After the success of the 2024 show, the show returned in 2025 to show that it is here to stay. Victoria’s Secret has recently made an effort to capture a generation that is looking for authenticity within the fashion industry through change, diversity and confidence.
The show originally started in 1995, and was constantly being talked about for years. It highlighted a certain type of beauty with expensive shows, massive wings, and beautiful “Angels.” Then by the late 2010s, the brand was being criticized for its lack of diversity and the push for these unattainable body ideals. After the event ended in 2019, for many it seemed like that was the end for the brand but Victoria’s Secret decided to bring it back with an updated touch.
This year’s 2025 showed the brand’s debut toward an updated look. New York City hosted the event, which had nostalgia themes with a modern spin. Fans were treated to several of the original Angels from the show, such as Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, Alessanda Ambrosio, Doutzen Kroes and many others made a comeback to the runway. Their appearance acted as a bridge between the original and current versions of Victoria’s Secret.
In addition to those well-known faces, the cast was among the most diverse that Victoria’s Secret has ever had. This year we had the first professional athlete to walk in the event was college-basketball player Angel Reese. Mothers, veteran models, up-and-coming names, plus women from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. This is very different to what viewers experienced watching in the early 2002’s.
The comeback isn’t exactly what everyone expected, a lot of people wanted the show to go back exactly how it used to be. This year’s show showed more confidence in oneself and their individualism rather than the show being marketed as some sort of fantasy. Some question how the brand’s modifications would do in the long run. But others believe that more work has to be done to achieve true inclusion. This shift says a lot about how society is changing, especially to the younger audience and college students. Businesses are expected nowadays to be more inclusive and mindful of how they present beauty. Victoria’s Secret embracing diversity suggests fashion industries are getting there. It would be easy to say that the show feels more relevant and modern than it has been in a while.
For many this was an exciting return of the show, and it seems that it will continue again. From the October 2024 show to the October 2025 show, the brand listened to the opinions of the viewers and what they wanted to see in the upcoming show. If they keep heading in that direction that would hold space for better shows in the future. They did a great job including the veteran “angels” to the show and it’s what kept people coming back year after year. Many viewers, particularly the younger generations, saw it as that there is no one-size-fits-all definition of beauty. That even a brand like Victorious Secret can adapt, alter, and reclaim what confidence looks like in the modern world.