Victoria’s Secret Gets Backlash

It seems like every so often another company gets in deep trouble with respect to how they portray body image and beauty in the media. This week critics slammed Victoria’s Secret for its latest campaign dubbed “The Perfect Body”. The ad features ten models wearing various styles of bras from their collection with the words “The Perfect Body” written across the centre of the image. From a company perspective, this may have not been intentional because the bras are actually referred to as ‘the perfect fit, perfect comfort and perfectly soft’. However, in a world where body image is constantly being spoken of and women are easily influenced by what they see in the media, it certainly can be misconstrued. It could also be said that it was done very deliberately to get attention, spark conversation and in the end convert to sales. Only they know why they chose to do what the did. I can understand why this would create backlash and even cause patrons to boycott the company. It’s difficult enough having to compete with seeing so-called perfection in media, but then to have the words ‘perfect body’ slapped across a few gorgeous models could potentially make people question their own sense of ‘perfection’.

Frances Black, Gabriella Kountourides and Laura Ferris are three British students who have created a petition on Change.org in order to demand Victoria’s Secret either change the campaign or make a public apology for its use of “Perfect Body”.

“We would like Victoria’s Secret to apologise and take responsibility for the unhealthy and damaging message that their ‘Perfect Body’ campaign is sending out about women’s bodies and how they should be judged.”

(CLICK HERE TO SEE PETITION) As of October 31 the petition had nearly 14,000 signatures.

On Twitter the hashtag #iamperfect is being used to create dialogue on the topic of what perfect is and also to voice opinions to Victoria’s Secret. It was just over ten years ago when Dove launched its now famous ‘real beauty’ campaign. Since then the have featured many women of all shapes, sizes and walks of life to represent what they call ‘real beauty’. Dove has become a powerhouse behind the movement to change the idea of perfect beauty. They also took a moment to chime in the #iamperfect conversation on twitter saying they celebrate the perfect real body. (see tweet below)