Adriana Lima, the real reasons that pushed her to leave Victoria's Secret
After numerous magazine covers for the most famous publications around the world and numerous advertising campaigns for international brands, Adriana Lima is best known for having embodied one of the angels of Victoria's Secret. But now, yesterday haloed with glory, the image of the American lingerie label seems tarnished today and one can wonder if Adriana Lima has not decided to retire because of this damaged image.
According to the American magazine Forbes, in 2017, sales of Victoria's Secret fell considerably and since then the label has struggled to rebound. The brand also suffers collateral damage following the Epstein case because the L. Brands group which owns it would have maintained relations with Jeffrey Epstein, a now deceased financier, at the origin of the court case which concerns her name. In addition, faced with the "body positive" movement, Victoria's Secret suffers from a lack of diversity in its proposals, whether in its collections, fashion shows or advertising campaigns. As a result, customers around the world would sanction the brand by turning away from its products. This could also explain why some "angels" are beginning to turn on their heels, even if it means giving up marvelous contracts.
Adriana Lima would have liked to be able to do a 20th show for Victoria's Secret
What is surprising about the departure of model Adriana Lima is that in 2017, she told People magazine that she wouldn't leave Victoria's Secret until she had walked in at least 20 of her shows, adding that she loved walking that runway because it made her "happy, sexy, like an angel, excited and bubbly! »
During her last show, the model also burst into tears. Later, she will explain in an interview with The Daily Front Row that she had anticipated her departure a year before the end of this collaboration. She told the Daily: “I tried my best not to cry, but I burst into tears. I loved walking on the podium. It was always the event of my life. Knowing that this was my last time was not easy to realize. It was very moving. ... I burst into tears because I was sad, but also because of the love received in return. It's not just the brand but the girls, my hairdressers, the make-up artists. »
While thanking her fans on Instagram for supporting her during her 19 years on the Victoria's Secret catwalk, Adriana Lima posted a bittersweet message at the same time: "Dear Victoria, thank you for show the world, to share your secrets, and above all not to give me wings but to teach me to fly"!
© Victor Virgile / Getty ImagesYou must know how to relax your throat and control your gag reflexes. #Im a Bad Bitch!
— DEEP THROATER! Sat Nov 17 15:57:43 +0000 2012
Adriana Lima's departure was rumored
A year before the announcement of her departure, however, the rumor preceded the model. Through a message in December 2017 on Instagram, Adriana Lima explained that she had refused to shoot a "sexy video" for social networks. She argued, "Even though I've made a lot of videos like this, something has changed in me." The model also explained that she was beginning to question the pressure exerted on women. She added that from that moment she began to realize that the majority of women probably wake up every morning trying to adapt to a stereotype imposed by society, social networks, fashion, etc.continuing . She insisted with the following message: “I will no longer take off my clothes for [a] futile cause. »
Adriana Lima and empowerment
A year before ending her contract with Victoria's Secret, Adriana Lima said she wanted to participate in the emancipation of women. Remained somewhat ambiguous since, Adriana Lima told People before her last Victoria's Secret fashion show: "I look forward to supporting women and being connected to different projects that support women around the world". She posted the following message on Instagram: "We [women], must not continue to live in a world that has such superficial moral values...", she added: "I want change, in the name of my grandmother, my mother, and all of her ancestors who were labeled, pressured, [misunderstood].” Although the model has never openly criticized Victoria's Secret since her departure, she has always remained sincere about her desire for more diversity in the fashion world. “…I want any young girl or boy to be able to open a magazine, website or Instagram, whatever their fashion vision is and feel represented in a beautiful and positive way. she told People in 2019.
In 2017, her close friend and "show buddy," Alessandra Ambrosio, also left Victoria's Secret. Officially, the model wanted to develop her acting career and devote herself to her own swimwear brand, Ale by Alessandra. But this could suggest that Adriana Lima was inspired by this departure... A few years earlier, in 2015, Karlie Kloss, Victoria's Secret star model, also left the label unexpectedly. The model then explained in the pages of Vogue: "The reason why I decided to stop working with Victoria's Secret is because I don't think it's an image that really reflects who I am or the kind of message that I want to deliver to young women around the world about what it means to be beautiful." No doubt with the awareness of many Victoria's Secret models, Adriana Lima said in 2019 in Vogue Arabia: "I believe to the brands I work with and hope my audience realizes that I'm authentic."
© adrianalima / Instagram
Adriana Lima, wants to continue her career in modeling
Even if she no longer has a contract with a brand like Victoria's Secret, she has worked a lot since her departure. She plans to walk as long as she can and now spends more time with her children. The model is also dedicated to other fashion projects and notably collaborated with Puma or BCBG Max Azria in 2019. This year, The Daily Front Row newspaper also elected her "Fashion Icon of the Year" And when the daily asks her how long she hopes to continue her career, she replies: “I have been a model for more than 20 years, so ok, of course I know how to take a picture… But I want to break the perception that I am just a pretty face. I want to be remembered more than that. I want people to remember that I worked hard, am caring, and am a businesswoman. »
Today, the model is still careful about what she eats, but she no longer knows the pressure of the strict diet imposed by Victoria's Secret. In the pages of ELLE, the former catwalk star revealed that she now consumes healthy foods, even while traveling with a cooler full of meals prepared by the Perfecting Athletes nutrition service. His goal now is no longer to be thin for the podium, but to stay healthy to live a long life.
© adrianalima / Instagram