Karlie Kloss opens up about why she left Victoria’s Secret
The supermodel was an Angel for two years
Karlie Kloss has opened up about why she decided to stop working with Victoria’s Secret.
The model worked with the brand for years and became an Angel in 2013, but left in 2015, at the time claiming it was due to scheduling contracts as she was studying at New York University. However, Kloss did return to the Victoria’s Secret catwalk to walk for the 2017 show.
In 2015, Ed Razek, chief marketing officer of Victoria’s Secret, explained why Kloss had made the decision to depart.
“Karlie Kloss and I met several months ago to discuss the many things she hoped to do in her life and career. As we talked, it became clear she would not have the time to fulfil her myriad commitments. Reluctantly, we agreed she would leave the brand at the end of her contract.”
Kloss has since explained that she actually wanted to move on because of the message the brand was sending to young women about what it means to be beautiful. She describes it as her “stepping into [her] power as a feminist”.
“The reason I decided to stop working with Victoria’s Secret was I didn’t feel it was an image that was truly reflective of who I am and the kind of message I want to send to young women around the world about what it means to be beautiful,” Kloss told British Vogue. “I think that was a pivotal moment in me stepping into my power as a feminist, being able to make my own choices and my own narrative, whether through the companies I choose to work with, or through the image I put out to the world.”
The lingerie giant has come under fire for many years for its lack of body diversity – and has been described as out of touch compared with the likes of Rihanna’s Fenty lingerie show. After a significant drop in ratings over the last few shows and declining sales, the brand will no longer show on TV after two decades of doing so.
“We have decided to re-think the traditional Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Going forward we don’t believe network television is the right fit,” Leslie Wexner, the chief executive of the brand’s parent company L Brands said, according to the New York Times.
He went on to explain that the brand is looking for a “new kind of event” but details on what this might be have not yet been announced.
