By Olivia Suh
Correspondent
Few names in the fashion industry can evoke a nostalgic feel like Victoria’s Secret. Its runway sets the standard for glamour and iconography, where supermodels become Angels and unforgettable moments become part of history.
After many fans expressed their disappointment with last year's fashion show, the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show made a dramatic comeback. The slick backs, muted tones and a loss of old-school glamour are gone. Glamorous blowouts, glossy hair and eye-catching wings are finally back.
Beneath the beauty, Victoria’s Secret made an effort to evolve, mixing its nostalgic feel with new stories of strength, inclusivity, and resilience.
The new faces owning the runway captured that balance. Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee, comedian and influencer Quen Backwell and WNBA star Angel Reese all made their Victoria’s Secret debuts, adding a sense of athleticism to a brand that the picture-perfect, skinny girls once dominated. Their presence is the brand’s effort to refine what it means to be an “Angel,” powerful, resilient and confident.
Despite these new faces making a statement, veterans brought back the old school charisma fans have been missing, closing the gap between eras.
The lives of these Angels go beyond the runway. The night was about the women behind the wings.
The night began with Jasmine Tookes, who stunned the audience by walking across the stage, nine months pregnant, her angel wings shaped like a clam shell with her baby bump as the pearl. The moment was powerful, an image of femininity, showing that beauty doesn't stop for motherhood, but blossoms with it.
Bella Hadid owned the runway despite her ongoing battle with chronic Lyme disease. Earlier this year, her mother, Yolanda Hadid, posted to Instagram showing Bella receiving treatment, writing, “You are a survivor.” When she stepped onto the runway twice, it wasn’t just a fashion moment, it was a statement of resilience.
Barbara Palvin displayed her strength by walking on a still-healing foot while also recovering from endometriosis surgery, her husband, Dylan Sprouse, mentioned to People. He watched proudly from the audience with a yellow ribbon pinned to his suit for endometriosis awareness, even spreading awareness by handing out pins to others. The couple’s subtle act of advocacy gave the glamorous night an emotional feel.
The performers handpicked for this year's Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show brought inclusivity to the picture. This show is one of the most diverse in its history.
Global K-pop phenomenon TWICE brought precision and stylish choreography, shining Korean pop culture on a stage dominated by Western acts. Karol G owned the stage with her vibrant Latin energy, celebrating the pride of Colombian culture. Madison Beer represented Gen Z’s pop on the stage, bridging modern energy with timeless glamour.
And when Missy Elliot closed the night with “Work It” and “Lose Control,” her iconic performance marked a reminder that Victoria’s Secret runway goes beyond its wings, but with the range of voices that make them fly.
As the long-awaited 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has come to an end, it’s clear that this show goes beyond reclaiming glamour — it’s about the true definition of what it means to be glamorous. The brand that once praised what they believed to be perfection now recognizes imperfection and authenticity.
