Angel vs. Savage: How Rihanna Changed the Lingerie Game Forever

For decades, Victoria’s Secret Angels ruled the lingerie world — thin, tall, flawless women parading down glitter-drenched runways. But in 2018, Rihanna launched Savage X Fenty, and everything changed.

This wasn’t just a new brand.

It was a movement.

And it exposed just how outdated and exclusionary the Victoria’s Secret empire had become.

👑 Victoria’s Secret: The Old Fantasy

1. Built on an exclusive image: thin, white, and hyper-sexualized
2. No plus-size, trans, or disabled representation for years
3. Annual fashion shows were male-gaze-heavy and lacked authenticity
4. Top execs, including Ed Razek, refused to cast diverse models:

> “Trans women don’t belong in the show. Plus-size doesn’t sell.”

For many, it was a dream.

But for most? It was a closed door.

💥 Enter Rihanna: Savage X Fenty Is Born

1. In 2018, Rihanna dropped Savage X Fenty, and she didn’t just make bras — she made a statement:
2. Models of all sizes, shades, identities, and abilities
3. LGBTQ+ performers, pregnant women, and trans models
4. Real bodies, real stretch marks, real people
5. Runway shows fused fashion, music, and empowerment

📺 Savage X Fenty's runway specials on Amazon Prime became must-watch events, outshining VS’s once-beloved show.

🔥 What Rihanna Did Right (That VS Never Did)

Savage X Fenty Victoria’s Secret

1. Body-inclusive sizing (XS to 4X+) Mostly sample size models
2. Trans & non-binary models Publicly excluded them
3. Disability representation None
4. Cultural celebration Cultural appropriation
5. Empowerment focus Male fantasy focus
6. Modern marketing (TikTok, influencers) Outdated ads, TV shows

Rihanna made lingerie for the people, not the pedestal.

She gave every body type permission to feel sexy.

😳 Victoria’s Secret Tried to Catch Up — And Failed

1. After backlash, VS created the "VS Collective" in 2021 with Megan Rapinoe, Priyanka Chopra, etc.
2. Rebranded shows without the Angels
3. But audiences didn’t buy it — the damage was done
4. By 2023, the Collective was silently disbanded

💔 What Rihanna built with authenticity, VS tried to fake — and failed.

📈 The Numbers Don’t Lie

1. Savage X Fenty hit $3 billion valuation within just 4 years
2. It consistently outsells older lingerie brands online
3. Rihanna herself became the youngest self-made female billionaire (largely due to Fenty Beauty & Savage X)

👗 The girl from Barbados didn’t just beat VS — she buried it.

👏 Rihanna’s Legacy: Inclusivity Is Here to Stay

1. Influencers and brands now must include all body types
2. Other lingerie lines like SKIMS (Kim Kardashian) and Parade followed her lead
3. The fashion industry finally began hiring real, relatable models
4. Rihanna proved that empowerment sells better than exclusion.

💬 Final Words

Victoria’s Secret gave us angels.

Rihanna gave us ourselves.

Because sexy doesn’t belong to a size, shape, or standard.

It belongs to whoever chooses to feel it.

📢 Coming Soon on Behind Celeb:

• “The Last VS Show: Inside the Final Curtain Call”
• “Top Models Who Now Work With Savage X Fenty”
• “Lingerie Wars: SKIMS vs. Savage X — Who's Winning Now?”