For years, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was the most glamorous event in modeling — glitter, diamonds, and impossibly perfect women strutting like angels. But beneath the fantasy was a deeply toxic culture that finally crumbled under truth.
Here’s what really happened behind the runway — the stories of manipulation, abuse, racism, and rebellion that brought the empire to its knees.
🧨 1. Les Wexner & Jeffrey Epstein: The Connection That Shook the Industry
Les Wexner, the billionaire behind Victoria’s Secret, had close personal and financial ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Epstein reportedly posed as a Victoria’s Secret scout to lure young women.
Former model Alicia Arden claimed Epstein assaulted her during a “casting call”.
Wexner later claimed he was "deceived" — but critics asked: how could such access go unnoticed for years?
This scandal triggered a massive public backlash — and exposed just how vulnerable the models were.
🧠 2. Mental Health Crisis: “Angels Are Dying Inside”
Models were pushed to achieve unrealistic body standards — often dangerously thin, on extreme diets, overtraining, and even using drugs to stay lean.
Former Angel Erin Heatherton revealed she was pressured to lose more weight despite already being underweight.
Many models later confessed they suffered from eating disorders, depression, and anxiety during their time with VS.
> “I felt like I was dying inside — smiling on stage, but broken backstage.” – Anonymous former model
💄 3. No Size Inclusivity: The Brand That Refused to Evolve
While the rest of fashion moved toward diversity, Victoria’s Secret doubled down on outdated ideals:
No plus-size or transgender models
Chief marketing officer Ed Razek once said transgender models "don’t fit the fantasy"
He also said that plus-size women didn’t belong in the show because “no one had any interest in it”
🔥 That interview ignited a public boycott, and top models began publicly distancing themselves from the brand.
🕵️♀️ 4. Workplace Harassment & Misogyny
- A 2020 New York Times exposé revealed a pattern of:
- Sexual harassment by top executives
- Models and employees being subjected to inappropriate comments and touching
- A culture where speaking up meant losing your career
- Several former Angels claimed they were "groomed, gaslit, and silenced."
🔥 5. The Fall of the Angels
The very women who made the brand iconic — Tyra Banks, Gisele Bündchen, Adriana Lima, Karlie Kloss, and Doutzen Kroes — all eventually walked away.
- Gisele left due to anxiety and the pressure to stay thin
- Karlie Kloss said the brand no longer aligned with her feminist values
- Doutzen quit modeling completely, saying she had “lost connection to her soul”
The fantasy had become a prison, even for its biggest stars.
🕊️ 6. Rihanna Changed the Game
In 2018, Rihanna launched Savage x Fenty — an inclusive, bold, and empowering lingerie show featuring:
- Women of all sizes and skin tones
- LGBTQ+ representation
- Models with disabilities and different body types
- VS tried to catch up — but it was too little, too late.
📉 7. The Collapse: What Happened Next
- 2019: The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was officially cancelled after 24 years
- 2020: Wexner stepped down amid Epstein scrutiny
- 2021: The brand rebranded with non-supermodel ambassadors, but failed to recapture its glory
- 2023: The “VS Collective” was quietly dissolved, and the show’s return flopped
👋 Once a billion-dollar dream, Victoria’s Secret became a cautionary tale.
💬 Final Words
Behind the wings were women who were weighed, watched, and worn down.
The truth wasn’t sexy — it was suffocating.
But now, their voices are being heard.
The age of silent angels is over.
And the truth? It walks with power, not heels.
📢 Coming Soon on Behind Celeb:
“Where Are the Victoria’s Secret Angels Now?”
“The Rise of Savage x Fenty and the New Rules of Lingerie”
“How Models Fought Back: The Women Who Exposed the Industry”
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