Growing up, I considered the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to be something extraordinary; it was my Super Bowl. The sparkly runways, blowouts, angel wings, gorgeous outfits and beautiful models created a production I always admired. Watching the models strut in their themed outfits felt like entering a different, magical world. The anticipation of finding out which model would wear the Fantasy Bra was like waiting to see which teams would make it to the World Series. This was all before the show was canceled in 2019 and revived five years later. The 2024 comeback show received a lot of criticism; it simply was not what fans were expecting after waiting so long for its return. The slicked-back hairstyles alone were not it, in my opinion. However, come 2025, things were different.
First, model Jasmine Tookes opened the show with her baby bump, a statement I loved! Seeing her walking down the runway, confident and glowing, was empowering, especially given the stigma that pregnancy is associated with a loss of beauty. That was not the case here. The Victoria’s Secret team nailed it with this opener! Second, there were no slicked-back hairstyles in sight during the show. The team listened to the fans and gave us what we wanted to see. While the hair was not quite giving the iconic 2000s bouncy blowout look, it was better than a tight slick back, so I considered it a win.
Next came the amazing performers: Madison Beer, TWICE, Karol G and Missy Elliott. My favorite was TWICE. Ever since K-pop artist Lisa performed at the 2024 VS Fashion Show, I have loved seeing more Asian musicians invited to major events like Coachella and Lollapalooza. Growing up, there was little Asian representation in the American music industry, so it was refreshing to see a diverse group of talented artists perform on such a big stage!
The VS team did a great job matching each artist’s aesthetic to the show’s themes: Madison Beer’s was pink and feminine, TWICE’s was playful and Karol G’s was bold and sexy. Coming from someone with a very short attention span, I was captivated by every minute of their performances. Paired with incredible live vocals, it was clear that these women are top-tier performers. Missy Elliott’s performance was also enjoyable. She gave off an energetic pop star vibe that stood out from the other performers, so it was fun to see her close the show.
Overall, I give this year’s show a 7 out of 10. It was an improvement from the 2024 show, but the early 2000s shows will always have a special place in my heart. The musical performances were solid, there were no slicked-back looks to be found and the outfits ate down. All of the models slayed their walks, and it was incredible to see favorites like Adriana Lima, Anok Yai, Alex Consani, Barbara Palvin and Bella Hadid own the runway. I can’t wait to see what next year’s show has in store!