Victoria’s Secret is an American fashion and lifestyle brand best known for its lingerie, sleepwear, beauty products, fragrances, and intimate apparel. Founded in 1977, it has grown into one of the most recognisable names in women’s fashion globally, particularly noted for its glamorous marketing campaigns and the iconic Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Today, the brand operates as part of Victoria’s Secret & Co., an independent publicly traded company focused on lingerie, apparel, beauty, and personal care.1

Victoria’s Secret was founded in San Francisco, California, by Roy Raymond and his wife Gaye Raymond. Raymond established the company after feeling uncomfortable shopping for lingerie as a gift in traditional department stores. His objective was to design stores that offered a more welcoming and sophisticated shopping experience inspired by elegant European boutiques.2

In 1982, entrepreneur Les Wexner, founder of L Brands (formerly The Limited), purchased Victoria’s Secret. Under his leadership, the company transformed from a small lingerie retailer into the largest lingerie brand in the United States by expanding rapidly into shopping malls, improving product design, and investing heavily in branding and marketing. By the early 1990s, Victoria’s Secret had become a billion-dollar business.3

The company expanded internationally throughout the 2000s, establishing stores across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other global markets. In 2021, Victoria’s Secret & Co. became an independent public company after separating from L Brands (now Bath & Body Works, Inc.).4

Victoria’s Secret offers a wide range of fashion and beauty products, including:

• Bras
• Panties
• Lingerie
• Sleepwear
• Loungewear
• Activewear
• Swimwear (available in selected collections)
• Fragrances
• Body care products
• Beauty accessories

These products are designed to combine comfort, fashion, and luxury while serving a broad range of customer preferences. The company also operates the PINK brand, aimed primarily at younger women, alongside the digital-first intimates brand Adore Me.5

One of the brand’s most famous marketing initiatives is the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, first launched in 1995. The annual runway event became internationally recognised for featuring top supermodels—known as the Victoria’s Secret Angels—wearing elaborate lingerie, wings, and fantasy costumes alongside performances by major musical artists.

The show helped establish Victoria’s Secret as a global luxury lingerie brand and became one of fashion’s most-watched events. It was paused after 2019 amid criticism regarding body image, diversity, and company culture, before returning later with a more inclusive direction.6

The Victoria’s Secret Angels were elite models selected to represent the brand worldwide through advertising campaigns, runway shows, and public appearances. Some of the most famous Angels include:

• Adriana Lima
• Alessandra Ambrosio
• Candice Swanepoel
• Tyra Banks
• Heidi Klum
• Gisele Bündchen
• Miranda Kerr
• Behati Prinsloo
• Lily Aldridge
• Doutzen Kroes

These models became international fashion icons and played a significant role in the brand’s global popularity.7

Victoria’s Secret has traditionally been associated with glamour, luxury, femininity, confidence, sensuality, and fashion-forward design. In recent years, the company has broadened its brand image to emphasise greater inclusivity, body positivity, and representation of diverse customers, whilst continuing to focus on confidence and personal expression.8

Victoria’s Secret operates through company-owned retail stores, franchise locations, e-commerce platforms, airport retail stores, and international partners. The company has approximately 1,380 retail stores in nearly 70 countries, making it one of the largest specialty retailers in the intimate apparel industry.9

Victoria’s Secret is owned by Victoria’s Secret & Co., which manages three primary brands: Victoria’s Secret, PINK, and Adore Me. The company focuses on intimate apparel, beauty products, sleepwear, activewear, and digital retail experiences.10

According to the company, Victoria’s Secret aims to inspire confidence and celebrate individuality by offering fashion-inspired products and experiences that support customers throughout different stages of life. The company emphasises innovation, inclusivity, and customer-focused design while continuing to build on its heritage as a leading global lingerie brand.11

For more than four decades, Victoria’s Secret has remained one of the most influential names in the global lingerie and beauty industry. Its combination of fashion, branding, celebrity collaborations, and large-scale runway events helped shape modern lingerie marketing. While the brand has evolved in response to changing consumer expectations, it continues to be a leading retailer of intimate apparel and beauty products worldwide.12

1. Victoria’s Secret
2. About Us | Victoria’s Secret & Co.
3. ANNUALREPORT2023
4. Table of Contents
5. Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Is Moving: Everything to Know Before the 2026 Runway Event
6. Victoria’s Secret – Our Culture
7. Victoria’s Secret Is All About Lift, Support, and a Good CEO Fit-and the Stock Loves It
8. Our Company | Victoria’s Secret & Co.
9. Our Company | Victoria’s Secret & Co.
10. Corporate Governance | Victoria’s Secret & Co.
11. Company FAQs | Victoria’s Secret & Co.
12. VS Insider | Talking Fashion, Models, Beauty, & More