Victoria's Secret fashion show makes comeback with 2 trans models strutting down the runway after misogyny allegations

The Victoria's Secret fashion show is back after having cancelled itself in 2019 over claims they were presenting unrealistic views of women, only now two men were the first to strut their stuff in angels' wings, bows, bras and bikini underwear. The fashion brand that had complained about being too wrapped up in the male gaze has now embraced it fully with trans-identified male models parading as women and eating up that gaze for themselves.

The two super models, Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio "made history" Women's Wear Daily reports, when they strutted and sashayed down the runway on Tuesday at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Consani leaned into the history-making aspect of the runway walk, saying "I’m trans, and I think it’s really important to have people like me on the runway being perceived as beautiful, and especially in a setting like this that’s always been very cis-oriented, it’s important to be bringing in a lot of different types of people and I’m just grateful that I was thought of, you know in that community."

Women's Wear Daily praised Consani's look, saying that "the model, who moonlights as an internet personality, was a a bombshell in a shimmering silver set paired with plush, padded angel wings." Sampaio, they write, "was stunning in an inky navy look." Sampaio was also the first trans-identified male to model for the iconic women's brand. Another trans mode, Emira D'Spain, was also on hand, and while not on the runway, did attend "in an all-black lingerie ensemble from the brand."

What in 2020 was reported by The New York Times as a "culture of misogyny, bullying and harassment" has now shifted entirely, Women's Wear Daily reports, saying that executive vice president of marketing Sarah Sylvester told the outlet that the iconic brand had pushed diversity, equity and inclusion "in everything they do, from the runway to corporate culture." 

The 2024 show was the first one back for Victoria's Secret after they stopped the show over claims they were not doing enough for the women they serve, as in their customers. All of the headlines out on Wednesday after the Tuesday show were about the males who wore women's lingerie in an "historic" moment of inclusion. The only ones who were not particularly included were women. It's unclear what percentage of Victoria's Secret customers are men buying lingerie to wear themselves, but perhaps Victoria's Secret is looking to expand that market.

Cher performed during the show, which featured Tyra Banks and Kate Moss along with plus-sized model Ashley Graham. The show was on hiatus for five years while they "revamped."