Brits Say ‘No’ To Victoria’s Secret ‘Perfect Body’ Campaign

Call me stupified!! I woke up this morning, having dreamed deeply about being in a retail setting, with events out of sync. Wondering how I would explain the dream to my guy, who manages to ask me every detail of my life as I emerge from this very difficult 2014, I said to myself “It felt as if I was back at Victoria’s Secret.”

I’m speaking of the vibe in the dream … the “I love this brand, but not where it is going vibe. I don’t belong in this business anymore … after 10 years as its fashion director and head of product development. The Victoria’s Secret brand no longer speaks to American women in that ‘I understand you’ voice. “

Besides a fleet of the most expensive Angels in the world, the Victoria’s Secret brand was moving into the advertising/marketing business of flaw-fixing.

Sadly, I left one of the most exciting and glamorous retail rides any woman could ask for and stepped off the VS corporate jet for a new life as a highly-paid consultant, blogger and now jewelry and gift artisan with GlamTribale. Having to fend for myself, my integrity was intact with women.

Remembering WW2, London Refuses To Be Bombshelled

As a blogger, I have always been true to the same convictions that prompted me to leave the Victoria’s Secret organization. VS gets the praise they deserve from me but criticism when the world’s largest lingerie brand is out of step with women’s self-interests and psychological wellbeing.

When VS fashion show consultant Sophia Neophitous famously snubbed Kate Upton in the New York Times, she received as much criticism as I could muster. It’s bad enough dealing with religion’s constant guilt-heaping on women. We don’t need it from Victoria’s Secret and definitely not from Sophia Neophitous who famously referred to Kate Upton as looking like a ‘footballers wife’ (as are Gisele Bundchen and Victoria Beckham for heaven’s sake!!!).

Note that Kate Upton is laughing all the way to the bank and rocketed onto Forbes top model list in terms of her income.

Victoria’s Secret: How DARE You Use Kate Upton’s Old Photo On A New Catalogue?

VS Stylist Says Kate Upton Is Too Fat, Anja Rubik Is Perfect?

Anne Signed the Petition

Having moved in the last two weeks, I didn’t have time to post the social media dust-up around the Victoria’s Secret ‘perfect body’ campaign.

There was only time to post the campaign on Facebook and sign the Change.org petition — joining 26,000 other women and men who found the new ‘perfect body’ campaign subconsciously preying on women’s well-established insecurities about their bodies to be just that — a psychologically predatory ad campaign.

Thanks to three young Brits who launched the Change.org petition, Victoria’s Secret has pulled their ‘perfect body’ campaign and replaced it with a more inclusive one.

According to the campaigners, the advert failed “to celebrate the amazing diversity of women’s bodies by choosing to call only one body type ‘perfect’.” They asked for the ad’s message to be changed, and for an apology from the company. As of Friday afternoon, the petition had attracted more than 29,000 signatures. US underwear company Dear Kate responded in turn, posting their own version of The Perfect Body, showcasing a variety of body types.

It’s The ‘Perfect’ Time For Anne To Return To Her Best, Hell-Raising Self

For now, it’s time to drink my French Roast with a smile on my face.

The Smart Sensuality woman knows when brands are manipulating her inner insecurities and self confidence with words like ‘perfect’ and ‘flawless’. And while I’ve never seen Victoria’s Secret back down in such a public way, reality is that the Angels are headed to London in days for the first Victoria’s Secret fashion show in England.

Demonstrations outside the fashion show in the weeks before Christmas would not be good for a brand that relies heavily on holiday sales for its perfection-seeking bottom line.

Congrats to the three young women Leeds students Frances Black, Gabriella Kountourides and Laura Ferris who launched the #Iamperfect campaign. You are helping change the relationship between brands and their customers. Right on!!!!! ~ Anne