By: Nora Scarbro

Victoria Secret had their fashion showcase of pieces on October 15. This showcase had elements in the models that have never been seen on the runway of Victoria Secret. 

In the past, Victoria Secret has cultivated a specific image of femininity. They did this through promoting perfection in the bodies of their models, using women that had virtually unattainable features. The body type of these models was seen as the “ideal body,” a young, fully able-bodied woman with unreal (and thin) proportions. 

The first time Victoria secret had a plus size model walk was in 2019. That was only six years ago. 

According to USA Today, model Ali Tate Cutler posted to Instagram, “I believe I’m the first size 14 on @victoriassecret? Regardless I’m pretty stoked to work with a brand I idolized when I was a teen. Great step in the right direction for bodies.”

In the 2025, show there were roughly seven plus size looks seen in the show. This is an important improvement for both Victoria’s Secret and the fashion industry. “Fashion houses have gone back to non-diversity, just back to the typical,” senior Aly West said. 

Victoria Secret, a historically non-inclusive brand, having plus size people walk on their runway draws attention to the need for body diversity on the runway. 

However, the diversity of bodies doesn’t stop with just plus size representation. Diversity means having a wide variety of all people. In the 2025 Fashion show, Jasmine Tooks opened the show nine months pregnant. Tooks has been a model for Victoria Secret for years and using her as the opener for the show offers the mentality that women are truly beautiful in all stages of their lives. 

Another unique thing that Victoria Secret did for the 2025 show was feature WNBA star Angel Reese, a known aggressive player, and Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, known for her immense strength and athletic build.  According to the Cornell Sun, “Both graced the runway with athletic confidence.” 

Putting athletes on the Victoria’s Secret runway paints them as being beautiful and feminine, showing that their muscles and athletic builds are something worthy of being praised. Also the choice of using Angel Reese on the runway is important because it points out that women who play their sport in an assertive way can be the part of femininity. 

But diversity in the fashion industry is still a topic of conversation because truly not all bodies will ever be represented. For example, no women with physical disabilities or limb differences were seen on the Victoria Secret runway in 2025. But with this show now in the history of Victoria Secret, there is hope from viewers like me that diversity can only expand from here.