[ot-caption title=”Singers Selena Gomez, from foreground left, Ellie Goulding and The Weeknd celebrate during the 2015 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show finale at the Lexington Armory (via Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)”]

Most people think of fall as the time of the year to layer on the coats and dress warmly. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, however, advertises quite the opposite, as young women strut across the runway in minimal clothing.  This event brings mass controversy as many people believe that objectifying young women who are then praised for wearing meager outfits is outright wrong and offensive. Others understand that the event is a marketing tool for the company, or that the show is presented in a tasteful manner.

For VS, this fashion show is a great business expenditure for promoting and selling their newest line of clothing. Many people at Pine Crest, including teachers, agree that the fashion show, although flashy, works well as a promotional event. Spanish teacher Ms. Fiallo states, “I have very mixed feelings about the Victoria Secret Fashion Show. On the one hand, I understand that it is a form of advertisement in somewhat of good taste. However, I’m not sure if having the event displayed on TV is the right choice as little children can easily watch the show. At the end of the day, I understand that it’s advertising.”

It seems odd that a society that rejects promiscuity in many ways, promotes and even praises the VS Fashion Show.  Junior Chase Shea agrees, explaining, “I feel like the show kind of moves us backwards as a society.  Women are more than just their bodies or something pretty to look at.  I don’t want to sound like a hypocrite, though, because I do think a lot of the stuff is pretty.”  And here lies the major problem: high schoolers may be able to distinguish between what is realistic and what is projected on the screen, but the younger generation may not.  Pictures all over social media seem to promote the message that skinny is pretty and less clothing is okay.  Alexandra Periu, a junior, states, “Many people from the younger generation may develop self-esteem issues from watching beautiful women strutting across a runway and being instantly praised. However, I really love the designs and some of the outfits that the women wear.”

Although many oppose the fashion show, it should not be viewed as an exploitation of women, as these models are doing their job in the modeling industry. This show not only allows the company Victoria Secret to attract new customers, but it also gives these models an opportunity to advance in their careers.  It is essential to see the fashion show for what it is: an event designed to promote a company and its models. When taking a more complex look at the show, the morals of this giant event can come under scrutiny.  When the show airs in December, it will be interesting to see how the Pine Crest community and young people everywhere react.

Sources: Independent.co