Victoria’s Secret is facing calls for a boycott following reports that several well-known supermodels, including former "Angels," were rejected from its upcoming fashion show. The controversy gained significant traction after Dutch model Romee Strijd shared her emotional experience in a TikTok video on Monday, just days before the event scheduled for Sunday in Los Angeles.
"You look great…but they thought you wouldn’t fit in the show this year." Romee Strijd, recounting conversation with her agency
Strijd, 31, a mother of two and a prominent figure in the fashion industry with millions of social media followers, revealed that her agency informed her she would not be participating in this year’s show. Speaking through tears, Strijd recounted the call, stating, “It’s a no, which is fine because rejection is part of modeling, and that’s totally fine.” She elaborated on the conversation: “So, my agency just called and I said, ‘Okay, what’s happening?’ And she said, ‘You look great…but they thought you wouldn’t fit in the show this year.’” Strijd, who became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2015 and walked in shows since 2014, had spent months preparing, including intensive training through the summer and traveling to New York in September for casting. She expressed her dissatisfaction with the treatment, noting she did "not like the way she was treated" and would likely not audition again, preferring to keep her "good memories" as an Angel.
The revelation quickly sparked a wider discussion among models and fans. Freida Aasen, a Norwegian runway model who regularly walked for Victoria’s Secret before its hiatus, replied to Strijd’s video confirming her own rejection. Reports also indicate that Lais Ribeiro, another former Angel renowned for wearing the "fantasy bra" in 2017, was similarly turned away from the event.
The news ignited a firestorm of fan outrage across online platforms, with many expressing disappointment and calling for a boycott of the lingerie giant. Fashion Times reported that one fan warned the company that favoring influencers over seasoned supermodels would "bite" them "in the a**." Another critic online stated that the company was "rejecting beloved veterans for influencers," capturing the sentiment of many who feel the brand is abandoning its roots.
This controversy is not the first for Victoria’s Secret regarding its runway shows and brand image. The company canceled its iconic fashion show in 2019 following a contentious 2018 interview. Ed Razek, then the company’s chief marketing officer, told Vogue that Victoria’s Secret did not want plus-size or transgender models on its runway, describing the show as a “fantasy” built around unattainable beauty standards. Razek has since retired, and the brand has made efforts to evolve its image.
The show returned in 2024 with a more inclusive cast, featuring transgender models and promoting "body diversity." Last year, the brand began reincorporating some earlier models, including former Angels, into its lineup. However, despite these efforts, some fans continued to express a desire for the return of the models who originally brought the brand to prominence.
Last year’s event notably featured a mix of traditional models and social media influencers, including creators Gabriela Moura and Quenlin Blackwell, alongside athletes Angel Reese and Sunisa Lee. The current backlash suggests that the brand’s strategy of integrating influencers at the expense of established supermodels is meeting significant resistance from a segment of its long-standing fanbase.
Victoria’s Secret has not yet publicly commented on Strijd’s rejection or the broader boycott calls. The full list of models for this year’s show, set to open on Sunday, remains unreleased, leaving many to speculate on the final composition of the runway and the ultimate impact of the fan backlash on the brand’s image and sales. The evolving landscape of fashion and celebrity, balancing traditional allure with digital influence, continues to present complex challenges for legacy brands.
