Jasmine Tookes makes runway history: celebrating pregnancy at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

The headlines are buzzing and rightfully so. The moment that broke the internet was a pregnant woman opening the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, bump out and proud, walking with the kind of grace that said, This is me, take it or leave it.

During that runway show, Jasmine Tookes, 34, nearly nine months pregnant, didn't just model; she made history.

Tookes, glowing in a nude lingerie set paired with a fishnet overlay and those iconic gold angel wings, confidently cradled her bump as the crowd erupted.

“It’s going to be a blend of what we loved from past shows and something new and modern,” she told Who What Wear ahead of the show. Modern, indeed.

Her baby bump wasn’t hidden; it was celebrated. The crowd erupted, the cameras flashed, and for the first time in a long time, fashion felt … human.

The runway revolution

Fashion has always been about making statements, but this one felt personal. Once upon a time, pregnancy on the runway was unthinkable, something to hide, something that supposedly didn’t “fit” the fantasy.

And for years, the fashion world was … well, exclusive. The catwalk felt more like a club where only one body type had VIP access. But that’s changing finally.

Let’s be honest, Victoria’s Secret didn’t always get it right. For decades, the brand was synonymous with an unattainable ideal: tall, ultra-thin, flawless skin, and not a hint of cellulite.

Today, that fantasy has transformed. Authenticity and representation are now at the heart of it all.

Rihanna deserves her flowers here.

Her Savage x Fenty shows didn’t just include diversity, they redefined it. We saw every body type, every skin tone, every identity walk with power. And when Rihanna herself took to the red carpet pregnant, in barely-there couture and unapologetic confidence, she didn’t just dress the bump, she styled it

Gone are the days when pregnancy was treated like a private, unglamorous phase. Today, the baby bump has become the ultimate accessory, a symbol of life, strength, and womanhood. And we have people like Rihanna to thank for that shift.

Her revolutionary maternity looks from red carpets to Super Bowl stages redefined what it means to be pregnant and powerful.

The maternity wear revolution was born right there. Out with oversized tunics and muted colours, in with body-hugging dresses, cut-outs, and fabrics that say: I’m growing life and I look incredible doing it.

The end of one-size-fits-all beauty

Remember the Victoria’s Secret Angels of the 2000s? Their wings were lighter than air, but the pressure they placed on women’s self-esteem was heavy.

Research found that as women’s average body weight increased between 1995 and 2018, the Angels actually became thinner.

That narrow definition of beauty came at a cost. Studies found that exposure to this “thin ideal” increased body dissatisfaction and symptoms of depression in women, particularly younger audiences.

And sure, there’s nothing wrong with being slim, but when that’s the only version of beauty we see, it becomes a problem. Studies have shown that exposure to this “thin ideal” can lead to body dissatisfaction and even symptoms of depression, especially among young women.

But the tides have turned.

The past decade has seen a seismic cultural shift, one that celebrates diversity, authenticity, and representation.

From plus-size icons like Paloma Elsesser, Winnie Harlow, and Ashley Graham gracing major runways to models with disabilities, scars, vitiligo, and stretch marks, fashion finally feels human again.

When the 34-year-old model stepped out with her belly front and centre on that runway, glowing and confident, it wasn’t just fashion; it was healing.

As Rihanna once said, “When women get pregnant, society tends to make it feel like you hide, hide your sexy, and that you’re not sexy right now (but) you’ll get back there and I don’t believe in that sh*t.”

This evolution extends beyond aesthetics; it’s also psychological. When women see themselves represented as pregnant, postpartum, curvy or petite, it fosters self-acceptance and emotional well-being. It tells every woman watching that she belongs, exactly as she is.

It also challenges long-held fashion norms that equate desirability with restriction. No longer is beauty synonymous with deprivation of food, comfort or joy. The new era of fashion celebrates self-expression and body confidence in all its forms.

Watching a pregnant woman open one of the world’s most-watched fashion shows is more than a headline; it’s a cultural moment.