The luxurious world of lingerie is embracing diversity.
Victoria’s Secret’s world-famous annual fashion show included a record number of Asian women this year, with Ming Xi, Sui He, Xiao Wen Ju and Liu Wen ― all Chinese supermodels with massive Instagram followings.
Compare that with the two Asian models, out of a total of 44 women, who were in the show last year.
The 51 models strutted down the Paris runway Wednesday, but the annual show will premiere on TV on Monday night. The incredibly popular lingerie special will be broadcasted in more than 190 countries and typically pulls in an audience of around 6.6 million people.
The four Chinese models shared their excitement earlier this week by releasing a group photo of them posing, with peace signs raised, in front of the pink Victoria’s Secret banner in Paris.
Victoria’s Secret had been criticized for not featuring a more racially diverse lineup of models over the course of the fashion show’s 21-year history. In fact, no Asian model had walked the VS runway until 2009, according to Yahoo Style.
In recent years, however, the lingerie giant has ramped up its efforts to be inclusive.
Last year, Angolan model Maria Borges was the first black Victoria’s Secret model to wear natural hair down the runway. And this year, you can expect to see several models of color rocking a variety of natural tresses ― Afros, loose curls and all.
Similarly, Sui He has appeared in every Victoria’s Secret annual fashion show since 2011.
The lingerie brand’s decision to double down on Chinese models for the 2016 show may have been a strategic move as well, Yahoo Style reports.
Victoria’s Secret slipped into the Chinese market in 2015 with beauty and accessory shops and, after seeing success in the market, announced plans to open its signature bra and panty stores in the country.
And, as Reuters reported in July, the market for high-end lingerie in China has skyrocketed in five years, amounting to an $18 billion industry.
Victoria’s Secret echoed the Chinese models’ excitement by posting a photo of three of them on their own account, greeting them with a traditional “Ni hao” on Instagram.
Check out a preview of Victoria’s Secret’s event in the photo gallery below, and tune in to CBS at 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 5 for the full runway show.
