Victoria’s Secret has been under intense scrutiny ever since Ed Razek, the Chief Marketing Officer of L Brands’ (the parent company of Victoria’s Secret)announced in an interviewwithVoguethat the brand would not hire trans or curvy models because they did not fit into the “fantasy” of the show.
Shortly after his remarks, everyone from models (Tess Holliday) to celebrities (Rihanna) and size-inclusive brands (ThirdLove) voiced their disapproval, which eventually lead to executiveJan Singer, CEO of the lingerie’s division, to resign.
And now, ThirdLove is taking matters even further. Heidi Zak, the founder and CEO of ThirdLove, penned a letter to Victoria’s Secret in theNew York Timesto address all of her concerns with their business model.
“I’ve read and re-read the interview at least 20 times, and each time I read it I’m even angrier,” Zak said. “How in 2018 can the CMO of any public company — let alone one that claims to be for women — make such shocking, derogatory statements?”
“You market to men and sell a male fantasy to women,” she continued. Adding, “Haven’t we moved beyond outdated ideas of femininity and gender roles? It’s time to stop telling women what makes them sexy — let us decide.”
“Your show may be a ‘fantasy’ but we live in reality. Our reality is that women wear bras in real life as they go to work, breastfeed their children, play sports, care for ailing parents, and serve their country.”
Victoria’s Secret declined PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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To which Zak responded back: “We are flattered for the mention, but let me be clear: we may not have been a woman’s first love but we will be her last.”
The brand did make an effort this year to expand to diversify the runway, hiringWinnie Harlow, the first model with vitiligo, to walk the show and casting 19 models of color this season.
source: people.com
