It was a time when the Angels of Victoria’s Secret were young, sexy and beautiful. Many were also aspiring actresses and model-moguls. But now, the Angels are no longer the Angels. Instead, they are now “the collective” – a group that includes the lesbian soccer champion Megan Rapinoe, plus-size model Paloma Elsesser and trans activist Valentina Sampaio.
The scandal began after former Victoria’s Secret CEO Ed Razek said that transsexual models shouldn’t walk the runway. He also said that there was little public interest in a plus-size Victoria’s Secret catwalk. Those comments sparked outrage and a model mutiny. Despite its troubles, the model has remained with Victoria’s Secret since 1999. Here’s what we know about her journey with the company.
Despite the scandal, Wexner, a former executive of Victoria’s Secret, told employees that the company is “rethinking its show”. Earlier, the show was linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was a close business partner of Wexner. Former executives claimed Epstein tried to interfere in the business of Victoria’s Secret. The story is compelling – it’s the truth.
A documentary filmed by Matt Tyrnauer chronicles the rise and fall of Victoria’s Secret. Once the world’s largest lingerie brand, the company has suffered a resurgence after decades of mediocrity. In addition to the Angels, the company’s executives are now embracing entrepreneurs and activists to reinvigorate the brand. The company’s success in the late 1990s was due in part to the emergence of new lingerie designs.
The founder of Victoria’s Secret, Roy Raymond, was inspired by his love of lingerie and his desire to bring beauty and fantasy to every woman. The company’s sales surpassed $1 million a year. By the 1980s, the company had expanded into five stores and had an internationally acclaimed catalogue. However, the brand became too expensive to continue on its own. Les Wexner stepped in and bought the company for just $1 million.
In 1993, Victoria’s Secret introduced its Miracle bra. The Miracle Bra sold two million copies in its first year. Sara Lee’s WonderBra, which rivaled the VS Miracle Bra, prompted a television ad campaign. Wexner and Ed Razek discussed the creation of a company fashion event. The first Fashion Show took place in New York City in 1995 and became a staple of the company’s marketing and sales activities.
The fashion industry is not immune from scandal. A billionaire businessman, Les Wexner, bought the Victoria’s Secret brand for $1 million in 1982. He transformed the brand into a multi-billion-dollar company in a decade. In his biography, Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons, Wexner is described as “the genius of fast fashion.”