Victoria’s Secret reignited controversy this week after featuring transgender model Alex Consani, 22, on the runway during the company’s 2025 Fashion Show, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The appearance marked Consani’s second consecutive year walking for the brand, which has continued to highlight transgender and plus-size models as part of its “diversity and inclusion” campaign.

Consani first made headlines in 2024 as one of the lingerie brand’s first openly transgender models, alongside Valentina Sampaio. The California-born model began a career in fashion at age 12 and has since become a recurring figure in Victoria’s Secret’s recent rebranding efforts.

Trans model Alex Consani, 22, wears women’s lingerie will walking the 2025 Victoria’s Secret runway.

Consani previously walked for the brand in 2024 becoming the first ever transgender model to do the Victoria’s Secret runway alongside another trans model, Valentina Sampaio. pic.twitter.com/NqcPItbrO8

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) October 16, 2025

The 2025 show, held earlier this week, also featured models Bella Hadid, Jasmine Tookes—who walked the runway while nine months pregnant—and Emily Ratajkowski, who made her Victoria’s Secret debut at 34.

Plus-size models including Paloma Elsesser, Ashley Graham, and Yumi Nu also took part in the event, which the company promoted as a celebration of “beauty in all forms.”

According to the Daily Mail, the fashion house attempted to balance its recent “body positivity” image with a partial return to its traditional glamour. The report noted that while the company sought to revive the glitzy presentation of earlier Victoria’s Secret shows, it maintained a lineup showcasing “representation” and “inclusivity.”

Victorias Secret women’s Fashion show had two TRANS models walking the runway while modeling women’s underwear.

Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio
are both biologically male. pic.twitter.com/5xXL69eVww

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) October 17, 2024

Victoria’s Secret has faced consistent financial and public relations struggles since shifting its marketing away from the brand’s original focus on feminine luxury.

Sales have declined for several consecutive years, with many observers attributing the downturn to the company’s effort to appeal to progressive audiences while alienating its traditional customer base.

Public reaction to this year’s show was immediate and divisive. Critics on X labeled the event “Victor’s Secret,” with users mocking the decision to feature transgender models in lingerie.

One commenter wrote, “Stealing a job from a real woman,” while others questioned how the company expected to recover financially when its rebranding continues to face public backlash.

Supporters, however, praised the move as a step toward diversity in the fashion industry. Consani and Sampaio have both been featured prominently in the brand’s online campaigns since their debut.

INCLUSIVITY ON THE RUNWAY

From trans women to a pregnant model and athletes, the angels are redefining what beauty and strength look like. READ: https://t.co/15bv5WesIn #VictoriasSecret

📷: AFP pic.twitter.com/vhcGxPXiSW

— PhilSTAR L!fe (@philstarlife) October 16, 2025

The 2025 showcase represented the company’s latest effort to redefine its image following criticism of its 2024 show. Despite renewed media attention, analysts noted that Victoria’s Secret continues to struggle with stagnant growth and consumer resistance to its direction.

The brand has not issued a formal response to the online criticism following the event.