This prominent lingerie brand made headlines when it cancelled its famous fashion show in 2019 before revamping its roster to promote inclusivity — Ali Tate Cutler is hailed as the brand’s first plus-sized model (size 14) when the brand previously did not hire anyone above size 12.
Striving to provide more positivity and inspiration to women globally, the brand unveils new faces as a part of its new collective, described as,
“An ever-growing group of accomplished women who share a common passion to drive positive change,” per the company’s press release. “Through social, cultural and business relationships, [the brand] will work to create new associate programs, revolutionary product collections, compelling and inspiring content, and rally support for causes vital to women.”
Martin Waters, the former head of Victoria’s Secret’s international business and current chief executive of the brand, elaborated:
“When the world was changing, we were too slow to respond. We needed to stop being about what men want and to be about what women want.”
And who is leading this change? Inaugural members of the collective are models, activists, athletes and artists from around the world, including Rapinoe, the pink-haired U.S. soccer champ, and Chopra, the Baywatch actress who married Nick Jonas in 2018.
Not just that!
Also joining are South Sudanese-Australian model Adut Akech; Los Angeles-based photographer Amanda de Cadenet; Chinese skier Eileen Gu; British model and body activist Paloma Elsesser; and Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio.
In 2020, the brand faced a scandal when it was alleged to have a history of “misogyny, bullying and harassment, according to interviews with more than 30 current and former executives, employees, contractors and models, as well as court filings and other documents.” About a year ago, this household fashion brand was reported to face numerous financial obstacles, including hefty competition from inclusive brands like Aerie and Savage x Fenty, which may have impacted its declining sales.
Let’s put our hands together and applaud this progressive change in welcoming diversity, positivity as well as inclusivity to women all over the world — because we are all beautiful in so many, many different ways.
*Cover image via Sol India and AP Photo/Francisco Seco and Instagram @palomija