Redeem now - YouTuber Nikita Dragun made a Victoria's Secret-style ad.
- Dragun, who is transgender, made the ad in response to L Brands chief marketing officer Ed Razek's recent comments that he doesn't think the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show should feature transgender or plus-size models.
- Dragun's video is going viral.
Victoria's Secret found itself in hot water after Ed Razek, chief marketing officer of its parent company, L Brands, said during an interview that transgender models should not be featured in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. He ultimately issued an apology after the interview went viral, but his initial comments are still striking a nerve with many.
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in.YouTuber Nikita Dragun, who is transgender, responded to Razek's thoughts by making her own version of a Victoria's Secret ad. The video, shot by LiveRichMedia, shows Dragun modeling white lingerie while wearing a pair of wings reminiscent of those that the Victoria's Secret angels wear down the runway.
"dear Victoria's Secret, you said trans women can't sell the 'fantasy' so here i am as a TRANS WOMAN selling the FANTASY!" Dragun wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.
In his interview with Vogue, Razek said: "Shouldn't you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don't think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It's a 42-minute entertainment special. That's what it is."
Razek went on to say that there was little interest in hiring models with diverse body types for the brand's show.
"We attempted to do a television special for plus-sizes [in 2000]," he said. "No one had any interest in it, still don't."
Razek later addressed the comments in a statement via Twitter, in which he apologized for his "insensitive" words.
—Victoria's Secret (@VictoriasSecret) November 10, 2018Razek's comments were met with mass criticism. Over 9,000 people signed a petition in support of boycotting the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show as a result, and lingerie brand ThirdLove took out a full-page ad in The New York Times to address its disappointment with Razek's comments.
Read more: It's finally time for Victoria's Secret to ditch its supermodel-filled fashion show for good
Singer Halsey also shared a message of support for the transgender community via Instagram after performing in this year's special, which Victoria's Secret model Bella Hadid supported by reposting it in an Instagram story.
Dragun's response video has been met with overwhelming praise so far. People on Twitter are calling it "beautiful" and a moment that will "go down in history."
—Jess Icka (@CloverJess) December 6, 2018—TAHMINA BEGUM (@Tahmina30058915) December 6, 2018—Yasmyne 💛 (@XoyasmyneXo) December 6, 2018—Muskaan Choudhary (@Muskaan74) December 6, 2018—Sarah.RepTour.Brisbane🇦🇺 (@MummaSsarah) December 6, 2018Dragun, LiveRichMedia, and representatives for Victoria's Secret did not immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment.
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- Read more about the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show:
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- Adriana Lima just walked in her last Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Here's a look back at her most memorable runway looks.
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Follow INSIDER on Twitter.Watch: This Victoria's Secret model could knock you out
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