Can a troubled Victoria’s Secret successfully write its next chapter? It’s certainly pulling out all the stops

The message on Tuesday night in Brooklyn was simple: after a six-year hiatus, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is back, and the lingerie brand’s future is being shaped by women.

The message on Tuesday night in Brooklyn was simple: after a six-year hiatus, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is back, and the lingerie brand’s future is being shaped by women. The presence of the female gaze was felt throughout the evening with a production that featured an all-women musical lineup, and a diverse cast of models wearing more sophisticated — and in some cases, more comfortable-looking lingerie, including leggings and sheer coverups. Lisa from K-pop supergroup Blackpink kicked off the event with an opening performance, and Gigi Hadid rose from the stage floor on a catwalk that looked like the love child of the “Barbie” movie set and an ’80s video game. Hadid, along with other models, wore the brand’s signature angel wings (this year, faux feather versions were PETA-approved). There appeared to be more Brown and Black faces on the runway than at any time in the show’s history, many of whom wore natural hairstyles, as well as some plus-sized and older models walking. The crowd screamed as Adriana Lima — one of the original Victoria’s Secret “Angels” — charged down the runway alongside some of fashion’s most in-demand models: Bella Hadid, Alex Consani and Paloma Elsesser. Kate Moss, who turned 50 in January, made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut, with her daughter Lila also modeling. Then there was Cher, the undisputed highlight of the evening, who delivered a show-stealing performance of “Believe” and “Strong Enough.” Fashion journalist Roxanne Robinson told CNN: “the models could have been naked, and no one would have noticed.”