
The Victoria's Secret backlash shows no signs of slowing down. Over the weekend, protestors stripped down to their underwear inside one of the lingerie giant's London stores.
The participants, who dubbed themselves "the fallen angels," were a diverse group of women from all walks of life. They carried signs, chanted "Fashion has failed us!" and made a powerful plea for diversity across all brands — although Victoria's Secret was their original target.
Last month, after the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was filmed, the chief marketing officer of L Brands (the parent company of VS), Ed Razek, said some controversial things about plus-size and transgender women. Razek told Vogue that the show doesn't intend on becoming more diverse because the show is a "fantasy," and clearly, women who don't fit the stereotypical VS mold are not desirable.
Razek offered a half-hearted apology, but it was too late. The brand has been struggling for some time, partially due to its refusal to evolve, but these comments were the last straw for many. The backlash doesn't seem to be slowing down.
Please read this important message from Ed Razek, Chief Marketing Officer, L Brands (parent company of Victoria’s Secret). pic.twitter.com/CW8BztmOaM
— Victoria's Secret (@VictoriasSecret) November 10, 2018
Over the weekend, Love Disfigure, an advocacy group calling for more diversity across industries, and Nunude, a clothing brand sharing the same values, teamed up to demand equal representation and visibility of all different body types across the fashion industry, starting with the VS runway.
A post shared by Love Disfigure (@love_disfigure) on
A group of brave women of all different shapes, sizes, and skin and health conditions marched inside the Victoria's Secret store on London's Oxford Street, stripped down to their skivvies (provided by Nunude), and made their voices heard.
A post shared by Love Disfigure (@love_disfigure) on
"Fashion has failed us!" the group chanted as they walked through the store.
Disrupting the streets today! Nünude diverse brand and @LoveDisfigure took over @VictoriasSecret ❤️ @MetroUK @Independent @EveningStandard pic.twitter.com/ufAg3hpF24
— Nünude (@nunude_official) December 6, 2018
The women carried signs reading "We want diversity for all brands," "Our bodies matter too," and "Fighting for equality at Victoria’s Secret," among others. People in the streets cheered and clapped as they marched, one protester noted.
A post shared by N Ü N U D E - Skin Is Nude (@nunude_official) on
Child burn survivor Sylvia Mac, founder of Love Disfigure, took to her Instagram to explain the cause. "We have become so used to seeing one body image that we find it difficult to open up our minds to want to see others. We are representing EVERY BODY TYPE regardless of Age, Ethnicity, Disfigurement, Disability, Differences, Sexual Orientation, Gender, and most importantly SIZE. Open your Eyes and Heart to Change. Our children are suffering because of it."
A post shared by Love Disfigure (@love_disfigure) on
Both brands posted photos from the protest on social media and received a ton of support.
This ???????? photo ???????? is ???????? everything ???????? fuck @VictoriasSecret this shit is dope. https://t.co/6mQC3cbg3k
— Emma Wood (@emalemxo) December 7, 2018
"Hats (and clothes) off to @LoveDisfigure and her 'Fallen Angels'" one supporter said, adding that the Victoria's Secret fashion show "depicts a largely unattainable image of beauty."
Hats (and clothes off) to @LoveDisfigure & her “Fallen Angels” who disrobed outside Victoria’s Secret, during the same week of the show which depicts a largely unattainable image of beauty, to call for the Fashion Industry to be more diverse & inclusive.
— School of Strut (@SchoolofStrut) December 7, 2018
???????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/lWyt715laK
But where there is joy and acceptance, there is always someone trying to steal that joy.
This world we live in are unable to open their eyes to Diverse Bodies. Some of the very disgusting comments online made me realise what a struggle we have to change that. What they didn’t notice were we have scars, health & skin conditions along with different sizes & shapes ???? https://t.co/ITh1xHZzcO
— Love Disfigure (@LoveDisfigure) December 7, 2018
Some people, sadly, missed the point entirely. It's a shame.
A post shared by N Ü N U D E - Skin Is Nude (@nunude_official) on
SMH.
Just getting annoying now! This has always been Victoria Secret’s brand & they don’t HAVE to change it. There’s lots of brands who only cater for curvier/plus size women. If a group of size 4-10 women stood outside a store that specialised in plus sizes they wouldn’t get praised pic.twitter.com/5BOhf0SvgH
— Rebecca (@Rbcabeatrice) December 7, 2018
Some are still under the (false) impression that plus-size women are just "lazy" and that there are "plenty of companies" out there who cater to them. Sigh.
Victoria secret use slim models. Always have, always will. It’s their brand. They don’t have to accommodate overweight and lazy people. It wouldn’t sell! There’s plenty of companies who just sell plus sized clothes... you don’t see slim people moaning or protesting about that!
— Jess (@jessicapink1985) December 9, 2018
But one Twitter user put it bluntly for those who were missing the point: Companies like Victoria's Secret fail to represent its wide and diverse customer base. These brands are not blind to diversity, but they are deliberately dismissing it in order to push their limited and ignorant perception of beauty.
They will take plus-size money, but won't take plus-size image
— CIVIL . . . (@UGonaLearn) December 10, 2018
The thing is, in 2018, that's not what women want. We want to see glimpses of ourselves — and all our "flaws" — in the brands we love. There are a few doing this right, like Savage x Fenty, Aerie, ThirdLove, and, of course, NuNude, one of the powerful protesting brands.
A post shared by N Ü N U D E - Skin Is Nude (@nunude_official) on
Is Victoria's Secret obligated to change its ways? No. But why should we, as empowered women, continually support a brand who doesn't support all of us as we are?

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