Victoria’s Secret models are known for their sexily sculpted bodies and, we get it, they’re hot.
And while these girls and the brand have every right to flaunt their hotness, the lingerie company seems to have mangled one important message: Beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes.
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A petition on change.org is gaining traction for seeking to remind Victoria’s Secret of its responsibility to release ads that are more open-minded.
Billboards have been popping up (first spotted in the U.K.) of the bra-and-panty-clad models promoting Victoria’s Secret’s new line of the “Perfect Body” bra. “Perfect fit. Perfect comfort. Perfectly soft,” the ad promises.
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Now, ladies of all shapes and sizes are calling out the brand for being narrow-minded in its vision of what is “perfect” by pairing that word with only ladies who have about 0 percent body fat.
Why are WE not a part of this @VictoriasSecret campaign? Big #BrandFail
Say it w me #smgirlfriends ~ #IAmPerfectpic.twitter.com/pcTClPZyiE
— Dabney (@DabneyPorte) October 30, 2014
Nobody & no "body" is perfect. We are all unique & unrepeatable, worthy of respect. http://t.co/SIITzmxsjU#iamperfect
— Leah Darrow (@leahdarrow) October 30, 2014
Critics are saying it’s not about the images. It’s about the choice of words.
Now, we definitely don’t think Victoria’s Secret meant for the ad to read as, “This is the only acceptable version of perfect.” We don’t believe there was malicious intent at all. In fact, we think they were just trying to show off their new bra, but because the perceived message is different from the intended one, the lingerie line now has a problem.
And we are all for this discussion. Not because it criticizes Victoria’s Secret, but because it’s important to realize our society’s ideals of beauty shouldn’t be taken at face value. We should be analyzing the media we see around us and constantly seeking to improve our gender expectations.
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But we don’t think this discussion should spur a witch hunt.
Let’s not call this a fail for Victoria’s Secret. Let’s call it a discussion aiming to correct our society’s preconceived notions of beauty. Hopefully, the discussion will lead to more forward thinking on Victoria’s Secret’s part in the future. But just like Calvin Klein underwear billboards wouldn’t be true to the brand without some perfectly chiseled abs, Victoria’s Secret has built a brand around thin, statuesque ladies. Is that right or is that wrong? Well, neither in my book. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t due for some serious shifts in the way we perceive advertisements.
I love this petition, not because it wants to bring Victoria’s Secret down, but because it represents a society that isn’t full of passive bystanders in the world of media and branding. We are being observant consumers, which is amazing and will surely lead to positive change.
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