Flagging Victoria's Secret announces new lingerie CEO

NEW YORK -- US lingerie giant Victoria's Secret announced Monday that it had appointed John Mehas, a longstanding fashion businessman as new lingerie CEO, hoping to boost its ailing fortunes.

Mehas will take over in the New Year, replacing Jan Singer, who resigned with the brand under fire for slumping sales, idealized glamazonian femininity and reluctance to put larger and transgender models on the catwalk.

His appointment was announced as Victoria's Secret, the lingerie market leader in the United States, reported third-quarter results with a net loss of $42.8 million compared to net income of $86 million last year. 

"Our number one priority is improving performance," said chairman and chief executive officer Leslie Wexner of parent company L Brands.

"Our new leaders are coming in with a fresh perspective and looking at everything... our marketing, brand positioning, internal talent, real estate portfolio and cost structure," he added.

"I am confident that, under John's leadership, Victoria's Secret Lingerie...will continue to be a powerhouse and will deliver products and experiences that resonate with women around the globe."

Mehas comes to Victoria's Secret from Tory Burch, where he is currently president. He previously led Club Monaco for 13 years as president and CEO. He has also worked at The Gap and Bloomingdales.

Singer had been on the job since September 2016. No reason has been publicly announced for her departure.

Earlier this month, Victoria's Secret marketing director Ed Razek provoked uproar on social media for telling Vogue that there was no need for transgender or plus-size models in this year's fashion show.

"No, I don't think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It's a 42-minute entertainment special," he said.

Razek subsequently issued a public apology. Victoria's Secret hired some of the world's most famous models and filmed their annual fashion show in New York on November 8. It will be aired globally next month. 

In the United States, it provoked ire for its uniform use of slender models at a time when US women feel increasingly empowered by the #MeToo movement and with lingerie brands that promote all shapes and sizes -- such as Rihanna's new Savage X Fenty line -- making inroads.

Heidi Zak, co-CEO of one such rival brand, ThirdLove, published an open letter in The New York Times saying she was "appalled" by Razek's "demeaning comments" in the Vogue interview.

"You market to men, and sell a male fantasy to women," she said.

"Women wear bras in real life as they go to work, breastfeed their children, play sports, care for ailing parents, and serve their country," she wrote.

"Haven't we moved beyond outdated ideas of femininity and gender roles? It's time to stop telling women what makes them sexy -- let us decide."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Kelsey Merritt opens up about anxiety attacks, cites 'pressure'

MANILA – She may be at the top of her game now, yet Kelsey Merritt admitted that she suffered anxiety attacks in her journey to becoming a Victoria’s Secret model.

“This year, I put a lot of pressure on myself to the point that I would get anxiety attacks, something that I never had to deal before,” she said in an Instagram post on Thursday.

The Filipino-American model went on to thank her boyfriend, American swimmer Conor Dwyer, for always being there for her, especially during her anxiety attacks.

“I am so thankful for a lot of things that’s happened this year, but I’m really thankful for having Conor in my life,” she said.

“Conor was there for me, made sure I was okay, and was always just my shoulder to cry on,” she added. “We don’t really share a lot about our relationship to the public and I prefer to keep it private. But I just wanted to share with all of you what an amazing human being this guy is.”

Merritt recently made history as the first Filipino model in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Victoria's Secret CEO quits, facing sales slump, model controversy

NEW YORK -- The CEO of American clothing and lingerie brand Victoria's Secret has resigned amid flagging sales and controversy around a lack of diversity at the line's iconic annual fashion show, a source said Wednesday.

A source familiar with the matter said CEO Jan Singer, who had been in the position since September 2016, would leave the company, but did not specify when.

American media outlets had reported the move without specifying the reason, and Victoria's Secret parent company, L Brands, declined to comment.

The departure comes less than a week after the brand's marketing director Ed Razek garnered anger for saying in a Vogue interview that Victoria's Secret had thought about and decided against including transgender or plus-size models in their show, which this year was held in New York on Nov. 8.

"We attempted to do a television special for plus-sizes (in 2000). No one had any interest in it, still don't," Razek told the magazine.

The director cited pop star Rihanna's Savage X Fenty line, which carries plus sizes, but said Victoria's Secret didn't want to include new models just to be "politically correct," and that they are a "specialty business" which doesn't market to everyone.

The comments sparked a surge of criticism on social media, to the point that Razek issued a public apology, saying that the brand wouldn't object to hiring a transgender model.

Outside of that controversy, Singer's departure as CEO comes at a difficult time for the lingerie company, which has suffered from a slow-down in recent years. Sales fell eight percent in 2017.

In the first half of 2018, L Brand, its parent company, was able to stabilize Victoria's Secret, particularly thanks to the opening of several stores in China and to the growth of online sales.

Critics say the its issues come because the brand and its models haven't been able to adapt to the market's new demands.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

WATCH: Kelsey Merritt is a catwalk charmer in Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Kelsey Merritt may be a newcomer to the Victoria’s Secret runway, but her energetic and charming strut made her appear otherwise, going by a viral video of her debut in the iconic brand’s annual fashion show.

The Pampanga-born model took her turn on the catwalk last Friday (Manila time), ahead of the show’s TV premiere on December 2.


Merritt, 21, was among the models who sported outfits from the PINK line of Victoria’s Secret, based on snippets of the show filmed in New York.

The budding supermodel has long dreamt of joining the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. She actively pursued this in 2017, relocating in New York once she finished her studies at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Realizing that dream came hand-in-hand with meeting her idol, Victoria’s Secret icon Adriana Lima, whose swan song as an “Angel” coincided with Merritt’s debut.

“Growing up watching the @victoriassecret fashion show, I wanted to be like @adrianalima!” Merritt wrote in an Instagram post showing her with the supermodel. “She is such an inspiration. I can’t believe I get to say I’ve walked the show with her on her very last one after 18 years.”

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Kelsey Merritt debuts in Victoria's Secret fashion show

Kelsey Merritt debuted early Friday (Manila time) on the Victoria’s Secret fashion show stage — a dream-come-true for the budding supermodel who also makes history as the first Filipina to join the iconic brand’s flagship event.

The fashion show was held and taped Thursday in New York, with the telecast and web premiere scheduled on December 2.

In a series of updates on Instagram, Merritt shared a look at her preparations for her turn on the runway, and her actual look as a debuting VS Fashion Show model.

The Pampanga-born Merritt, 21, joined the likes of Adriana Lima, Behati Prinsloo, Martha Hunt, Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, and fellow newcomers Winnie Harlow, Barbara Palvin, and Lorena Rae.

Merritt, who made international headlines as the first Pinay to be cast in the VS fashion show, was a radiant sight in her complete runway outfit.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Kelsey Merritt is all set for the Victoria's Secret fashion show

MANILA – “I’ve been so excited for this day to come!”

Kelsey Merritt made this statement on Wednesday (Manila time) as she announced that she has decided on her outfit for her debut on the Victoria’s Secret fashion show runway.

“Just came from my fitting today… I finally know what I’m going to wear at the show! I can’t wait for all of you to see it!” she said in an Instagram post, which showed her carrying bags of Victoria’s Secret items.

The Victoria’s Secret fashion show will be held in New York on November 8. The event has featured the likes of Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Miranda Kerr, and Karlie Kloss, to name a few.

Merritt makes history as the first Filipina model featured in the coveted lingerie show.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Kelsey Merritt attends Vanity Fair party with Olympic champ BF

Her dream job wasn't the only thing Kelsey Merritt found in the US: she also found love. 

On Thursday, she shared a photo of her and her boyfriend, two-time Olympic gold medal winner Conor Dwyer, getting cozy with one another at a Vanity Fair party in New York. 

Their romantic night-out came nearly a week after Merritt received news that she will become the first Filipino woman to walk the Victoria's Secret fashion show this fall. 

This is also the first time Merritt shared a photo with Dwyer on her Instagram since the announcement. 

It remains unclear when Merritt started dating Dwyer, but she began being more open about their relationship in August when they went on a vacation to Japan. 

Dwyer is a two-time gold medalist for the US in swimming. He won his first gold in the 2012 Summer Olympics, and his second as part of the US men's freestyle team in 2016. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Fil-Italian model books dream modeling gig for Victoria’s Secret

MILAN, Italy - Filipino-Italian Ambra Gutierrez has now fulfilled one of her dreams: becoming a model for lingerie mega brand Victoria’s Secret.

“I did the casting two months ago, they just told me about the job a week ago. It was like any other casting I do but I was so nervous when I saw the casting group in front of me checking my portfolio, it is something I have always dreamed of,” said the 26-year old model.

Gutierrez has worked with her personality, attitude and confidence just as much as her body. She has also built up an impressive Instagram following and currently boasts over 120,000 followers. 

She is working hard for her modeling career and will soon start a podcast in September with Univision, where she’ll interview and talk about how people overcome issues with the purpose of helping others.

Gutierrez is also open to the idea of joining show business.

“I’m planning to try many different things, maybe singing too. I love singing, it makes me happy,” she said.

After the issues which turned the model’s life upside down, it was a journey getting to where she is now. She has dealt with a lot of rejections but she never gave up on what she really wanted. It was a long process but was worth the long wait.

“I just think that maybe this could have happened before. My goal in life is to keep my loved ones happy, in terms of work I’m pretty much doing all I wished for,” she said.

Gutierrez is now based in New York and travels to Italy as much as she can to see her family.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Sneak peek of Kelsey Merritt's shoot with Victoria's Secret

MANILA – Days after announcing that she will be working with Victoria’s Secret, Filipino-American model Kelsey Merritt gave her fans a glimpse of her photo shoot with the iconic lingerie brand.

“So this just happened,” she said in an Instagram post on Wednesday (Manila time), which showed her wearing a Victoria’s Secret pastel blue bra. 

“Dream job with the dream team.”

Merritt is currently represented by the modeling agency Women Management Milano.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Victoria's Secret fashion show struts into Shanghai

SHANGHAI - Victoria's Secret brought its racy annual fashion show to Shanghai on Monday night, making its debut in China's growing lingerie market in typically brazen style but with added Chinese flair.

English heartthrob Harry Styles headlined the musical acts as the world's top models strutted in skimpy bras and underwear in Shanghai's Mercedes Benz Arena, in what the US lingerie brand dubs the sexiest show on earth.

The show, now in its 23rd year, has faced past criticism for leaning heavily towards western models, but this year it features a record 55 women from 20 countries.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Victoria's Secret gala in China hits snag as Gigi Hadid pulls out

Top US fashion model Gigi Hadid on Friday pulled out of the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show in Shanghai after an online video showing her apparently making a slant-eyes face sparked criticism in China.

The announcement is the second apparent snag to hit the US lingerie maker's A-list underwear extravaganza set for Monday, following reports that three Russian and one Ukrainian model had failed to obtain Chinese visas.

Hadid, ranked fifth on Forbes' list of the highest-paid women models last year at $9 million, had excitedly announced her participation in the show in August.

She gave no reason for the reversal.

"I'm so bummed I won't be able to make it to China this year," the 22-year-old said on Twitter.

"Love my VS family, and will be with all my girls in spirit!"

Hadid's withdrawal averts a potential PR disaster for Victoria's Secret, which is hoping to shore up a sagging bottom line by pushing into China's growing intimate-wear market.

The company opened its first flagship stores in China this year and Monday's show is the first held outside the US or Europe.

Chinese internet users accused Hadid of racism after her sister Bella -- another of the three dozen or more models expected in Shanghai -- posted an Instagram video in February showing Gigi squinting her eyes while holding up a Buddha-shaped cookie.

After Hadid announced in August that she would come to Shanghai, many Chinese netizens pounced anew, warning her to stay away.

Hadid posted a bilingual apology on China's Twitter-like Weibo on September 1, declaring her "respect and love for the people of China" and swearing she meant no harm, but even that drew flak.

A Victoria's Secret spokesman declined comment when asked by AFP whether Hadid pulled out on her own, was asked to by the company, or whether Chinese authorities applied any pressure.

- Not welcome -

Chinese Weibo users mostly crowed over her withdrawal.

"Suddenly I have better feelings about VS. If she had come, I would never buy VS my entire life," said one posting.

Others, however, expressed regret, noting Hadid's apology.

Speculation has also swirled over the participation of Russia's Julia Belyakova, Kate Grigorieva and Irina Sharipova, and Ukraine's Dasha Khlystun, after unconfirmed reports suggested they were denied Chinese visas.

The Victoria's Secret spokesman declined comment.

"That's getting into a Chinese government issue. Victoria's Secret is not going to comment on that," he said, referring line-up questions to each model's individual agencies.

The annual show, viewed by millions worldwide, features the planet's top models including Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Jasmine Tookes and Lais Ribeiro.

It tapes Monday and airs globally on November 28.

China's foreign ministry said Friday it was "not aware" of the Hadid or visa issues.

"I can only tell you that we welcome foreign citizens to come to China, to engage in normal trade, tourism and cultural activities. And we are willing to issue visas to the eligible applicants," ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily briefing.

Hadid joins a list of foreigners who wore out their China welcome.

Celebrities including singers Bjork, Elton John and Lady Gaga, and actors such as Richard Gere and Sharon Stone, have either been banned or pilloried for words or actions deemed as criticising China on sensitive topics like Tibetan independence and human rights.

Argentine international footballer Ezequiel Lavezzi, who plays for Chinese club Hebei China Fortune, apologised in May after publicity photos showing him pulling the corners of his eyes back in a slant-eyed gesture angered many. He is still with the club.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pacquiao, Victoria's Secret model spar in viral video

MANILA -- Brazilian supermodel and Victoria's Secret star Adriana Lima was at a loss for words when she had a "dream-come-true" encounter with Pinoy boxing champ Manny Pacquiao.



The 32-year-old catwalk superstar met the fighting congressman for a sparring session recently, as shown in an episode of the Fox Sports talk show "Crowd Goes Wild," which aired November 22 in the United States.

The segment was then uploaded on Fox Sports' official YouTube page. As of writing, the video already had over 212,000 views.

In the 84-second clip, Lima is seen gushing as she meets Pacquiao for the first time. "I can't believe it! [This is] like my dream!" she exclaims.

The supermodel is then shown doing exercise routines and later sparring with Pacquiao, who calls Lima's jabs "strong" at one point.

"Boxing is something that became my passion," Lima says in the video.

"She's training for a fashion show and I'm training for the fight," adds Pacquiao, who won against American Brandon Rios in their 12-round welterweight clash, two days after his meeting with Lima aired.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rihanna a rock star on Victoria’s Secret catwalk

NEW YORK— Rihanna has rocked the lingerie look at Victoria’s Secret fashion show in New York, holding her own on the catwalk with some of the world’s top models.

Wearing a sheer pink mini Wednesday night that gave glimpses of her bra, Rihanna sang “Fresh Out the Runway” at the end of a corset-and-garter parade, grabbing the audience’s biggest applause.

The fashion show has become a pre-holiday tradition for Victoria’s Secret and CBS will turn it into a one-hour special to be aired on Dec. 4. It will also feature performances from Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars.

This year’s event had a slight twist. It started with an announcer noting that Victoria’s Secret and CBS had each made a donation to relief efforts for Superstorm Sandy.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net