As the CBS air date of the annual Victoria Secret Fashion Show airs Monday, December 5, not only do the beautiful images of women roam the internet for weeks, but major controversy over whether the show degrades women or not also arises. As a woman, no part of me feels degraded by the angels, and let me inform you why.
It's no secret that Victoria Secret models have almost unattainable, "perfect" bodies. The average angel is about 120 pounds and five feet and 11 inches tall. Sounds pretty insane right? But these girls were not born with these natural slim figures. They obtain strict diets and workout routines and are some of the strongest female athletes in today's society. Alessandra Ambrosio, a 16-year veteran angel in the show, spends over four hours everyday working every muscle in her body, and pushing herself physically. Her diet includes eggs for breakfast, chicken breast and rice for breakfast, and lobster ravioli for dinner. Ambrosia believes in healthy living, and not starving herself — a common stereotype given to models in current society. Ambrosia does not just dedicate her life to maintaining her runway body, but also to her two children. She also serves as an ambassador to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, is the first spokesmodel for PINK by Victoria Secret, and owns her own lifestyle and clothing brand, Ale by Alessondra. So what that she models sex-appeal clothing, these women earn and work extremely hard for their bodies and are beyond dedicated to their work. Who are we to sit back and judge them for their accomplishments? I'm team PINK all the way!
Now, the big question: are these women strictly chosen to walk in the fashion show based on their bodies? Yes, and no. For one, you can't expect for there to be no physical requirements for these women when they are walking in one of the most celebrated and prestigious fashion shows today. But by no way are all of these women the same whatsoever. Victoria Secret is known for having one of the most ethnically diverse sets of models in history. This year's 2016 fashion show from Paris is set to have models from all 53 countries. Although they are selected based on their physical appearances, they are also selected by the energy they give off and how they make other models feel. Senior Creative Edward Razek who plays a key role in choosing the models for the show explains that a lot more goes into who walks with their wings than just bra size, weight and height. They choose models on how they react with the other models, the amount of positive energy they naturally give off, and how they make other women feel. Since 99 percent of consumers at Victoria Secret are females, Razek focuses heavily on the last word. Razek guns for models who make women feel empowered and confident, not ones that make other women feel insecure. He wants the models who work hard, and are also real people, not just ones who will look good in underwear and wings.
So this year, when you turn on the 7 a.m. news and see a commercial for the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, please don't roll your eyes. Instead of viewing it as a bunch of "anorexic, slutty women," let's view for what it is: women who are dedicated to their careers, health and fitness. Let's not view it as an advertisement of lingerie, but as strong women achieving dreams and believing in themselves for achieving the impossible for them. Instead of tearing the angels down for their accomplishments, let' lift them up to encourage them to achieve more than they could ever believe. This year when I watch the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, I won't be offended; I will be motivated by the determination, grace and confidence of the angels. I will not be watching it as an advertisement for lingerie, but as hardworking women earning what they worked so hard for.