'Serves you right': Aussie model slams Victoria's Secret after axing

Aussie model Robyn Lawley has spoken out following reports by Shanina Shaik that the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show has been cancelled after 23 years.

Victoria’s Secret and its parent company, L Brands, have yet to release a statement, however.

Robyn, who is proud of her ‘healthy size 14’ body, and has openly criticised the lingerie brand in the past, told Yahoo Lifestyle that the axing doesn’t come as a surprise.

In fact, the mum-of-one is celebrating the news.

‘Serves you right’

“I actually heard the [axing rumours] a couple of months back. My first thought was ‘serves you right,’” the Sports Illustrated star said.

“The lack of diversity from that show was painstakingly obvious,” she added, before recalling how, as a teenager, she used to ‘glorify’ the VS models or ‘Angels’ as they’re called.

“Of course back then I had a very unhealthy attitude about my body. I hated it. Every image you would see [back] then seemed to depict one type of body only,” she said.

“Unfortunately [VS marketing chief] Ed Razek had the same sentiments, claiming no one wanted to see ‘plus size’ - any woman over a size 8 in his and the fashion world’s opinion - on the runway,” she added.

Speaking out

Robyn went on to mention the controversial comments Ed made in 2018 about plus-sized and transgender models, which he later backtracked on.

At the time, Robyn launched a global boycott of the brand and started a petition “to encourage VS to be more inclusive, to show more than just one type of body.”

“They unfortunately did not change, and in a time where women, men and trans [people] are finally saying enough is enough, my body is worthy, my body is beautiful, I will never understand [the brand’s] logic. Even more so after having my own daughter,” the swimwear designer said.

Robyn shares four-year-old Ripley with her partner, lawyer Everest Schmidt.

Unrealised potential

In Robyn’s opinion, the brand has squandered an opportunity to shake up the industry and reset the global standard of beauty.

“A company such as VS had the power to change the game, they had the power to showcase a range of body types down that runway to encourage women - especially younger women with their ‘PINK’ range - to embrace their bodies as they are right now,” she said.

“Diversity is beautiful - the national average [women’s clothing size] is a 14 to 16,” she added, before pointing out that while Victoria’s Secret does stock her size they chose to never feature a model of her size.

“Body hate and body dysmorphia is rampant in teens, we have other generations to think about. I’m glad I’m finally seeing diversity in fashion and other brands,” she continued.

“I’m a healthy size 14. I love my body, I love my stretch marks and height and I love finally not caring about an annual lingerie shows’ one sided opinion about my body.”

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