Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable Victoria’s Secret angels. The supermodel hung up her wings after walking in 2010 and just eight years later the lingerie empire succumbed to immense criticism. 2021 has since marked the big return for Victoria’s Secret through a new and inclusive approach, that according to Huntington-Whiteley, is too little, too late.
“It was a different time and it’s crazy [to say that] because it was 11 years ago,” Huntington-Whiteley told The Sunday Times of her last runway show, “which is not that long ago.”
“I do feel Victoria’s Secret really missed the boat with broadening themselves out in the past few years and really listening to the cultural shift of what people are looking for from their brand,” she added.
In June Victoria’s Secret signed the likes of Priyanka Chopra, football star Megan Rapinoe, Adut Akech, freestyle skier Eileen Gu, Brazilian transgender model Valentina Sampaio, plus-size model Paloma Elesser, and journalist Amanda de Cadene to host a 10-episode podcast series dubbed “VS Collective”. Each woman will have the opportunity to share their unique story.
Speaking on the new project, founding member de Cadene wrote on Instagram, “I’m going to be honest, being a ‘Victoria’s Secret’ anything was never on my career bucket list, in fact it was quite the opposite. So when I was first asked to be a part of the #VSCollective, I was extremely skeptical. But leading with an open mind, I was also curious to learn more. Months later and after hours of in depth conversations with the VS teams to understand the ongoing tangible commitments that are planned, I saw the first steps taken to create a new culture. With a majority female board, and a new holding company, I felt reassured and confident that this is a real opening to shift culture for the better.”
Will it revive the lingerie giant to its former glory? Stay tuned.
