Victoria's Secret 'Perfect Body' Campaign Causes Social Media Outrage
Victoria's Secret is the latest mega retail brand to be coming under scrutiny from its customers. According to StyleBlazer, the issue stems from the brand's latest ads for its Body by Victoria line of bras, which some are interpreting as a "body-shaming ploy by Victoria's Secret."
Victoria's Secret models are known for their slim and toned figures that most standard size models have, but the wording of the ad placed over of 10 naked models is a bit misleading. Although the word "body" is in quotation marks to illustrate that it's actually referring to the popular Body by Victoria bra, many displeased consumers didn't understand the reference. People who found the ad offensive took to Twitter to share their discontent.
"When someone looks at that, the tendency is to measure themselves against that ad," said Body Image expert, Sarah Maria, to ABC News.
There is currently a petition on Change.org started by students Frances Black, Gabriella Kountourides and Laura Ferris from Leeds University, which already has over 3,000 signatures.
"We would like Victoria's Secret to apologize 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," they said. "We would like Victoria's Secret to change the wording on their advertisements for their bra range Body, to something that does not promote unhealthy and unrealistic standards of beauty, as well as pledge to not use such harmful marketing in the future."
What do you think? Is this an overreaction, or are petitioners justified in their outrage? Leave your comments below!