There Has Never Been an Asian Victoria's Secret Angel -- And Maybe That's A Good Thing
- 8 years ago
We saw Lily Aldridge in a $2 million fantasy bra, 75 different runway looks, and no women of Asian descent among the 15 Angels - and maybe that's a good thing.
Victoria's Secret has rarely featured any models of Asian descent, and there has never been a Victoria's Secret model of "Angel Status" who identifies as Asian or Asian American.
When Chinese model Liu Wen appeared in a Victoria Secret fashion show in 2009, she received considerable attention for being the first Asian model on the Victoria's Secret runway - her appearance was hailed as "empowering" for Asian women.
While some viewers may find it disappointing that no Asian woman was selected to appear in this year's show to project Victoria's Secret image of the ideal woman, the absence of an Asian woman among the Victoria's Secret Angels is a positive thing for Asian-American female empowerment.
These and other popular portrayals of Asian women as dragon ladies, "China dolls," geishas, bar hostesses and hula dancers promote the idea that Asian women are objects that exist only to submit to and please white men.
Victoria's Secret has rarely featured any models of Asian descent, and there has never been a Victoria's Secret model of "Angel Status" who identifies as Asian or Asian American.
When Chinese model Liu Wen appeared in a Victoria Secret fashion show in 2009, she received considerable attention for being the first Asian model on the Victoria's Secret runway - her appearance was hailed as "empowering" for Asian women.
While some viewers may find it disappointing that no Asian woman was selected to appear in this year's show to project Victoria's Secret image of the ideal woman, the absence of an Asian woman among the Victoria's Secret Angels is a positive thing for Asian-American female empowerment.
These and other popular portrayals of Asian women as dragon ladies, "China dolls," geishas, bar hostesses and hula dancers promote the idea that Asian women are objects that exist only to submit to and please white men.