Iconic 'angel, wings, Gigi Hadid opened the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show with a triumphant return on Tuesday night.
Broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video, the iconic runway show took place at the Victoria's Secret flagship store in New York City after a six-year hiatus.
The 2024 show also saw the return of Victoria's Secret vets Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima as well as Next Generation icons Taylor Hill and Barbara Balvin.
Cher served as the night's headliner alongside Blackpink alum Lisa and rising star Tyla – marking the show's first, all-female musical lineup.
It comes three years after the underwear brand's controversial 'whack' body-positive rebrand in 2021.
Victoria's Secret's iconic Angels have been replaced by 'ambassadors' such as soccer star Megan Rapinoe and the company fired its longtime CEO after its sales slump and allegations of misogyny, sexual harassment and bullying were exposed.
Gigi Hadid rocked the iconic 'angel, wings' as she made a triumphant return to the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Tuesday night.
The iconic runway show, broadcast live on Amazon's Prime Video, took place at the Victoria's Secret flagship store in New York City after a six-year hiatus.
Lisa kicked off the show with a sultry rendition of her hit Rockstar, which saw her ride into the arena on a motorcycle.
Surrounded by leather-clad dancers, the singer, 27, flashed her toned stomach in a black vinyl bra shaped like angel wings.
It's styled with a chainmail shrug and micro shorts.
Lisa gave an elaborate dance performance under pink stage lights on the grand catwalk.
Gigi Hadid opened the iconic show – which first aired in 1995 – in pale pink wings and a sparkly pink dress.
The 29-year-old model strutted her stuff with a fun mash-up of Chappelle Ron's hits Femininomenon and Charli XCX's viral single 360.
After a six-year hiatus, Adriana Lima made her much-anticipated runway return on Tuesday night.
Gigi Hadid opened the iconic show – which first aired in 1995 – in pale pink wings and a sparkly pink dress.
The 29-year-old model strutted her stuff with a fun mash-up of Chappelle Ron's Femininomenon hits and Charli XCX's viral single 360.
Walking to the beat of Chappelle Rhone's super graphic ultra modern girl, the Brazilian beauty dropped jaws in a shimmery pink and plain plaid bodysuit and pink holographic wings.
Hours before hitting the 2024 catwalk, models let the cameras backstage as hairstylists and makeup artists transformed them from bare-faced beauties to full-glam vixens.
The iconic '90s show announced its return in May after a four-year hiatus.
The fashion show was canceled in 2019 due to poor ratings and various controversies, and has since made efforts to be more inclusive.
Victoria's Secret announced the big news with an Instagram post, promising the 2024 show will 'reflect who we are today and everything you know and love—glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment.'
The popular early Odds Mall brand returned in 2023 with a 'reimagined' Victoria's Secret World Tour Prime Show, which was not well received – people called the show boring.
Many former fans watching at home called back former Victoria's Secret Angels Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Molly Sims, Tyra Banks, Adriana Lima and more.
As Victoria's Secret has dealt with several controversies over the past few years, this was far from the brand's biggest problem.
In 2020, a bombshell report in The New York Times claimed that Victoria's Secret owner Les Wexner mocked the retailer's efforts to champion women of different body types.
The Times interviewed more than 30 executives, employees, contractors and models and reviewed court filings to uncover a toxic culture of sexual harassment.
Employees said Wexner mocked the retail industry's efforts to embrace different body types by saying, 'Go to a plastic surgeon and say, 'Make me fat.'
Wexner also allegedly complained about employees' weight, including fat-shaming an employee in order to get seconds at the buffet.
After the backlash, the underwear company rebranded in an attempt to appeal to Gen Z and hired new brand ambassadors, including a football player. Megan Rapinoe and transgender model Valentina Sampaio.
Ahead of the 2024 show, fans flocked to beg Victoria's Secret to return to their glamorous roots.
Despite the brand's promises that this year's show will 'reflect who we are today and everything you know and love', one woman said: 'The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is coming up tomorrow and I hope they bring this fashion back. Show off femininity, glamour, sparkle and girl power! I don't want to see anything that is politically conscious.
Many agreed, and the tweet received more than 4,200 retweets on X (formerly Twitter).
And girl power! It raised nothing,' wrote another.
However, some called her out in the comments, with one writing: 'Everyone wants a skinny back LMAO', while others said: 'God I wish I could be so willfully ignorant.'
Just hours before 2024 hit the catwalk, models — including Gigi Hadid — transformed them from bare-faced beauties to full-glam vixens as hairstylists and makeup artists let the cameras backstage.
Victoria's Secret veteran Alessandra Ambrosio – who last walked the show in 2018 – was spotted backstage in the iconic pink and white gown.
Adriana Lima – returning to the Victoria's Secret catwalk after a six-year hiatus – nailed her lines while in the hair and makeup chair
Plus-size model Ashley Graham looked sensational in a black strapless bra.
Others said VS hasn't been the same since Rihanna launched Savage x Fenty underwear and 'stole the show' with her own A-list endorsed runway show.
Another critic wrote: 'Victoria's Secret Fashion Show tomorrow! It was canceled in 2019 for vigilante reasons and now they are back. Always wanted to see, it shows what is possible. Nature will heal.'
On Reddit, many fashionistas were more concerned with the idea of the famous VS Angels being replaced by Nebo kids and influencers.
“I expect it to be a bunch of Nepo kids walking around in their underwear,” declared one Reddit user.
One wrote in the same Reddit thread, 'I don't see the point, tbh; Their products are much lower quality than before. I hope no influencers walk by.
'Sponsored by Ozempic,' one commenter quipped, while another admitted, 'That's what I was thinking. They waited for the 'trend' of plus size models to end and the show is back.'
