What could be more "sexy" than watching a fashion show at Penn Station? On Tuesday night, I found myself outside the busiest train station in the U.S., among hundreds of people, phones raised, watching the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show stream on giant screens across Seventh Avenue. The Empire State Building glowed pink in the distance for the occasion.
The crowd was a unique blend: corporate commuters, tourists with luggage, teens (with and without moms), international students, men in Knicks gear, and New Yorkers with a knack for finding free things. And there were plenty of lines—lines for a pink carpet photo op, a snowy mountain backdrop, goodie bags with body spray, and an indoor lounge with TVs and food for Victoria’s Secret rewards members. The longest line? For a Pink-branded hot chocolate truck. When I asked about the goodie bag line, no one could agree on its location.
A fashion friend texted me from the runway show in Brooklyn, saying, "Wish you were here!" I wished I was, too, but my request to attend had been declined—likely due to my recent book on Victoria's Secret, detailing the brand’s tumultuous history, including its scandals. Several reporters who had covered the brand's controversies, like its connection to Jeffrey Epstein, were also excluded.
Instead, I was invited to a public watch party via an Instagram ad. No RSVP required. By 6 p.m., an hour before the show, the Penn District pavilion was already buzzing. Jacob's Pickles and Pastrami Queen had food stands, and pink walls displayed the brand's logos. I met a mother and her preteen daughter from New Jersey who left after learning their favorite performer, Lisa from Blackpink, wasn’t attending in person. "I can stream this anywhere," the mom said.
I met other fans, like Nicole and Isabella, teens excited for Adriana Lima and nostalgic for Gisele Bündchen’s iconic runway moments. Others gathered from Germany, Portugal, and the Netherlands, all eager to witness the show.
As the music ramped up, attention turned to the screens for the 40-minute event. The crowd’s cheers seemed piped in with the soundtrack, but there were genuine reactions for performers like Cher and models Adriana Lima, Gigi and Bella Hadid, and Tyra Banks. However, less familiar faces like Carla Bruni and Eva Herzigová didn’t stir much excitement. Not everyone was fully engaged—a group of finance bros chatted through the show—but most watched with quiet amusement, phones at the ready.
The new Victoria’s Secret show felt more polished than the kitschy, over-the-top spectacles of the 2010s—less cleavage, fewer teased extensions. But while it aimed for sophistication, it couldn’t capture the larger-than-life nostalgia that many fans like Nicole and Isabella remember. For me, seeing Ashley Graham on the runway was a significant moment, knowing she had been previously excluded due to her size.
Afterward, I met three women in their 20s who had recently moved to New York from Scotland, the U.K., and Ireland. As die-hard Victoria’s Secret fans, they arrived hours early and stood in line to get into the lounge. Orla, Danae, and Abby all had different takes: Danae loved the return of the show, appreciating the inspiration to stay fit and healthy, while Orla welcomed the subtle body diversity without feeling it was forced. Abby, however, was more critical, believing the brand was only doing the "bare minimum" when it came to diversity, but she still enjoyed the nostalgia of seeing the iconic models return.
In the end, while the show had evolved, it couldn’t fully reclaim the magic of its past. But for many fans, the thrill of seeing their favorite Angels on screen was enough.
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