An Australian model has revealed what it takes to make it onto one of the world’s most coveted runway shows and it’s truly saddening.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph ahead of her appearance on this year’s Victoria’s Secret show, 24-year-old Bridget Malcolm admitted that a lot is required from those wishing to be considered worthy of a place on the lingerie brand’s iconic runway show.
“I’m deep in it right now,” Malcolm said, explaining, “it’s a lot of twice-daily workouts, a lot of water, a lot of sleep and cooking all my own food so eating a lot of clean veggies and protein shakes.”
Victoria's Secret model Bridget Malcolm backstage at last year's show. Source: Instagram.
The Perth native also told Observer that she followed a similar routine ahead of last year's show.
"When Victoria’s Secret was on, I was training seven days a week," she said. "Sometimes I was leaving here (New York's Aerospace gym) at 8 at night and then I have a training at 8 in the morning."
Considered to be one of the most anticipated runway events of the year, Victoria's Secret unashamedly spend millions of dollars to produce a show unlike any other.
The Victoria's Secret angels. Source: Instagram.
It's loud, garish, completely over the top and televised to boot.
But while participating models are encouraged to bring their unique personality to the playful catwalk, there's one thing they all share in common. The way they look.
They are statuesque tall, remarkably slim and toned to within a millimetre of their life.
And while no one is saying that's not sexy (it absolutely can be!) showcasing just one near-impossible ideal is narrow at best and seriously harmful at worst.
The Victoria's Secret angels. Source: Instagram.
And noticeably absent from the runway is reality.
Curves, big butts, shapely thighs, plus sizes and cellulite are clearly not welcome. Malcolm's comments only confirm that. The problem is, though, those physical attributes are also sexy and are claimed by the majority of women.
And if a company is going to present an annual collection of what they deem to be the most elite group of modern-day sex symbols, surely some spectrum diversity is required.
Bridget Malcolm at last year's Victoria's Secret show. Source: Instagram.
To be clear, this is not about skinny shaming or passing judgement on the weight or health of a model.
It's about a global brand presenting a narrowly defined and near-impossible view of what is sexy to a giant global audience.
Having a company tell women around the world - millions of whom struggling with eating disorders and self-loathing on a daily basis - that you have to be near starving but buff enough to disguise it if you want to be considered truly sexy is as damaging as it is deranged.
But even more so, it's seriously outdated and out of fashion.
Top Comments
If we leave out the question of weight, the required diversity is short women and pear-shaped women and apple-shaped women. Not necessarily overweight or ones with stretch marks. Is it really that controversial that beautiful women can be something other than long, lean and leggy?
It's unhealthy to be over weight. It's unhealthy to be skinny. Why are we punishing Victoria's Secret for the way they market and their model's for looking the way they do? Yes it's over the top their workout regiments, and yes the diets are questionable to most... but hard work and sacrifice can be rewarding..obviously! I know some people may get upset over this but, I don't think it's ok to make being unhealthy or overweight OK. All women are beautiful no matter what size they are. But the fact is being overweight is unhealthy, these models are not the unattainable.... we've just made being big the norm. Once again I will say all women are beautiful no matter what