Michaela Stark Brings New Life to Victoria’s Secret
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is officially back after being canceled in 2018. This time, designers like Michaela Stark are bringing forward a new approach by emphasizing body positivity.
Michaela Stark grew up watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show with her friends. The show was meant to create a fantasy. The main focal point everyone looked forward to during the show was watching the Victoria’s Secret Angels. Many viewers, just like Stark, tuned into the iconic show every December.
After the 2018 show, producers decided to cancel the production altogether due to the backlash it had been receiving over the past few years. The discussion sparked as the show appeared to set unrealistic beauty and body standards, as well as promoting eating disorders and unhealthy habits.
Stark’s connection to the show began with Miranda Kerr, a woman whom she went to high school with, who also happened to be one of Victoria’s Secret past Angels. She would watch the show mesmerized, but the next day she felt like she needed to diet because “Miranda was like the pinnacle of beauty at my school,” Stark shared.
Think you know us? Meet the new Victoria’s Secret. Learn More: https://t.co/hj5iIw7EcN pic.twitter.com/46FvPwTFQ2
— Victoria's Secret (@VictoriasSecret) June 28, 2022
Stark was taken aback when she was asked to join the VS20 team, which included a group of artists who were tasked with designing the new lingerie company’s fashion show. Artists were chosen from countries including Tokyo, Lagos, Bogotá, and London.
Stark designed three unique custom looks for models Jade O’Belle and Ceval, as well as herself. The look included a pair of oversized pink wings paired with lace and ribbon train to represent a fairy look. Stark was the only one to approach looks that would make the body as important to the look as the actual clothing.
The Australian-born, London-based designer Michaela Stark is subverting body standards in the new VS World Tour. https://t.co/KygX1Kd7Gx pic.twitter.com/rfMN63Vye7
— Vogue Runway (@VogueRunway) September 27, 2023
The longer Stark began working on the project, the more excited she became. The looks have broken the stereotypical view of the ultra-thin model and now emphasize body positivity. Through her work, she has gone from being uncomfortable in her skin to becoming more confident. She took the feeling of being uncomfortable in clothes and feeling like everything was popping out in the wrong way to make it more beautiful and embrace it.
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show premiered September 26 on Amazon Prime.
