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VICTORIA'S SECRET'S BODY IMAGE ISSUES

VICTORIA'S SECRET'S BODY IMAGE PROBLEMS:
Even though this company has made a name for themselves and created a marketing campaign by hoisting up breasts and covering derrieres, Victoria's Secret has not been very keen on majority the population of women's body types. Their distorted view of body image is covered up by their main marketing weapon - the Victoria's Secret Angels. This started from the supermodel-obsessed 90's when in 1997 the first lot of Angels was unveiled, including Helena Christensen, Tyra Banks and Karen Mulder. Now over two decades later the brand has not grown as it should have with society. Things are different to what they were so long ago and body image has changed meaning Victoria's Secret Angels and the concept of it has become outdated. 


The company managed to cause online rage with their 'The Perfect Body' campaign, the tagline was a play on the name of their lingerie line 'Body' but was illustrated with 10 models that all had the same tall, ultra-lean and busty physique. No attempt at body diversity was made within this campaign and in addition, the clear suggestion of the perfect body for women was the bodies that the unnatural sized models have (and also implying that any bodies different to these were not perfect'. Due to the results of those model's bodies were down to good genes and hard work (and in addition, goals and issues that are impossible to meet) it was offensive to the public eye that they were intereperating that women that didn't share their exact bodies and measurements were somehow 'imperfect'. 


The company then tried to bounce back from their mistake by releasing silly videos of the VS angels discussing their own body image trials and tribulations. VS model Sara Sampaio appeared in a video titled 'Know Your Body' that was put up on the brand's Instagram account. In the clip she says: "If I put a picture of Candice Swanepoel and like I want to have that body, not in a million years I'm going to have that body because my bone structure is not built like her amazing...". On Jezebel under the title 'Helpful Victoria's Secret Reminder: Even Models Hate Themselves', Erin Gloria Ryan analysed the stunt writing and said: "The video is packaged as though it's supposed to encourage women to accept and love themselves, but it's really just one model talking about how another model is so totally sexy in an unobtainable way." It is a very strange way to embrace body positivity as i as if she is saying it is so hard to not be able to have THAT Victoria's Secret model's body when she already has a Victoria's Secret body as she is one of their models. She has since explained on her Facebook page that she does not hate herself and she admires all women's different bodies, not only Candice's.

If I were to include the body image issue into my report, I would highly advise them to diversify their Victoria's Secret angels in order to catch the eye of members of the public as an inclusive and equal brand rather than only really promoting one type of women and body. Even though the VS angels annual and seasonal fashion shows are very popular and entertaining to watch, it may be an idea for them to get rid of it completely and start something new so it is completely diverse and people don't remember the VS angels as something that was once unequal and not inclusive.

References:
1. https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/victorias-secret-has-a-body-image-problem-20141119-11pyqh.html

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