Tyra Banks, the first black model of Victoria’s Secret, has supported the lingerie brand’s decision to replace its cast of supermodels whom they call Angels. She said that she’s “proud” to see a “beauty revolution” in her lifetime.
In an Instagram post shared on Thursday, the former Victoria’s Secret Angel reflected on being the first Black woman to have a modelling contract with the brand. She also shared a photo of her modelling at the brand’s 2005 fashion show.
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“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,” Banks wrote.
“Within a 10 year span starting in 1995, I was the first Black Victoria’s Secret contract model ever. 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. 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,” she added.
She continued, “I retired from the runway 16 years ago — and I’m proud that in my lifetime, I’m witnessing a beauty revolution,” she wrote. “To the new collective of badass ROLE models, I may have cracked that door open, but y’all are charging through. Keep on keepin’ on until we all LOSE COUNT of how many are breaking through behind you. #LetsLoseCount.”
Banks previously revealed that she faced discrimination while working with Victoria’s Secret, reports Yahoo Life.
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“I lost my very first opportunity with Victoria’s Secret, The hairdresser did not know what to do with my hair. And was spraying water and putting heat and all kinds of stuff, and it was just a frizzy mess. Had no idea what to do with my hair texture. And I get on the set, and they sent me home because my hair looked bad,” she said in 2020.
Victoria’s Secret’s new ambassadors including Megan Rapinoe, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Valentina Sampaio, Eileen Gu, Paloma Elsesser and more, will be known as the VS Collective and their goal is to help usher in a new chapter for the company.
These initiatives come two years after the brand ended its once high-profile Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show after claims that the brand was not diverse.
