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Last year, the Victoria s Secret Fashion Show broke a beauty barrier, exchanging their bombshell-waves-only policy for a freckling of close-crops and Afros that rendered the runway slightly more relatable. But in terms of inclusivity, Victoria s Secret still has a ways to go—and Ashley Graham is here to call the lifestyle brand out in decidedly strong guise.
The Vogue covergirl took to Instagram on Sunday—ahead of this year s VS Show in Shanghai—to share a snap that found her walking a runway in lacy lingerie, a set of eye-catching wings splayed behind her. Lest you think the doctored shot, originally from plus-size retailer Addition Elle who has tapped influencers like Graham and Jordyn Woods in years past, was a simple celebration of the forthcoming event, Graham captioned the shot "Got my wings...My #AdditionElle wings! #thickthighssavelives."
Graham has said before that she would unquestionably partake in Victoria s Secret s annual show if asked—and if the brand featured models size 12 and up. With no invite yet, the model and body activist s strong and slightly cheeky commentary feels right on time, especially as the line attempts to chip away at the veneer of perfection that tints its televised event, with castings reflecting a nod to diversity and shifting beauty norms but, still, a very specific body type. In 2016, the storied event also featured a mid-show fitness PSA to shed light on how each model committed to #trainlikeanangel in preparation, a reminder that the runway-ready physiques are cultivated through healthy efforts and hard work. It s a wonderful sentiment, reiterated this year through a stream of workout-centric Instagrams boasting the wing-worthy hashtag, that would likely only benefit by more body inclusivity on the runway. And while time will tell if curvy models will one day reach Victoria s Secret-approved angelic ranks, one thing is for certain: In Graham s world, wings are for everyone.
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