Victoria’s Secret unveils new campaign with trans, plus-size and older models

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After facing years of criticism for its exclusively young, thin and cisgender models, Victoria’s Secret is finally starting to change its tune. The lingerie giant, which has spent recent months working on a total image overhaul, unveiled its new Body by Victoria spring campaign earlier this week — and its notably more diverse than past …

After facing years of criticism for its exclusively young, thin and cisgender models, Victoria’s Secret is finally starting to change its tune.

The lingerie giant, which has spent recent months working on a total image overhaul, unveiled its new Body by Victoria spring campaign earlier this week — and its notably more diverse than past ads in terms of casting, with older, curvier and transgender beauties as well as models of color represented.

The images star original Angels Daniela Pestova, 49, and Helena Christensen, 51, with the latter doing double duty as the campaign’s photographer. The pair first began working with VS in 1997.

Valentina Sampaio for Victoria’s SecretHelena Christensen/Victoria’s Secret

Valentina Sampaio, the company’s first openly transgender Angel, is also included, posing in a black push-up bra and matching lace undies.

The Brazilian beauty’s hiring in August came as somewhat of a corrective following former executive Ed Razek’s offensive comments about trans models; in 2018, Razek said that he didn’t feel the need to hire “transsexuals” for the since-canceled Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, “because the show is a fantasy.” He later apologized.

Also featured in the new ads are plus-size stunners Candice Huffine and Solange van Doorn, the latter of whom has previously posed for Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS and Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty — both key Victoria’s Secret rivals.

Barbara Palvin, Jasmine Tookes, Joan Smalls, Lais Ribiero and Romee Strijd round out the campaign’s cast.

In addition to having to cancel its annual televised catwalk show, Victoria’s Secret has been plagued by slumping sales, sexual harassment accusations and a link to the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in recent years.

Now, with CEO Les Wexner and CMO Ed Razek both out and a new casting strategy in place, it remains to be seen whether these tweaks to the retailer’s marketing strategy will win back the brand’s fans.