing a bejeweled Fantasy bra, are told they will walk the runway.
In a sexy clip from a recent video for the show, supermodel Adriana Lima sings, as a group of dancers do synchronized twirls. A lingerie designer, Michaela Stark, who is featured in the documentary, is also there to see how the Angels prepare for their roles. “The girls in the workshop are going through a lot of pain, doing their hair, getting makeup done,” she says. “They’re trying to make sure they look perfect.”
It’s a revealing insight into the pressures the models face behind-the-scenes, especially when some begin to lose their appetite for such a sexy and high-profile job. As the lingerie brand’s popularity waned in recent years, some of the original Angels began looking for other work. The highest-paid model at one time, Gisele Bundchen, reportedly walked away from the show after finding it was no longer worth her $10 million per year salary.
A key to the show’s success was the Angels’ ability to create their own fantasy with each look. The lingerie designers worked with famous jewelry makers to craft the Fantasy bras, and fans looked forward to seeing which Angel would get to wear the iconic piece. Each year, the chosen Angel wore a different bra and a sexy costume that highlighted her unique body.
But as the brand’s reputation suffered, its leadership fell out of step with consumers, who demanded inclusion and autonomy. The push for a more diverse, inclusive image was accelerated by the controversies surrounding the company and a growing awareness of body positivity, including social media campaigns such as #BoycottVictoriaSecret. The company responded with the first-ever plus-size fashion show, and it has started to offer a more diverse collection of bras and other products. The company has also made changes to its website, featuring more photos of real people and less retouched images. Its parent company, L Brands, launched a sister line called Aerie in 2014, which has promoted the message of “be real” and features women of all shapes and sizes.