Victoria’s Secret wants you back

Today, Explained

Vox

Daily News, Politics, News

4.4 • 9.5K Ratings

🗓️ 17 October 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The lingerie brand was tarnished by its connection to Jeffrey Epstein, and by fading cultural appeal. With the relaunch of its once-iconic fashion show, Victoria's Secret is fighting for relevance. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Gigi Hadid at the 2025 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Read more from Amy Odell on her substack: https://amyodell.substack.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	On Wednesday night in New York, Victoria's Secret held a watch party for its iconic fashion show.
0:07.0	I thought Victoria's Secret is dying.
0:09.0	Everyone did, though. For years, Victoria's Secret was on top of the world.
0:13.1	And then in 2019, the public learned of a friendship between Jeffrey Epstein and the company's owner.
0:19.4	Everybody started just asking questions.
0:21.9	Who is Wexner and what is his relationship to Epstein?
0:26.9	Wexner is the founder of Victoria's Secret. Like, would it be crazy to say the founder
0:31.2	of Victoria's Secret? It's kind of perverted and... Leslie Wexner damn well knew.
0:35.4	Victoria's Secret lost its place in the firmament.
0:38.0	It just seemed kind of gross.
0:39.7	Now it's trying to launch a comeback, but has fashion moved on?
0:44.3	I think that they know that they need to get back to that place, but they don't know how to make it cool.
0:50.4	That's ahead on Today Explained.
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