Victoria’s Secret model Bridget Malcolm slams critics who say Kim Kardashian triggered robbery with social media posts

AUSTRALIAN Victoria’s Secret angel has slammed critics who’ve suggested Kim Kardashian has no one to blame but herself for being robbed.

Victoria’s Secret angel and face of Australian swimwear brand Seafolly, Bridget Malcolm, says critics shouldn’t be saying Kim Kardashian was targeted because she shows off too much on social media.

SHE’S fast becoming one of Australia’s most sought after model exports.

Having graced the catwalk for Victoria’s Secret, featured on the covers of Elle and Harper’s Bazaar magazine, and most recently as the face of Australian swimwear brand, Seafolly — Perth-born beauty Bridget Malcolm has had a stellar year on the modelling circuit.

Bridget Malcolm says social media has completely changed the modelling industry, and is a double-edged sword for a model.

But at 24, the blonde beauty — who got married in July and now calls New York home, says the industry has completely changed since she started out in 2007 — all thanks to social media.

“Social media is a double edged sword, and completely changed the modelling industry,” Malcolm told news.com.au.

“Brands want to know the girl and the story of the girl who is representing their brand, what kind of message she will send and so on.

“So for me, social media has been great and I’ve been really enjoying letting people get to know me.”

Bridget Malcolm, left, made her debut for Victoria’s Secret in 2015.

Malcolm, who is back in Australia for her new role as the face of Australian swimwear brand, Seafolly’s 2017 campaign, said social media allowed models to express themselves outside edited image we see on a magazine advertisement or campaign.

“When I first started out, you were very removed from your audience and people had no idea of the person behind the billboard,” she said.

“In that sense it has been great, because it gives the model control which is something we often don’t get.”

Bridget Malcolm, who has now become the face of Australian swimwear brand Seafolly, said she is saddened by people who think Kim is to blame for posting too much about her life on social media.

But while the medium has allowed the Victoria’s Secret model to connect with her fans on a more social level, she acknowledges that the medium does have its downfalls and dangers.

“Every single photo I put out there is planned and while I don’t really edit them, there’s a reason why I post the things I do,” she said.

“I try and keep my Instagram page as real as possible, I don’t make any really big changes, but I want it to be aesthetically pleasing but still real.”

Model Bridget Malcolm made her debut alongside Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid at the 2015 Victoria’s Secret Parade. Picture: Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Malcolm, who currently has more than 212,000 followers on Instagram, said she was appalled people were suggesting Kim Kardashian-West’s gunpoint attack was made easier because she opened herself up too much on social media.

Fashion designer and creative director of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, claimed the reality star was “too public” when showing off her wealth, by posting pictures of her multi-million dollar jewellery collection and glamorous wardrobe.

“What happened to Kim this week is horrifying, and I think regardless of what happened with what she posted, no one should have to go through what she did,” Malcolm said.

“It makes me feel sad that people would suggest she had drawn attention to herself [through social media] like that.

Kim Kardashian-West was bound and robbed with a gun to her temple by five men dressed as police while staying at her luxury accommodation in Paris on Sunday.

The reality star, who had been attending Paris Fashion Week alongside mother Kris Jenner and sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, was “badly shaken” but unharmed during the terrifying incident.

Police alleged robbers targeted the star after “seeing jewels on social media” and that the incident, where she was allegedly robbed of $14 million worth of jewellery, as an “extremely rare” incident.

Just days before being robbed, Mrs Kardashian-West posted a close-up photograph of a huge diamond ring on her left hand captioned with three diamond emojis.

“This is her life, and social media is a huge part of her brand,” Malcolm said.

“I don’t think anyone should have to go through being bound and gagged and locked in a toilet.

“Regardless of what you’ve done, or who you are or what your life is. Noone should have to go through that.”

Ms Kardashian-West’s personal bodyguard was out clubbing with her sisters during the attack, and the reality star was seen on Snapchat flashing her massive 20-carat emerald-cut ring on Sunday night just half an hour before the her five attackers struck.

Karl Lagerfeld told Reuters, “I don’t understand why she was in a hotel with no security … If you are that famous and you put all your jewellery on [social media], you go to hotels where nobody can come near to the room.”

Ms Kardashian-West fled Paris on October 3rd at 8.30am on a private jet bound for New York, and hasn’t been seen wearing her engagement ring since.