The Victoria Secret Fashion Show : For nearly two decades, the Victoria Secret Fashion Show was more than a fashion event; it was a cultural supernova. It defined an era of glamour, fantasy, and the iconic “Angel.” Then, it vanished. For years, the world wondered if the spectacle of wings, diamonds, and the most famous runway on earth would ever return. In 2025, the question was finally answered with a resounding, and fundamentally transformed, yes.
The reboot of the Victoria Secret Fashion Show wasn’t just a revival; it was a revolution. The brand, having listened to years of critique and a shifting global conversation about beauty and inclusivity, had a single mission: to reforge its legacy for a new generation. Stepping into the spotlight once again, the 2025 show was a breathtaking declaration of a new philosophy. This is the full story of what really happened when the wings made their triumphant, and radically different, return.
The Grand Return Of Victoria Secret Fashion Show : A Show Reborn
Gone was the intimate, studio-set format of the final pre-hiatus shows. The 2025 event reclaimed its status as a blockbuster, taking over a cavernous, custom-built venue that felt part-art installation, part-celebrity coliseum. The energy was palpably different. The air didn’t just buzz with anticipation; it crackled with a collective curiosity. Could Victoria’s Secret truly evolve?
The answer came the moment the first model stepped onto the runway. The Victoria Secret Fashion Show was a masterclass in modern spectacle, blending the brand’s signature extravagance with a fresh, conscious aesthetic. The production value was sky-high, with immersive lighting and a soundscape that ranged from orchestral grandeur to pulsing, contemporary beats.
The New Guard : A Chorus of Angels for the Modern World – Victoria Secret Fashion Show
The most significant, and most praised, evolution was the casting. The Victoria Secret Fashion Show consciously moved beyond a single, monolithic beauty standard to celebrate a powerful spectrum of femininity.
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The Iconic Returns: The show paid homage to its roots by bringing back legendary faces. The internet erupted when Gigi Hadid, a fan-favorite from the previous era, commanded the runway with a seasoned confidence that stopped the show. Similarly, the return of Behati Prinsloo evoked a wave of nostalgia, her signature smile beaming under the weight of a magnificent, new-age wing design.
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The New Generation: They were joined by a diverse cohort of models representing the industry’s present and future. The lineup celebrated a wide range of body types, ethnicities, and ages, a clear and intentional departure from the past. This new guard walked with a different kind of power—not just the ethereal grace of old, but a grounded, assertive energy that resonated with the audience.
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The Celebrity Moment: In a move that broke the traditional format, the show featured surprise celebrity appearances on the runway. The most talked-about moment was Emily Ratajkowski, who turned heads not in lingerie, but in a powerful, deconstructed take on the classic corset, making a bold statement about autonomy and redefinition.
Wings of Change : The 2025 Fantasy Bra & Thematic Splits – Victoria Secret Fashion Show
The thematic segments of the show were where the new vision truly took flight. Each section told a different part of Victoria’s Secret’s evolving story.
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Gilded Angels: An opening segment that paid direct tribute to the brand’s heritage. Models shimmered in gold leaf, intricate lace, and classic silk, featuring updated versions of the iconic “Diamond” and “Swarovski” wings that first made the show famous.
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Celestial Odyssey: This was the show-stopper. The runway transformed into a cosmic dreamscape with models adorned in iridescent fabrics, holographic wings, and constellations of delicate, glowing lights. It was a fantasy segment reimagined for a tech-savvy generation.
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The 2025 “Icon” Fantasy Set: Replacing the traditional multi-million dollar Fantasy Bra was a strategic masterstroke. This year, the honor was the “Icon” Fantasy Set—a breathtaking collection of matching bra, brief, and a staggering, architectural wing made of reclaimed crystals and ethically sourced white gold. It was a symbol of a new kind of value: one rooted in responsibility without sacrificing an ounce of glamour.
Victoria Secret Fashion Show Front Row : A-Listers and the Atmosphere Shift
The celebrity guest list was a curated reflection of the new brand identity. The front row was a mix of Hollywood A-listers, groundbreaking musicians, and influential artists, a stark contrast to the predominantly industry-insider audiences of the past. Their reactions—a mix of awe, genuine excitement, and approving nods—were captured endlessly, feeding the social media frenzy and signaling broad cultural approval for the show’s new direction.
As an expert in the fashion industry, Sarah Brown, a renowned fashion historian, noted in her analysis for Vogue, “The 2025 show was a case study in brand evolution. They managed to retain the visual grammar of the Victoria’s Secret show—the wings, the music, the grandeur—while completely rewriting the narrative. It was an apology and a promise, woven into tulle and lace.”
More Than a Runway : The Soundtrack and The Message – Victoria Secret Fashion Show
The musical performances were seamlessly integrated, feeling less like a concert interlude and more like an emotional pillar of the show. The soundtrack was a global hit parade, featuring artists whose music and personal brands aligned with themes of empowerment and self-expression. The energy in the room peaked during these performances, with models and celebrities alike visibly enjoying the moment, creating an atmosphere of inclusive celebration.
The Verdict : Was the 2025 Comeback a Success? – Victoria Secret Fashion Show
By every metric, the 2025 Victoria Secret Fashion Show was a triumphant success. It dominated social media trends for days, with clips of Gigi Hadid’s walk and the “Celestial Odyssey” segment going viral. More importantly, it successfully navigated the impossible task of honoring a beloved legacy while courageously building a new one.
The conversation shifted overnight from “Should they have brought it back?” to “What will they do next?” The show proved that fantasy and inclusivity are not mutually exclusive. It demonstrated that the modern consumer can handle both nostalgia and progress.
According to a report by The Business of Fashion on the evolution of lingerie marketing, “The brands that will succeed are those that understand authenticity is the new airbrush. Consumers now crave representation and realness, even within a fantasy framework.” The 2025 Victoria’s Secret show seemed to have absorbed this lesson perfectly.
The final walk, featuring the entire diverse cast of models arm-in-arm, was a powerful image that will define this new chapter. The wings were back, but they were carried by a new, more resonant kind of angel. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is no longer just a relic of the past; it has officially, and spectacularly, reclaimed its place in the future. As one industry critic put it on CNN Style, “They didn’t just turn on the lights again; they rewired the entire system.”
