Is This The Beginning Of The Victoria’s Secret Backlash?

By Jeanne Sutton
04th Nov 2015

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Model Doutzen Kroes walks the runway at the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show at Earls Court on December 2, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Is This The Beginning Of The Victoria’s Secret Backlash?

Jourdan Dunn is a model at the top of game, her high-profile status seeing her catch headlines on runways, red carpets and in campaigns like Balmain for H&M. The English model’s career is secured. Which means she has a bit more power than your average industry insider. And Jourdan Dunn isn’t afraid of using her platform for something that isn’t just an orchestrated PR promise. Although she may delete the incriminating tweet after it catches fire.

Dunn took some time last night to comment on Rihanna’s departure from the Victoria’s Secret runway. The singer was scheduled to make a Taylor Swift-esque performance at the upcoming show next month but pulled out as soon as she was announced. Rihanna’s people said the singer wanted to concentrate on her next album. She was swiftly replaced by Ellie Goulding, who joins a bill which includes Selena Gomez and The Weeknd.

victoria's secret NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Model Jourdan Dunn prepares backstage at the BALMAIN X H&M Collection Launch at 23 Wall Street on October 20, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for H&M) — Jourdan Dunn’s deleted tweet has everyone speculating about Victoria’s Secret.

Dunn tweeted ?Feeling soo much better about not doing BS ?..sorry I mean VS now that Rihanna isn’t doing it also?. The tweet was punctuated with a smiley face emoji. Considering Dunn walked the past three years in the always majorly hyped show and isn’t joining in the festivities this year, everyone is talking.

What’s it all about, Jourdan? Jezebel closed their recap of the story with theories on the low in comparison to the industry standard pay. Karlie Kloss allegedly departed the brand this year because of money. Some whisper that Jourdan was replaced by Kendall Jenner in the line-up, hence all the drama. Would that not make the current Balmain campaign both models are working on very awkward? Others are calling out Victoria’s Secret’s diversity problem – black models are a rarity on the runway – and suggesting that became an issue for Jourdan.

Whatever the reason, we think Jourdan is well shod of the hyped up knickers and bra circus. This journalist’s efforts to follow the diet models commit to in the run-up to the December show is just plain depressing. Also, it means one less name blasting our social media about the show.