The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, after a six-year hiatus, held at the Duggal Greenhouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City. The event featured a mix of veteran Angels and new faces, with Gigi Hadid opening the runway and Bella Hadid closing it, while Blackpink’s Lisa became the first K-pop artist to perform at the show.
The live-streamed event marked the brand’s most visible attempt to rebrand following controversy and declining ratings. Approximately 50 models from 25 countries walked the runway, with performers including Lisa, Tyla, and Cher forming the show’s first all-female musical lineup.
Gigi Hadid Opens the Show
Gigi Hadid opened the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in a satin pink bodysuit with a plunging neckline, gathered waist detailing, and crystal embellishments. She wore oversized feathered angel wings in a soaring, ethereal design and René Caovilla heels.
The model, 29, made her fourth appearance for the brand and her first since 2018. Her short blonde hair was styled in a bob tucked behind her ears, and she wore silver hoop earrings. As she walked, the screen behind her displayed the words ‘We are back’.
Bella Hadid Closes in Red
Bella Hadid made a surprise return to the runway after a two-year modeling hiatus, closing the show in a lacy ruby bra and underwear set beneath an ombré feather floor-length coat. The 28-year-old model paired the red-hot look with strappy heeled sandals featuring wraparound straps and fringe detailing in matching red.
Hadid styled her hair in a straight, middle-part bob with red tones. Her appearance marked her first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show since 2018 and her fourth time walking for the brand.
Lisa’s Historic Performance and Archive Look
Blackpink’s Lisa opened the show with a performance of her solo hit ‘Rockstar,’ wearing a moto-inspired two-piece leather ensemble with a chain bolero made of soda can tabs and a black belt with silver trim reading ‘LISA’. She later returned to perform ‘Moonlit Floor’ in a sheer lace cutout bodysuit covered in floral appliqués, paired with gold leaf-shaped wings.
For her pink carpet appearance before the show, Lisa wore a look pulled directly from the Victoria’s Secret archive—a sheer black cape embroidered with stars, a moon, and galaxies, originally worn by Taylor Hill at the 2018 show. Lisa adapted the look with suede shorts and black heeled sandals instead of the original lingerie set and booties.
Lisa is the first K-pop artist to perform at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Her performance reportedly attracted 2 million viewers worldwide, though some camera angles showed limited applause from the live audience during her opening number.
Veteran Angels and Historic Firsts
Tyra Banks closed the show in a corseted jumpsuit with a metallic cape, marking her 10th Victoria’s Secret show. Adriana Lima returned for her 19th show at age 43, wearing a layered plaid ensemble with tiered reflective wings.
Kate Moss walked in a sheer black lace dress with miniature feather wings, moments after her daughter Lila Moss made her Victoria’s Secret debut. Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio became the first openly transgender women to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway.
Ashley Graham made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut in a black lace bodysuit and wings adorned with gold stars. Paloma Elsesser wore a baby pink slip dress with heart-shaped wings.
Inclusivity and Rebranding Efforts
The 2024 show featured a multi-racial, multi-size, and multi-generational cast in what Victoria’s Secret described as an effort to reflect ‘who we are today’ as a brand. The show was canceled in 2019 following declining viewership and accusations of sexism, ageism, and a lack of inclusivity.
Sarah Sylvester, Victoria’s Secret executive vice president of marketing, said the show acknowledged ‘the parts of our DNA that we love and that are important to us, and realizing that we also are able to evolve and be more modern and more inclusive’.
Janie Schaffer, the brand’s chief design and creative officer, said when asked whether the show was a way to address negative headlines since 2019: ‘Yes, in short, absolutely.’ She added that ‘our customer is crying out for the show’.
Reception and Ratings
The show streamed live on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and social media platforms. Early reports indicated the livestream drew over 10 million viewers across platforms.
Some viewers criticized the production on social media, with complaints about the show lacking the scale and excitement of its peak years. One viewer comment cited by the Daily Mail described it as ‘the most disappointing, boring show ever’.
Celebrity stylist Law Roach, who attended the event, said of the brand’s attempted rebrand: ‘I think it is a work in progress, right? It is a good start.’
Victoria’s Secret reported $6.2 billion in revenue in 2023, down from a high of $7.8 billion in 2016.
