Victoria's Secret 2024: Glamour, stars, and the struggle to stay relevant

The 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show wasn’t just a trip down memory lane—it was a full-blown time warp, complete with angel wings, iconic models, and a trifecta of stars: Cher, Tyla, and BLACKPINK’s Lisa. It’s like they tried to hit every demographic checkbox—Asian pop sensation? Check. Legendary voice of the past? Check. African representation? Check. But when you're aiming at every target, you risk missing the bullseye. The brand, once synonymous with a very narrow definition of "sexy," now finds itself in a tug-of-war with its identity. Sure, it was glitter and glamour at first glance, but scratch the surface, and you’ll see Victoria’s Secret grappling to figure out what "sexy" means in a world that has long since evolved beyond their 2000s-era fantasy.

Let’s face it: Victoria’s Secret was always about selling a dream—one that came wrapped in lace and impossibly small waistlines. Back in the early 2000s, that dream was tall, skinny, and blonde. Buy a push-up bra, and voilà, sexy was yours. But in 2024, sexy has had a major glow-up. It’s about confidence, inclusivity, and embracing your uniqueness. Savage X Fenty has already rewrote the rules with its fierce, unapologetic diversity. So the big question is, where exactly does that leave Victoria's Secret? Caught between lost translation and the chaos of a rebranding identity crisis?

And it’s not just about the faces on the runway; it’s the why behind them. Victoria’s Secret seems to be throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. You’ve got the past (Cher), the present (Tyla), and the future (Lisa), but in trying to cater to everyone, they’re losing that razor-sharp edge they once had. It's like trying to make a three-course meal out of nostalgia and buzzwords, but what you end up with is a buffet where nothing quite satisfies. Sure, Cher brings the legacy, Tyla brings the up-and-coming energy, and Lisa’s got the K-pop cool factor to hook the younger crowd, but where’s the cohesive narrative? It’s all glitz and glamour on the outside, but inside, Victoria’s Secret is still searching for that modern "it factor"—and no amount of celebrity power can fill that gap if the brand doesn't figure out what it stands for in 2024.

Cher, Tyla, and Lisa from BLACKPINK on the same stage? That's a triple threat. Cher’s timeless cool, Tyla’s rising star status and Lisa’s K-pop superstar power make for a killer show on paper. But while these names bring in fans and add a fresh twist, the bigger question is: what does this say about Victoria’s Secret’s brand?

The blend of nostalgia (hello, Tyra Banks and Alessandra Ambrosio) with modern stars feels like a patchwork attempt to please everyone. It’s almost as if the brand is trying to relive its past while giving a nod to today’s cultural shifts. But in doing so, it risks diluting its message. Does Victoria's Secret want to celebrate diverse beauty and self-confidence, or is it just putting old ideals in new packaging? Bringing in Lisa might make the younger crowd swoon, but without a strong, clear narrative, it feels like more of a marketing ploy than a genuine shift in brand ethos.

But let’s not forget the fresh faces—newer names like Paloma Elsesser, who made history as the first plus-size model on the VS runway. Models like her, alongside younger stars like Mayowa Nicholas and Devyn Garcia, represent the shift Victoria’s Secret is trying to make. These women bring much-needed diversity to the brand’s once-narrow vision of beauty. But again, it feels like VS is playing catch-up rather than leading the charge. They’ve invited these fresh faces, but without a clear direction, the message gets lost in translation. Are they here to celebrate real change, or just to tick off the “diversity” box? It’s a step forward, sure, but a tentative one—like they’re dipping a toe into the waters of inclusivity rather than fully committing to the dive.

The Glamour Factor: What worked

One thing's for sure: no one does spectacle quite like Victoria's Secret. The runway was a feast for the eyes, a fusion of shimmering fabrics, intricate wings, and jaw-dropping performances. Seeing icons like Cher command the stage with her effortless presence was a high point. The show itself was fun, glamorous, and everything we expect from VS on the surface.

But the shine wears off quickly if there’s no substance underneath. Victoria's Secret has been caught between its aspirational image of yesteryear and today’s more grounded and inclusive ideals. Sure, the angels are back, but the question remains: are they still relevant?

And let’s be honest, Victoria’s Secret still knows how to throw glitter in your eyes—literally. But while we’re marveling at the spectacle, the bigger question is: is it all just sparkle without soul? The feathers and wings might catch the spotlight, but once they fade, what's left? It’s like serving a gorgeous three-tier cake that crumbles the moment you take a bite. Sure, it looks great on Instagram, but does it actually satisfy? Victoria's Secret is teetering on a tightrope between its iconic past and the demands of today’s more thoughtful, inclusive market. And as fabulous as the show was, without a deeper connection to the audience, all that glitter risks becoming just another shiny distraction.

What Fell Flat: An identity crisis in lingerie

Victoria’s Secret may be trying to update its image, but let’s face it—it’s still relying heavily on its old formula: tall, slim supermodels, albeit with a few new faces. Paloma Elsesser, the first plus-size model on the VS runway, was a step in the right direction, but without a strong, cohesive story to back it up, it felt like a token gesture rather than a genuine effort to redefine beauty.

Meanwhile, competitors like Savage X Fenty are showing what inclusivity really looks like—body diversity that isn’t just for show but woven into the very fabric (pun intended) of their brand DNA. Victoria's Secret is still playing catch-up, and while the 2024 show made some progress, it didn’t quite hit the mark. They need more than a few diverse models; they need to rethink what sexy really means in today’s world.

And here’s the thing: throwing in a few diverse models doesn’t automatically make Victoria’s Secret a champion of body positivity. It’s like slapping a new coat of paint on an old building and calling it a renovation. Sure, Paloma Elsesser strutting the runway was a powerful moment, but it’s going to take a lot more than a few well-placed “firsts” to change the brand’s DNA. They need to walk the talk—literally and figuratively. Right now, it feels like they’re putting a Band-Aid on a branding crisis that needs way more than surface-level changes. It’s not enough to sprinkle a little diversity here and there; inclusivity needs to be stitched into the very fabric (yes, pun intended) of the brand.

The Bottom Line: What’s next for VS?

Victoria’s Secret still has the power to captivate, but it needs to evolve beyond the glitter and nostalgia. The 2024 show was a fun trip down memory lane with flashes of modernity, but if the brand wants to stay relevant, it has to fully embrace what sexy looks like in 2024. And spoiler alert: it’s way more than just angel wings and lace.

But here’s the wake-up call: Victoria's Secret can’t keep tiptoeing around its legacy. Either they fully commit to evolving with the times, or they risk becoming a relic of the past, dusted off and trotted out with a bit more glitter. The reality is, that today’s consumer isn’t just buying lingerie—they’re buying into a story, a movement, an identity. And if VS wants to keep up, it needs to stop clinging to the ghosts of runways past and start weaving a narrative that speaks to real women today. The runway may have been a spectacle, but if the brand can’t redefine sexy in a way that’s meaningful, it’ll be left chasing a dream that no longer exists.

Going back in time? Impossible—and thank goodness! We’ve already seen that beauty isn’t a one-size-fits-all fairytale, and the future is way more stylish than the past ever was.