Kate Upton blasts Victoria's Secret for not being 'body inclusive' in Andy Cohen interview

Model Kate Upton has blasted lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret, criticising VS for failing to be “body inclusive” and branding it a “snooze fest”.

Upton, who was a guest on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live, didn't mince her words when she was asked about the possible cancellation of the iconic VS Fashion Show this year.

Upton clarified that she “did work” with Victoria’s Secret previously, as in 2013 she starred in a catalogue for the brand, but told Cohen she felt VS had made no effort to be more inclusive. “You know what? We’re sick of seeing the same body type. You have to be body inclusive now.”

As the audience and fellow guest 50 Cent whooped and cheered, she continued, “Every woman needs to be represented, otherwise it’s a snooze fest.”

Although Upton did not go into more detail about her personal relationship with the brand, she was previously criticised by Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show creative director Sophia Neophitou for being “like a Page 3 girl”. Neophitou was interviewed by The New York Times for a profile on Upton in 2012 and said that Upton was “too obvious” and that they “would never use [Upton]” in one of their runway shows.

Neophitou said at the time, “She’s like a footballer’s wife, with the too-blond hair and that kind of face that anyone with enough money can go out and buy.”

Upton went on to enjoy a successful modelling career, starring on the covers of magazines including Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, Sports Illustrated. She was voted Hottest Woman of 2018 by Maxim.

She has also launched a fitness programme with her personal trainer Ben Bruno called Strong4Me to “help women of any fitness level build strength and confidence."

Victoria’s Secret has come under fire in recent years for issues including its failure to include plus-size models in its runway shows, as well as for transphobic comments made by its chief marketing officer Ed Razek in 2018. Razek told Vogue, “Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No... Because the show is a fantasy.”

He later apologised and said his words "came across as insensitive", adding that many transgender models had come to castings. A year later Brazilian trans model Valentina Sampaio was hired and made history as the first trans woman to feature in a VS brand campaign.

Former VS Angel Karlie Kloss also told Vogue in July that she had ended her relationship with the brand as she said, “I decided to stop working with Victoria’s Secret as I didn’t feel it was an image that was truly reflective of who I am and the kind of message I want to send to young women around the world about what it means to be beautiful.”

A few weeks ago, VS Angel Shanina Shaik told the Australian Daily Telegraph that Victoria’s Secret had cancelled its 2019 show. She said, “Unfortunately the Victoria's Secret show won't be happening this year. It's something I'm not used to because every year around this time I'm training like an angel.”

She continued, “But I'm sure in the future something will happen, which I'm pretty sure about. I'm sure they're trying to work on branding and new ways to do the show because it's the best show in the world.”

Victoria's Secret has not released an official statement regarding this year's show.