Victoria's Secret undergoes massive brand change by ditching its "Angels"

Two women of Asian descent will help Victoria's Secret change its image associated with sexy lingerie and the skimpily clad models known as the Angels as the brand evolves by inspiring  women with products, experiences and initiatives that champion them and support their journey. 

Olympic skier Eileen Gu and actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas will be part of the VS Collecdtive by joining five other  women who have made an impact in their respective fields to update the lingerie-designer's image.

“When the world was changing, we were too slow to respond,” the company’s new chief executive, Martin Waters, was quoted as saying by The New York Times on Wednesday.

"I am so honored to be a part of such an inspiring group of women and to work with a brand that is looking to break boundaries and use their platform to uplift, champion and advocate for women across the world," said Gu, best known for her free-style jumps and flips while speeding downhill in her skis. "Working with The VS Collective, I hope to unite and inspire by sharing my story and experiences." 

Jonas added: "A new era always brings a sense of freedom, and the opportunity to play a part in shaping the evolution and future success of a heritage brand like Victoria's Secret is so exciting to me. As we work together to chart the path forward in a new and impactful way, I'm not only looking forward to developing future collections that are inclusive of all people, but I am most excited for new customers and for those who have always been a customer of Victoria's Secret to feel represented and like they belong."

The VS Collective is an ever-growing group of accomplished women who share a common passion to drive positive change. These extraordinary partners, with their unique backgrounds, interests and passions, will influence and shape the future of the world's largest and most recognizable brand for women. Through social, cultural and business relationships, The VS Collective will work to create new associate programs, revolutionary product collections, compelling and inspiring content, and rally support for causes vital to women.

Besides Gu and Jonas, the other women joining the VS Collective are:

Among the first to join The VS Collective are:

• Adut Akech – Refugee, Mental Wellness Supporter, Model
• Amanda de Cadenet – Journalist, Photographer, GirlGaze Founder & Equality Advocate
• Megan Rapinoe – LGBTQIA+ Activist, Pay Equity Crusader, Professional Soccer Player
• Paloma Elsesser – Body Advocate, Community Creator, Model
• Valentina Sampaio – LGBTQIA+ Activist, Actor, Model

"At Victoria's Secret, we are on an incredible journey to become the world's leading advocate for women," said Martin Waters, Victoria's Secret's Chief Executive Officer. "This is a dramatic shift for our brand, and it's a shift that we embrace from our core. These new initiatives are just the beginning. We are energized and humbled by the work ahead of us."

Priyanka Chopra Jonas steps into India-Pakistan dispute

SCREEN CAPTURE

Priyanka Chopra Jones speaks her mind about the dispute between India and Pakistan.

ASAM NEWS

Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas is embroiled in a controversy after statements she made concerning the current dispute between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir region, long a hotspot of contention between the two countries.

The Bollywood actress is currently under fire, as Pakistan just launched an official complaint with the United Nations to remove her as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, according to Al Jazeera.

The move comes in response to Chopra Jonas’s supposed endorsement of the Indian national government’s lockdown and revocation of autonomy in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Earlier this month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced it would strip autonomy from the state of Jammu and Kashmir -- its part of the Himalayan region. India imposed curfews and a communication blackout.

Chopra Jonas can be seen in the following video from earlier this month responding to someone who confronted her about a February tweet in which she allegedly encouraged war against Pakistan:


“Her jingoism and support for violations by the Modi government of international conventions and UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir, as well as support for war, including a nuclear war, undermines the credibility of the UN position to which she been elevated,” Pakistan’s human rights minister Shireen Mazari said in a letter to UNICEF. “Unless she is removed immediately, the very idea of a UN goodwill ambassador for peace becomes a mockery globally.”

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday (Aug. 22): "When UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors speak in their personal capacity, they retain the right to speak about issues that interest or concern them."

The Indian-born actress' Twitter account is currently quiet on the matter.

Chopra Jonas will be starring in We Can Be Heroes, a new Netflix film about a team of superhero children who have to save the world after aliens abduct their hero parents, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Fresh Off The Boat’s Dylan Henry Lau and The Fast and the Furious actor Sung Kang have also been announced as part of the We Can Be Heroes cast, reports Deadline.Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Spy Kids, and Alita: Battle Angel) will be writing, directing, and producing the movie.

Chopra Jonas is the second actress who has drawn the wrath of fans in recent weeks for making controversial statements about political situations in Asia.

Chinese and Asian American supporters of the pro-Democracy protests in Hong Kong called for a boycott the upcoming live-action Mulan movie when its star Crystal Yifei Liu used social media to express her support for the Hong Kong police.

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