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Former model Tyra Banks was quick to respond to the surprising announcement by Victoria’s Secret.
On June 16, the brand told the world that they are starting a new era by teaming up with “accomplished women who share a common passion to drive positive change,” instead of working with famous models for new year shows.
According to the announcement, the brand would launch new initiatives, The VS Collective (including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rapinoe, Adut Akech, Amanda de Cadenet, Eileen Gu, Paloma Elsesser, and the first transgender Victoria’s Secret model Valentina Sampaio) and The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers.
So as to celebrate the news, which came as a part of the Body Positivity movement, Tyra Banks, who is the first Black Victoria’s Secret contract model ever, took to her verified Instagram account, released a photo of herself from 2005 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Alongside the photo, Banks stated:
“First is hard. First is lonely. But first is necessary. First is crucial so that a door can be opened for others to fit through. Within a 10 year span starting in 1995, I was the first Black Victoria’s Secret Cover model. The first Black VS model to do so many other groundbreaking things with the brand – as well as other brands.”
Banks, who retired from the runway 16 years ago, expressed that she is quite satisfied with the news by saying:
“But after a first, must come a flow of more. A flow of different. A flow of unique. A flow so strong, a flow of so many that we lose count. I’m proud that in my lifetime, I’m witnessing a beauty revolution. To the new collective of badass role models, I may have cracked that door open, but y’all are charging through.”
The iconic model, also known as BanX, concluded her words by saying that the movement needs to keeping on “on until we all lose count of how many are breaking through behind you.
