How do you develop and bring back an event that more than a few critics had said might already be past its prime? Leaning heavily on what made it great in the first place is a good start, especially when complemented by elements that feel distinctly current. It also helps if the resulting combination just feels happy.

The Victoria's Secret team, which last presented its signature fashion show in 2019, took time to reimagine the event amid declining TV ratings and the impact of the #MeToo movement. But what was presented Tuesday night at the Duggal Greenhouse in New York's Brooklyn Navy Yard actually felt celebratory, current and entirely woman-centered – not just on the runway and backstage, but also in the front row, whose guest list included Cardi B and Jodie Turner -Smith and Queen Latifah.

Previous Victoria's Secret shows have included men through musical performances, but not this year. The decidedly “no men allowed” vibe throughout Tuesday's event included a trio of female artists who also felt poised and powerful: Tyla, Blackpink's Lisa, and finally Cher, who was easily one of the most anticipated moments of the night . “I would be lying if I didn't say Cher is one of the biggest draws for me,” said Janie Schaffer, the brand's chief design and creative officer The Hollywood Reporter on the event's pink carpet before the show. “We watched her rehearse yesterday and it was a moment we couldn’t quite believe.”

Ultimately, it was the supermodels who perhaps best highlighted this event's newfound commitment to focusing squarely on the theme of women's empowerment. Gigi Hadid opened the show, while sister Bella appeared later, and in between the list continued to read like a who's who of the modeling industry: Carla Bruni, Kate Moss, Irina Shayk, Doutzen Kroes, Joan Smalls, Isabeli Fontana, Ashley Graham, Candice Swanepoel, Paloma Elsesser, Behati Prinsloo and many others.

To thoroughly drive home the point, Tyra Banks, a real-life Victoria's Secret Angel since 1997, came out of retirement to attend the finale. Banks is 50, while Eva Herzigová, who also walked the runway on Tuesday night, is 51, and the audience's reaction to seeing her – and her equally iconic colleagues – on the runway was nothing short of overwhelming. “It's a little crazy because it's been twenty years since I did this,” Herzigova said backstage before the show. “It feels great to be back, also because Victoria's Secret is my family. It's also just nice to see the brand committed to growth, becoming more inclusive and celebrating women as they are, of all ages, shapes and colors. It's nice to see it and nice to be surrounded by that kind of beauty.” Perhaps the best example of this idea: a pair of transgender models, Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio, walking through the show for the first time.

For 28-year-old Imaan Hummam, it was a decade between her two Victoria's Secret appearances that she was able to gain a sense of perspective on Tuesday night. “I first did the show when I was 18, and that's so young. “You’re trying to figure out who you are and what you stand for,” she explained THR. “Ten years later I am stronger and much more confident. I feel like I know why I’m here and it feels really empowering and exciting.”

Traditionally designed as the company's biggest sales opportunity of the year, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show aired in early December between 2001 and 2018 to spotlight the brand and its products at the start of the holiday shopping season. In 2024, the sales model also changed: the brand partnered with Amazon to present the event, which was broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video and featured shoppable looks in its Amazon Fashion Store.

Given the night's star power, the clothes never felt like news. The looks were equal parts elegant and sexy, and were often framed by the oversized wings that have become another hallmark of the show. Instead, the news was every woman who appeared on the runway – from the trio of highly talented performers to 50 stunning models to dozens of backup dancers and the all-female choir that ushered in Cher's performance.

Meanwhile, the men present were happy to fade into the background – and especially to act as cheerleaders for his wife. Dylan Sprouse arrived at the show wearing posters he created from oversized photos of Klaus Von Sprouse and Piggy Cow, the cat and dog he shares with his wife, model Barbara Palvin. As she entered, he stood and waved cheerfully, and Palvin noticed it clearly from the smile on her face. “I’m always impressed and proud of her,” Sprouse said before the show. “She worked really, really hard for this.”

Before the show, many attendees were asked, “What does female empowerment mean to you?” Unsurprisingly, it was Cher who gave the best answer of the night: “Everything.”