The brand had moved away from their "Angels" concept into showcasing models who were plus sized, transgender, disabled, and those not considered beautiful by contemporary beauty standards. This included the black trans social media influencer model Emira D'Spain, and US women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe. The New York Times praised the move in 2021, saying the brand was redefinining "sexy."
"For decades," the Times gushed, "Victoria’s Secret’s scantily clad supermodels with Jessica Rabbit curves epitomized a certain widely accepted stereotype of femininity. Now, with that kind of imagery out of step with the broader culture and Victoria’s Secret facing increased competition and internal turmoil, the company wants to become, its chief executive said, a leading global 'advocate' for female empowerment."
