Model Shanina Shaik claims Victoria’s Secret ‘won’t be happening’

The star-studded lingerie parade has been under fierce fire. Now Aussie model Shanina Shaik has let slip a major bombshell about its future.

Model drops Victoria’s Secret bombshell. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

It’s one of the biggest fashion events of the year.

But the famed annual Victoria’s Secret show “won’t be happening” this year, according to Australian model Shanina Shaik.

“Unfortunately, the Victoria’s Secret show won’t be happening this year,” Shaik told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

Shaik has donned her wings for the lingerie label’s star-studded catwalk five times since 2011, describing news it had been axed as “upsetting”

The Victoria's Secret show has reportedly been axed, according to Aussie model Shanina Shaik. Picture: Timothy A. Clary / AFP

Within the fashion industry, being named as a model for the glitzy event is deemed as a highly prestigious accolade.

Huge stars including Miranda Kerr, Kendall Jenner, Gisele Bundchen and Gigi and Bella Hadid have all worn the recognisable wings and gushed about their love of the show.

However, it has been shrouded with controversy in recent times among huge equality movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp.

Shaik walks the runway during the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York City. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Kendall Jenner also appeared in 2018, but the show came under fire for its outdated views on feminine beauty. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Others have called out the label for their lack of “real” bodies on the catwalk, with some branding it “out of touch”.

In 2018, the organisers announced the show’s first “plus-size” model, Barbara Palvin. But this was quickly deemed outrageous because Palvin was a size 8 — a stark difference from the body size of the average Australian woman, which is a size 14-16.

The company’s CEO of lingerie, Jan Singer, resigned after the show last year amid criticism, according to Time magazine, stating Victoria’s Secret came under fire for its hypersexualised offerings and singular ideas of feminine beauty.

The brand’s marketing officer, Ed Razek, was slammed around the same time for saying there was “no interest” in featuring plus-size models or trans models in the iconic runway show, even using a transphobic term, for which he later apologised.

Shaik believes the ‘best show in the world’ will return. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Earlier this year it was confirmed the controversial show — which began in 1995 — would no longer be televised.

Leslie Wexner, the chief executive of the brand’s parent company L Brands, made the announcement in a memo sent out to the brand’s associates, according to The New York Times.

Despite copping major heat in recent times, and reportedly suffering huge financial losses, Shaik told The Daily Telegraph she was sure it would return bigger and better than ever before.

“I’m sure in the future something will happen, which I’m pretty sure about,” she said.

“I’m sure they’re trying to work on branding and new ways to do the show because it’s the best show in the world.”

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