Spicing Up The Runway: A Look At The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Through The Years

The Early-2000s Shows Added Theatrical Elements

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You can see the emphasis producers put into theatrics with this shot of Tyra Banks from the 2002 show. That year was the second year that the show was broadcast on public television. Although millions of viewers tuned in to watch the show, it did not come without controversy. The Federal Communications Commission began receiving complaints about the highly sexualized nature of the show, nearly calling it “soft-core pornography,” while others argued that the show exacerbates hyper-sexualization of women’s bodies. However, the show abides by censorship guidelines and Victoria’s Secret is unfazed. Chief Marketing Officer Edward Razek told The New York Times in 2001, “This is a powerhouse brand for women, so we market to women. Men come for free.”