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‘Angels’ in Hell
Article

‘Angels’ in Hell

The Culture of Misogyny Inside Victoria’s Secret

Jessica Silver-Greenberg, Katherine Rosman, Sapna Maheshwari and James B. Stewart
The New York Times, 2020
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Eye Opening
  • Concrete Examples
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

The New York Times Magazine reveals the harassment Victoria’s Secret models and other female employees regularly experienced from executive Ed Razek, investor Jeffrey Epstein and photographer Russell James. Women faced name-calling and propositions, and despite reports to HR, these behaviors continued for decades. This exposé by Jessica Silver-Greenberg, Katherine Rosman, Sapna Maheshwari and James B. Stewart reveals a corporate culture fully vested in exploitation and harassment, with few avenues for models and other women to protect themselves.

Summary

Victoria’s Secret lost value when it didn’t keep pace with shifting beauty norms.

In 1982, Leslie Wexner purchased Victoria’s Secret for $1 million and built it into a global phenomenon. Its ad campaigns feature models wearing luxury underwear and little else except, sometimes, elaborate angel wings, as they pose in front of flashy explosions and big motorcycles. The company’s marketing focus on how thin women attract men contrasts with contemporary notions of beauty or how women want to present themselves. These shifting social mores affected the company’s bottom line. Shares of L Brand have lost 75% of their worth since their highest valuation in 2015 amid many Victoria’s Secrets store closings. 

As an example of the toxic environment at Victoria’s Secret, a suggestion to include more diverse body types drew the ire of Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer for L Brands. He rejected the idea on the basis that nobody undergoes cosmetic procedures in order to become fat.

The famous Victoria’s Secret live fashion show was Razek’s idea. He protected that idea vigorously. Some executives lost their standing trying...

About the Authors

New York Times Magazine reporters Jessica Silver-Greenberg, Katherine Rosman, Sapna Maheshwari and James B. Stewart contributed to this article.

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