![]() ![]() They as a company have the power to give us the opportunities that we need to thrive, and to actually set the record straight on who we are to the world at large. I think by them not including us, it's sending a dark message and contributing to the ignorance and hate that exists today. I think we are seen as a liability rather than the amazing opportunity we truly are. Why do you think the brand has been slow to embrace diversity?ĬC: I think that Victoria’s Secret is afraid, and they’re unwilling to take a risk. TV: The petition created for you clearly shows there’s a desire for transgender representation on the Victoria's Secret runway. ![]() ![]() We’re champions of our own triumphant stories, which people love, and that just comes along with us being us. Having a transgender girl up there who works just as hard to maintain her mind and body, but also heart, soul, spirit, life, transition, perseverance, and will to survive? That’s representation that all women can look up to! We are a positive example of how to break through the boundaries that hold all women back in the first place. Those models are basically there just because they look good. It’s more about the envy, the desire to look aesthetically best: It’s an unattainable, elitist mindset. It’s beyond the surface beauty.īut if you look at Victoria’s Secret models, honestly, young girls don’t necessarily look up to them for the healthiest reasons. It’s also about being more aware, socially, and shedding a light on all marginalized groups. And they carp at us because we’re the leader." (According to GLAAD, "transsexual" is not an umbrella term, and the term "transgender" is preferred.) Razek has since offered an apology, but the damage is done - several former supporters of the brand are already organizing a boycott.Ĭarmen Carrera: It’s important to have transgender representation because we represent the forthcoming generation, and their new perception on the standard of beauty - which I believe is being true to yourself, loving yourself and others. It is the only one of its kind in the world, and any other fashion brand in the world would take it in a minute, including the competitors that are carping at us. "Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. "Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. ![]() In a recent interview with Vogue, Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer of Victoria Secret's parent company, explained why the company doesn't cast transgender models. While Victoria's Secret has made some effort to diversify its cast of models in recent years, enlisting the first model with vitiligo (Winnie Harlow) and the first Filipino model (Kelsey Merritt) for this year's show, there are still several marginalized groups that are glaringly absent from the runway. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Madeline Stuart expressed her desire to become the first Victoria's Secret model with Down syndrome, calling it her "biggest dream." Her comments were ignored. During the spring 2019 season of Fashion Week, disabled models like Mama Cax and Madeline Stuart hit the runway, Jillian Mercado, Chelsea Werner, and Mama Cax covered the September issue of Teen Vogue, and Chella Man became the first deaf transgender model to sign to IMG. The fashion industry still has a long way to go in terms of representation for disabled models, but progress is being made. She's a regular on the Chromat runway but has yet to be contacted by Victoria's Secret. "Trying to be the first trans model of color to walk a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show," she tweeted, garnering over 100,000 likes and 34,000 retweets. Just this April, Leyna Bloom launched a Twitter campaign to become the first transgender woman to be cast in the runway spectacular. In 2013, over 50,000 people signed a petition urging Victoria's Secret casting directors to consider transgender model Carmen Carrera that petition was ignored by the brand. Though the transgender and nonbinary community is finally gaining more visibility at fashion weeks across the globe, landing a record 91 runway spots during the spring 2019 season, Victoria's Secret has never cast a transgender model for the fashion show or even for its ad campaigns. ![]()
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