Victoria’s Secret Weapon: Getting Under Liberal Critics’ Skin Is Good for Business

Some Angel feathers just got ruffled at the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Supermodel Barbara Palvin walked the runway six weeks after giving birth, sparking a fiery discourse about a “bounce back” expectation for postpartum women. Princess of the Kardashian dynasty Kylie Jenner wore a coveted $50 million bra on stage, prompting accusations that a media personality with no natural modeling ability cheated more deserving veteran models. Former Victoria’s Secret angel Romee Strijd trained all summer for a comeback and wasn’t cast at all, while influencers with big followings got preferential access. But just like with the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle brouhaha, fans online are absorbing the anger while the brand making the decisions is collecting the attention and dollars. The controversy that erupted around Ms. Palvin was incoherent. Her offense, according to online critics, was daring to showcase an unrealistic body after giving birth. Flaunting her fast recovery to the cameras supposedly sent a dangerous message that this was the standard for women to aspire to.But critics forget that runway work is Ms. Palvin’s profession. This has been her job for over a decade. Maternity leave for most corporate women in America is 6-8 weeks — though some new mothers can take up to twelve weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave — so Ms. Palvin is just returning at a similar pace to what most mothers do in their respective fields. She also said she is still healing and depends on a supportive husband and family. We’re talking about a supermodel, who is already in the top 1% of physiques and beauty. It is reasonable to expect that supermodels have supermodel discipline in eating, fitness, and shedding weight. Ms. Palvin didn’t have to return to the runway — she chose to. The primarily liberal-driven backlash to Ms. Palvin’s walk echoes a criticism that has been directed at Victoria’s Secret for years: That the brand’s imagery makes women feel insecure. Barbara Palvin walks the runway during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Sony Pictures Studios on October 18 2026 in Culver City, California. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic via Getty ImagesDuring the height of wokeness, the brand acquiesced, glamorizing obesity and prioritizing diversity over supermodel ability. After a Victoria’s Secret marketing executive dismissed the idea of having transsexuals and fat people in their show in an interview with Vogue, sparking backlash, the company went on a years-long apology tour. The Victoria’s Secret show was cancelled in 2019. The Fantasy Bra was shelved. In 2021, Victoria’s Secret retired its “Angels” because the then-CEO Martin Waters dismissed them on the grounds that “right now, I don’t see it as being culturally relevant.” In place of the Angels, Victoria’s Secret announced the VS Collective, a partnership program that was all about inclusivity. It featured seven ambassadors known for their advocacy and achievement rather than glamour, including left-wing activist and soccer player Megan Rapinoe.But it didn’t sell. That’s because exclusivity was the whole point. A lingerie company that seemed embarrassed by being sexy and aspirational meant the fans would lose interest. The reason why so many women like me adored the stores and runway spectacle is because it was an escape into something impossibly fabulous. For her Victoria’s Secret fashion show debut, Ms. Jenner wore a $50 million diamond-encrusted Fantasy Bra which was fitting because the production is exactly that — a fantasy. But the choice triggered debate because Ms. Jenner is reportedly the first person outside the Angel lineup to wear the opulent piece. Victoria’s Secret’s chief creative officer called her a “cultural powerhouse” who fits the company’s entertainment-focused direction. Though Ms. Jenner’s appointment represents something of a departure from the merit-based, seniority model system, money talks, as “Real Housewives” alumna Bethenny Frankel said on social media. “Anyone confusing Victoria’s Secret with being anything but a business, please loosen your bra,” Ms. Frankel said. Indeed, Kylie Jenner commands an enormous audience across many platforms and intimately understands and drives young women’s tastes, from her makeup company to her clothing company to all the family lore in between. She was a strategic acquisition for the show on that basis alone. And the upset over her displacing an Angel has only driven more traffic and likely sales to Victoria’s Secret. A lot of people also treated the rejection of model Romee Strijd, a mother of two, as an injustice. In fan-posted videos recapping her situation, which generated over a million views, Ms. Strijd noted that this comes with the territory. Yet some fans couldn’t help noting that she lost her spot to influencers.“Doesn’t fit with the show?! You ARE the show,” one person commented. Another added, “The fact that they’re gonna put influencers in the show instead of actual Angels is insane.”Romee Strijd attends the Backstage Secrets By Russell James Beijing Exhibit Opening Party on September 14 2018 in Beijing, Communist China. Via Zhe Ji/Getty ImagesOn Reddit, one person wrote, “Seems like they’re more focusing on early 20s TikTok stars, influencers, and models that are very big on social media now.”All of that is true. The show now runs on attention, and candidates are being judged as content creators instead of as elite goddesses that transcend fashion. The old model that gave the brand prestige valued skill and experience rather than audience size. Victoria’s Secret, which has suffered ratings slumps and identity crises over the years, has decided the audience is worth more. Ms. Jenner didn’t earn it, Ms. Strijd wasn’t relevant enough, Ms. Palvin is a bad influence. All of these narratives exploded on the internet, passing judgement on Victoria’s Secret’s casting choices. But every fight over who deserved what — from Ms. Palvin’s place on a special pedestal to Ms. Jenner’s bypassing tradition to Ms. Strijd’s getting snubbed — drove views. Victoria’s Secret didn’t have to defend any of it. Barbara Palvin’s own comeback was designed as content. Her return was announced in a joint Instagram post with Victoria’s Secret, complete with a pram tagged “Angel on board.” Vanity Fair noted that Ms. Strijd’s posts sparked a level of interest in the show that hadn’t been there in the weeks before. The controversy was the promotion. Victoria’s Secret has simply had to let fans argue with each other. They won because they’re now leading the conversation.

Victoria’s Secret Weapon: Getting Under Liberal Critics’ Skin Is Good for Business

Victoria’s Secret Weapon: Getting Under Liberal Critics’ Skin Is Good for Business

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