I'm Loving Angels Again: The Return of Victoria's Secret Runway Show

It’s 2025 and the Victoria’s Secret fashion show is back and better than ever in New York City. With new designs and new music, and the return of our iconic original angels. Models such as Adriana Lima and Candice Swanepoel are back on our screens and fans couldn’t be happier.

Fashion in 2025 appears to be all about breaking down traditional barriers. From the size 4 models emblematic of the 2000s, to now showcasing all different types of models. One of our original angels, Jasmine Tookes, opened the show in a shimmering dress and wings, being the first black, pregnant woman to do so! The show has made an effort to be more inclusive since 2019, after their chief marketing officer was revealed to have said transphobic and fatphobic comments. Yet this year, we’ve noticed inclusions of transgender women such as Alex Consani, as well as athletes such as Suni Lee. This is the first year of the show to have ever showcased an athlete. Could this be the year of changing social barriers? When the show first began it was all about seeing models on our screens who looked unattainable, yet today we see people we can relate to; people who look like we do, and a great attempt at creating healthy beauty standards for young women.

Is the Victoria’s secret runway evolving? The show featured designs from lingerie, loungewear, and streetwear. Models such as Jude Law, showcased part of the ‘Pink’ segment wearing an all-black outfit in a beanie and booty shorts, taking on an edgier look to represent individuality. In comparison to Gigi Hadid, who showcased the Victoria’s Secret designs of lingerie and elegant, glamourous wings, keeping the nostalgia of earlier shows for returning fans. More designs incorporated comfier looks such as hoodies and joggers, designed for all body types, reflecting a more contemporary aesthetic. The show this year has attempted to incorporate designs that portray individuality rather than just the extravagant, glamorous designs. The show this year seemed to divert some designs from female hypersexuality to personal identity and expression as the show began to showcase more modest clothing. This reflects how a new generation has created a fashion evolution of less performative and more authentic.

This year not only did the runway showcase these fabulous models, but they also created a fun atmosphere through singers. In 2025, Madison Beer, Missy Elliot, TWICE, and Karol G all performed well- known original songs, further creating more inclusivity – with Spanish songs from Karol G as well as Korean songs from the K pop girl group making an appearance. The show often gave the models a rest from strutting the runway, yet the energy was kept high as the audience was gifted with performances and dance breaks. Not only this but, some of the singers such as Madison Beer created a new ‘bit’ to the show’s legacy as she walked the runway after her performance in elegant, pink wings, blurring the lines between the models and the singers.

This year’s show was all about inclusivity, diversity, and a fresh outlook on fashion. It broke boundaries through Jasmine Tookes walking whilst pregnant, as well as singers walking the runway. The show embraced the new generations outlook on beauty standards and designs and broke down the barriers of the intense pressure on women’s bodies. Has Victoria’s Secret changed its brand? Where the fans happy with these changes or did it simply not feel the same?

Words by Olivia Carolan