2 weeks Ago By By CESAR SOLORZANO SANCHEZ SHS Student Writer
This year we saw the catwalk of Adriana Lima, Kate Moss, Tyra Banks, Anok Yai, Alex Consani, and Ashley Graham, but those weren’t the only girls who strutted to a new beginning in the industry and society. It is not an understatement to say that this year's Victoria's Secret fashion show brought back a diverse range of models, from legends to rising stars. Girls all over Southwest High School have been inspired by the inclusivity seen on this year's runway.
“Past Victoria's Secret shows have negatively impacted girls in general due to their very strict and precise requirements on the women to look a certain way,” said Angelina Araiza a junior at SHS. “Women were overworking themselves into exhaustion to look a certain way for the show, which would negatively affect young girls to want to look like them.” Runway models have always been a representation of societal expectations and it came as a surprise that this year's fashion show featured its first transgendered Angels.
“Seeing the first ever trans-Victoria Secret Angels like Alex Consani made me feel accepted and reminded me of how far the trans community has come,” said Araiza. That wasn’t the only first for this year: the runway show also featured plus-sized angels and that wasn’t left unseen by teenage girls. “Seeing curves and body positivity this year was something I wasn’t expecting but I’m glad things are starting to change,” said Pamela Valenzuela, a senior at SHS.
As the industry continues to change, we start to see more racial diversity on the runway, and that has been a beacon of hope for young girls of different ethnic backgrounds. “Growing up as a Latina we weren’t taught to stick up for ourselves, but being able to see people who look like me as a teenage girl makes me value the diversity we have nowadays because Latinas before me didn't have this,” said Karime Cardenas, a junior at SHS. “Diversity is crucial to prevent negative stereotypes from being created negative stereotypes can impact women’s relationships with their bodies and mental health,” said Julianna Mata a junior at SHS.
Even if the general public says that The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is falling out of fashion, girls at SHS say it is important that society recognizes that the diversity of these models is helping shape the next generation of strong women. “The fashion has nothing to do with the models we see on our phone screens,” said Mata “We need to learn to separate the fashion from the models because these models are opening doors.”.
