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The Shanghai Shocker: 7 Explosive Facts That Made The 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show The Most Dramatic Ever

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The 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (VSFS), filmed in Shanghai, China, stands today, in December 2025, as one of the most pivotal and dramatic events in the brand's history, a high-stakes gamble that ultimately foreshadowed the end of the original VSFS era. This show was not just a runway event; it was a logistical nightmare, a geopolitical flashpoint, and a poignant farewell for one of the brand's biggest stars, all wrapped up in a glittering, $2 million package.

The decision to host the event in the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai marked the first time the iconic lingerie spectacle had been held in China, a move intended to aggressively tap into the massive Asian market. However, the international ambition collided head-on with unforeseen drama, from major visa troubles for models and performers to a heart-stopping moment on the runway, making the 2017 show a legendary moment of triumph, controversy, and final goodbyes.

The Star-Studded Lineup: Angels, Returnees, and a Poignant Farewell

The 2017 cast was one of the largest and most racially diverse in the show's history, featuring 55 models, with nearly 50 percent being models of color, a significant step for the brand at the time. The show was a mix of veteran Angels, returning superstars, and new faces, creating an atmosphere of both celebration and intense pressure.

  • Alessandra Ambrosio's Final Walk: The most significant moment was the final runway appearance of supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio. After 17 years and 17 consecutive shows, the Brazilian icon officially retired her Angel wings. Her emotional farewell walk was a major highlight, marking the end of an era for the brand.
  • The Angels: The core lineup of Angels included veterans like Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Elsa Hosk, Josephine Skriver, Martha Hunt, Stella Maxwell, Sara Sampaio, Jasmine Tookes, and Taylor Hill.
  • The Returning Star: Supermodel Karlie Kloss returned to the VSFS runway after a two-year hiatus, adding extra star power to the show.
  • Fantasy Bra Model: Brazilian Angel Lais Ribeiro was chosen to wear the coveted Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra, valued at $2 million and featuring diamonds, yellow sapphires, and blue topaz set in 18-karat gold. Ribeiro was the fourth Black model in history to wear the Fantasy Bra.
  • Notable Models: Other prominent models included Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid (though she did not walk due to visa issues), Kendall Jenner (who skipped the show), Liu Wen, Sui He, Ming Xi, and Grace Elizabeth.

The Shanghai Drama: Visa Scandals and Logistical Nightmares

The show’s debut in China was intended to be a grand international expansion, but it quickly became mired in logistical chaos and political controversy, which dominated headlines more than the lingerie itself.

The Great Visa Controversy

The most talked-about drama involved the Chinese government and its stringent visa requirements, which led to high-profile absences and last-minute scrambling.

  • Gigi Hadid's Withdrawal: Supermodel Gigi Hadid, a major draw, announced just days before the taping that she would not be traveling to Shanghai. This followed an earlier controversy where a video of her squinting her eyes to imitate a Buddha cookie was deemed offensive by Chinese netizens.
  • Katy Perry's Ban: The planned musical headliner, Katy Perry, was reportedly denied a visa by the Chinese government. The ban was allegedly linked to a 2015 concert in Taiwan where she wore a sunflower dress, which was seen as a nod to Taiwanese independence activists.
  • Journalist and Blogger Trouble: Several major fashion journalists and bloggers were also denied entry, and those who did attend reported restrictions on filming, accessing the models backstage, and general media freedom.

The combined effect of these issues created an atmosphere of high anxiety and tension, suggesting the brand had underestimated the complexities of staging a massive, Western-centric event in the Chinese market.

The Runway Flashpoint: Ming Xi's Stumble and The Cultural Backlash

Despite the off-stage drama, the runway itself provided one of the most memorable and viral moments of the show, alongside criticisms of the collection's design choices.

The Fall That Went Viral

During the "Winter's Tale" segment, Chinese model Ming Xi, a major star in the domestic market, suffered a dramatic fall. Her elaborate, flowing headpiece and gladiator-style heels proved too challenging, causing her to slip and land on her knees. The moment was instantly viral, but Xi handled it with grace, smiling as she was helped up by fellow model Gizele Oliveira, who paused her own walk to assist. The brand's decision to air the fall during the broadcast, rather than editing it out, was a controversial move that fueled further discussion about the pressure on models.

Cultural Appropriation Criticism

The 2017 show also faced renewed criticism for cultural appropriation, an issue that had plagued previous VSFS events. The "Nomadic Adventure" segment, in particular, featured models in elaborate costumes that drew heavily from various indigenous and global cultures, including feathered headdresses and beaded accessories, leading to accusations that the brand was using cultural symbols as mere costume without proper respect or context.

The controversy around the looks, coupled with the backstage drama and the intense media scrutiny, highlighted the growing cultural relevance and rising political sensitivity that the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was struggling to navigate. This show, in many ways, marked the beginning of the end for the brand's traditional, maximalist, and often controversial approach to fashion and entertainment.

The Legacy of the 2017 Show: A Turning Point

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2017 is remembered less for the lingerie and more for its high-stakes drama and its role as a significant turning point for the brand. It was a bold attempt at global expansion that exposed the vulnerabilities of the traditional VS model.

  • A Shift in Diversity: The show was a notable step forward in terms of racial diversity, a positive highlight that showed the brand was attempting to respond to calls for greater representation, even if the progress was overshadowed by other issues.
  • The End of an Era: Alessandra Ambrosio's retirement, following the earlier departure of other Angels, signaled a generational shift. The show struggled to maintain the same level of cultural dominance in an era where body positivity and genuine inclusivity were becoming paramount.
  • Foreshadowing the Cancellation: The logistical headaches, the geopolitical friction, and the general negative press served as a warning sign. While the show continued for two more years, the 2017 event in Shanghai is often cited as the moment the VSFS began to visibly unravel under the pressure of its own scale and cultural tone-deafness. The show was eventually canceled after the 2018 event, with the brand citing poor ratings and a problematic reputation.

Today, the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show remains a fascinating case study: a moment of peak spectacle that was simultaneously a harbinger of change, defined by the unforgettable images of Lais Ribeiro in a $2 million bra, Alessandra Ambrosio’s tearful goodbye, and the unforgettable moment of Ming Xi's fall and triumphant recovery in the global spotlight.

The Shanghai Shocker: 7 Explosive Facts That Made the 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show the Most Dramatic Ever
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fashion show victoria secret 2017

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