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There’s a Record Number of Asian Models in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show — Here’s Why

Liu Wen was the first Chinese model to walk on the Victoria's Secret runway. (Photo: Getty Images)
Liu Wen was the first Chinese model to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway. (Photo: Getty Images)

Four Chinese models —Liu Wen, Xi Mengyao, Sui He, and Ju Xiaowen — are set to walk in the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on Wednesday. Considering the first Victoria’s Secret model of Asian descent did not walk in the retailer’s annual show until 2009, this is a huge step toward inclusivity and racial diversity for Victoria’s Secret.

The four models in this year’s lineup maintain a massive presence on social media and have worked with top designers worldwide. Victoria’s Secret recently posted an image on its Instagram channel of three of the women in Paris with the caption, “Ni hao! @liuwenlw,@mingxi11 & @hesui923 repping China at the #VSFashionShow.”

Ni hao! @liuwenlw, @mingxi11 & @hesui923 repping China at the #VSFashionShow.

A photo posted by Victoria's Secret (@victoriassecret) on Nov 29, 2016 at 6:56am PST

The shift to a more racially diverse roster of models for the popular show could be reflective of the company’s growing market in China.

Since expanding into the region in 2015, the retailer has gradually increased its presence and seen great success in doing so. Starting out with just 20 concept stores — shops that sold only beauty products and accessories — the company now plans to open its first flagship retail store in Shanghai this year, which will sell lingerie, along with a number of standalone stores. The move is ideal considering the lingerie market in China is extremely profitable and has more than doubled in five years, to $18 billion, according to Mintel Group.

Martin Waters, president of L Brands International, Victoria’s Secret’s parent company, recently revealed just how strong the retailer’s presence is in China at an investors-day event. He shared that an estimated 350 million people in China will watch the upcoming Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, according to Ohio’s Columbus Dispatch.

“Maybe someday we’ll have the fashion show in Shanghai — maybe — because we’re a global brand,” Leslie H. Wexner, the L Brands founder, also shared. “We have demonstrated that we have the best brand-building ability in the world. People who can’t read English, when they see the Victoria’s Secret name, they smile.”

Sui He walks the runway during the 2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)
Sui He walks the runway at the 2015 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)

In past years, the lingerie company has received considerable flak for the lack of diversity on the runway in its highly anticipated show. Of the 44 women on the runway in last year’s show, only 13 were women of color, around 30 percent.

This year’s lineup is expected to be its most diverse show yet, with more than 50 women expected to walk. Only two of the 12 models who hold the highly acclaimed “Angel” status are women of color, but with the retailer’s trend toward diversity, it’s only a matter of time before an Asian model is also appointed.

Arrived PARIS???? Countdown 1 day to our big day! ???????????? WE ARE READY READY READY! #vsfs2016

A photo posted by 何穗 sui he (@hesui923) on Nov 29, 2016 at 7:52am PST

@hesui923 @mingxi11 @jujujuxiaowen #VSFashionShow ????????????????????????

A photo posted by Liu Wen (刘雯) (@liuwenlw) on Nov 27, 2016 at 6:28am PST

Earlier this month, three of the company’s models, Alessandra Ambrosio, Josephine Skriver, and Sui He, headed to China for Alibaba Group’s 11.11 Global Shopping Festival in Shenzhen. Sending a veteran like Ambrosio to the event further exemplifies how the brand is aiming to grow in the country.

Angels in China ???????????????? @victoriassecret photo by @jeromeduran

A photo posted by Alessandra Ambrosio (@alessandraambrosio) on Nov 11, 2016 at 4:46am PST

It’s estimated that China’s lingerie market will have retail value of $25 billion by next year and will grow to $33 billion by 2020, according to Euromonitor, so it’s likely that Victoria’s Secret’s investment will only help its business.


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