Last November a CEO from Victoria’s Secret made some hurtful and ignorant comments about the transgender community.
Hearing these comments stung, especially in the year 2018, but it was disappointing because this was a brand I loved and a place where I felt welcomed when I shopped en femme.
I decided to take my lingerie shopping elsewhere and I am glad I did. Since then, I have added bras and panties from Glamorous Corset, ThirdLove, HommeMystere, and Allure to my lingerie drawer(s). 🙂
Victoria’s Secret has been experiencing some changes recently including hiring their first openly transgender model as well as the resignation of the CEO I referenced earlier.
The company received significant backlash and calls for boycotts when these comments were made and I had hoped that the CEO would be punished in some way for what was said. I do not think that the comments and this resignation were connected in any way, unfortunately.
I am happy that a transphobic person no longer has a say in what a major brand does, and I am glad that they have hired a transgender model, but are these changes enough to win back my business?
Maya Angelou wrote “when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time” and I think this is an appropriate quote in many instances. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t give someone a second chance or that one’s perspective and opinion can’t evolve, but I can’t quite get on board with shopping at Victoria’s Secret again.
For starters, there are many companies, particularly the brands I referred to above, who market to and design for our community. ThirdLove specifically is very inclusive and HommeMystere designs the cutest panties for us. I believe in supporting companies that are transinclusive and not giving my money to those who either just downright hate us or those that don’t see transgender women as women.
When a t-girl is ready to experience the world en femme, most of us will want to frequent places where we will be welcome. I know I did, and I still do. If we want more businesses to be accepting of us, then we need to financially support businesses that already support us. I believe that this sends a message. Of course, I am not so naive that I do not think me not shopping at Victoria’s Secret had any impact whatsoever on them, but spending my money with companies that do embrace us made an impact on them.
I’m glad whenever there is a leadership change or some progress made in any corporation that inches its way towards inclusivity, but I will continue to buy my lingerie from designers that support my values and embrace our community.
Love, Hannah
Hannah McKnight 
I too see the hiring Valentina Sampaio as a “too little, too late” action. Maybe if there are other positive actions in the future, VS can show that they are really changing, such as introducing designs, and sizes, that meet our needs, etc. For now, I am happy with the alternatives I have found and use.
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One person indeed has little impact on a national corporation. However, thousands of people do, but only if they all act instead of feeling helpless and doing nothing. You did good, Hannah!
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I do not disagree with the general gist of your post but I have heard the explanation he gave for his comments and what he said was not totally devoid of corporate concern for their image and brand.
On the other hand I do think that his dismissal was due in part to these comments and to the backlash that the brand received when the comments went public.
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