Brooklyn’s Steiner Studios shimmered pink on Wednesday night as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025 returned to the runway – and to millions of live-stream feeds on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and TikTok. The front row sparkled with Sarah Jessica Parker, Chloë Sevigny, and Jenna Lyons; the stage, with Gigi and Bella Hadid, Adriana Lima, Ashley Graham, and WNBA star Angel Reese, the first professional athlete ever to walk for the brand.
But the bigger conversation happening online wasn’t about who was there – it was about who the show is really for.
Once the ultimate male fantasy, Victoria’s Secret has, under new creative director Adam Selman, become a mirror for women instead. “I wanted to take the best of an American heritage brand that’s been around for more than fifty years,” Selman said before the show, “but show a broader range of emotions – not just one ideal of sexiness.”
That intention was clear from the opening moment. Jasmine Tookes, visibly pregnant, glided down the runway to a standing ovation. “Raise your hand if you’re still recovering from @jastookes opening,” wrote one fan. Another echoed the sentiment: “That was pure power. Pregnancy glow and wings – iconic.”
Paloma Elsesser, Precious Lee, Anok Yai, and Imaan Hammam followed – each redefining sensuality as confidence. “It’s not about fantasy and perfection anymore,” one long-time viewer posted. “It’s about representation and confidence in every form of womanhood. It feels more real – and more empowering.”
Women Watching Women
The comments section became its own chorus. “This year felt like girlfriends cheering girlfriends,” one TikTok user wrote. “We used to watch to look like them. Now we watch because they look like us.”
Even the nostalgia was feminine. When Candice Swanepoel appeared, the comment flood was instant: “Ladies and gentlemen, the one, the only – QUEEN CANDICE!” wrote one. “THE QUEEN MOTHER!!!! Best to do it!!” screamed another. Yet those same voices celebrated the new era too: “Victoria’s Secret, do you realize you have a real Angel in @realbarbarapalvin?! She’s the perfect mix of old magic and new meaning.”
Doutzen Kroes, returning to the runway after years away, captured that balance backstage. “This show used to be about perfection,” she said. “Now, it’s about presence. Women owning their stories, their bodies, their power.”
Do Men Still Watch The Victoria’s Secret Show?
Yes. It’ll always appeal to men, but it’s not for them anymore. Of course, there were men – Patrick Schwarzenegger, Dylan Sprouse (cheering on his wife Barbara) in the audience – but it felt like they were attending a party for the girlies. As one viewer joked, “The boys looked like they’d accidentally wandered into a feminist fever dream – and honestly, good for them.”
The front row, meanwhile, belonged to iconic women – Helena Christensen, Jessica Stam, June Ambrose. The energy was less voyeuristic spectacle, more collective celebration. “It felt like the Super Bowl for women,” wrote one X user. “Glamorous, yes, but not performative. It was about us.”
Even the critiques came from a place of care. “Only two things didn’t sit right with me,” one fan admitted. “The poker-face trend – where did the smiles go? – and using mature models in the Pink segment. But overall? This show ate.”
By the finale, Missy Elliott had the entire studio on its feet. Karol G glittered, Twice twirled, and Gigi Hadid closed the night.
“The fantasy has changed,” another fan wrote. “It’s not about being desired – it’s about desiring yourself.”
So do men still watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show? Probably. But this year, that question feels beside the point. The show’s revival isn’t about what men want – it’s about what women see, celebrate, and share.
As Doutzen Kroes put it: “Every woman is an angel in her own way.” And for the first time in decades, Victoria’s Secret finally seems to agree.
