Last week, I reported on the drama surrounding this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show casting and model Romee Strijd’s viral TikToks on the matter. (Catch up on that here.) Victoria’s Secret had said in a statement that on September 6, Piergiorgio Del Moro, who cast the show, had informed Strijd’s agency, IMG, that she was not cast. Neither Strijd nor IMG replied to separate requests for comment last week. But Strijd did comment on VF’s Instagram post about this item on Saturday. (She later sent me a very polite message explaining this further.) Strijd, it turns out, did not attend the VS casting until September 10.
Whether this is a simple mix up regarding dates or a more complicated issue remains a mystery. “I had been on option since early summer,” Strijd said in a statement. “If the decision was that I should no longer be considered, I would appreciate an explanation of what happened and why I still attended.” Strijd understands not being booked for a job, she said, that’s not her issue. “They have every right to decide whom they invite or book, but after that preparation and planning, I think clear communication is a reasonable expectation,” she said. “I asked IMG for clarification but still haven’t received an explanation.” I again reached out to IMG for comment as well and have yet to hear back. Victoria’s Secret also did not reply to a follow-up request for comment by the time of publication.
“If there is still uncertainty, say that honestly,” Strijd said. “Keeping someone hopeful because a decision might change isn’t fair when they’re making plans and putting their time and energy into something. That has always been my point.”
This is an age of social-media-induced radical transparency, and Strijd appears to be coming out on top by pure virtue of laying it all out.
