Victoria's Secret, you can't sit with us

Oh, Victoria's Secret, you've done it again. Just when we thought you were turning over a new leaf, embracing the beauty of diversity and body positivity, you've reverted to your old ways. It's like watching a rerun of a bad '90s sitcom—except this isn't funny.

The context

Let's recap, shall we? A couple of years ago, Victoria's Secret decided to “rebrand” by including a more diverse range of models. They even went so far as to call them 'The VS Collective,' which sounded like a group of superheroes fighting for justice, equality, and the right to wear lingerie without feeling like a stuffed sausage. We were all cautiously optimistic. Could it be? Had the brand that once epitomized unattainable beauty standards finally seen the light?

Nope.

Fast forward to now, and they've announced a return to their original fashion show format, featuring the same old, same old—skinny models in skimpy lingerie, strutting down the runway as if they're on a conveyor belt of homogenised beauty. Why? Because their sales have plummeted. It turns out that their 'inclusive' rebranding was nothing more than a PR exercise, a desperate attempt to stay relevant in a world that's increasingly saying, “We're not buying what you're selling.” Literally.

Let me be clear: There's nothing wrong with being skinny. But there's everything wrong with a brand that has built its empire on the notion that there's only one way to be beautiful or desirable. I grew up in the era of the original Victoria's Secret Angels—women so ethereal and otherworldly that they might as well have been holograms. As a young girl flipping through glossy magazines, I couldn't help but compare myself to these Angels. And let me tell you, when you're an awkward teenager with low self-esteem, those comparisons are as toxic as expired mascara. I spent years thinking that my worth was directly proportional to the flatness of my stomach. And I know I wasn't alone.

Recent rebranding

So, when Victoria's Secret announced their rebranding, it felt like a win. It felt like progress. It felt like maybe, just maybe, the next generation of young women wouldn't have to grow up with the same damaging messages that we did.

But alas, it was all smoke and mirrors. Or should I say, #MindOverMirror. The truth is, Victoria's Secret never really cared about inclusivity or body positivity. If they did, they wouldn't have abandoned their new direction faster than you can say 'push-up bra.' They were simply trying to cash in on a cultural movement, without doing any of the hard work that true change requires. It's like showing up to a potluck with a bag of chips and then complaining that no one appreciates your 'contribution.' Sorry, Victoria's Secret, but you can't just sprinkle a few plus-size models into your catalogue and call it a day. That's not how this works.

Inclusivity isn't a trend; it's a fundamental shift in how we see and value each other. And it's a shift that's long overdue. We're tired of brands that treat diversity like it's a box to be checked, rather than a reflection of the world we actually live in. We're tired of empty gestures and performative allyship. We're tired of being told that we should be grateful for crumbs when we deserve the whole damn cake. So, Victoria's Secret, go ahead and return to your original fashion show format. Go ahead and ignore the millions of women who don't fit into your narrow definition of beauty. But know this: We're not going anywhere. Our bodies, our rules. And if you're not with us, you're against us.

The missing middle

Have you ever noticed that when it comes to representation, it's always the extremes that get the spotlight? I mean, Victoria's Secret will throw in a skinny model who looks like she's been on a diet of smoothies and air, and then they'll add a plus-size model as if to say, “See? We're inclusive.” But what about the rest of us? What about the women who fall somewhere in between? You know, the majority of women. Where's our Angel, Victoria's Secret who wears a size 8, 10, or 12?

It's like going to a party where they only serve champagne and cheap beer, and you're standing there wondering, “Hey, what about a nice glass of Chardonnay?” Not all of us are living on the fringes of the size chart, people. Most of us are smack dab in the middle, navigating the complexities of muffin tops and love handles, without the luxury of a personal trainer to smooth out our lumps and bumps. And let's be clear: this isn't just a Victoria's Secret problem; it's an industry-wide issue. But since Victoria's Secret is the self-appointed arbiter of what's hot, they bear a special responsibility. They're like the popular girl in high school who sets the trends—everyone else just follows suit. So when they ignore mid-sized women, it sends a message that trickles down to the rest of the fashion world: “You're not worth representing.”

Why is that? Why ignore the majority of women who don't fit into the narrow categories of 'skinny' or 'plus-size'? Is it because we're not glamorous enough? Not newsworthy enough? If the media can make us believe that a group of nerdy kids can fight off a Demogorgon in Stranger Things, then surely they can make us believe that a mid-sized woman is worth celebrating. So here's my plea to Victoria's Secret and the rest of the fashion industry: Stop treating mid-sized women like we're the invisible middle child of the body diversity family. We're not asking for a parade. We're just asking to be seen, to be represented, to be acknowledged as the majority that we are.

Because at the end of the day, representation matters. And it's not just about seeing someone who looks like you on a billboard or in a magazine. It's about feeling seen, feeling valued, and feeling like you belong. And isn't that what we all want, deep down? To feel like we're enough, just as we are? So let's make room for the middle. Let's celebrate the average, the ordinary, the 'good enough.' Because in a world that's constantly telling us we need to be more—more beautiful, more successful, more everything—it's time to say, “Actually, I'm pretty great just the way I am.” That is what my campaign #MindOverMirror is about, because the real majority deserves a seat at the table.

What's a girl to do?

Well, first of all, let's stop treating these beauty standards like they're the Ten Commandments and more like what they really are: suggestions from a really bad advice column. Challenge them. Question them.

Support brands and media that actually reflect what real women look like. And I don't mean "real women" as in, "only women who fit my personal definition of what a woman should be." I mean all women. Because whether you're a size 2 or a size 22, whether you're rocking a hijab or a buzz cut, you deserve to see yourself represented.

And lastly, let's be kind to ourselves. I know, it sounds corny, but seriously, if we can't be our own biggest cheerleaders, then who will be?

So the next time you look in the mirror and start to think you're not enough, just remember: You're quirky, you're flawed, and you might have a slight addiction to night bingeing. But you're also pretty darn awesome, just the way you are.

#MindOverMirror, people. Let's make it a thing.