Reality television personality and model Kylie Jenner has captured international attention across social networks and the global fashion landscape following a high-profile appearance in Los Angeles. Walking the runway on October 18 at a dedicated fashion show organized by Victoria's Secret, Jenner turned heads in an opulent ensemble featuring signature angel wings and sparkling diamond embellishments. While her stage presence received widespread notice, the sheer financial scale of the Fantasy Bra she wore dominated discussions. Valued at roughly 50 million dollars, which translates to approximately 450 crore Indian rupees, the garment highlighted the sheer luxury synonymous with the fashion giant. Yet, beneath the multi-million-dollar gloss and glamorous staging lies the somber and troubled history of the man who first created the company.
The Hesitant Shopping Trip That Sparked an Industry
The origins of Victoria's Secret trace back to 1977 in the United States, when an American named Roy Raymond set out to buy intimate apparel for his wife, Gaye Raymond. While visiting a local department store, Raymond found the experience deeply uncomfortable and awkward, surrounded by racks in an environment that felt unwelcoming to male shoppers. Recognizing a major gap in the market, he envisioned a retail space designed specifically so men could browse and purchase lingerie for their partners without feeling out of place or intimidated. Guided by this concept, he launched Victoria's Secret. Although consumers initially welcomed the fresh shopping format, the business struggled over time to generate sustainable returns and gradually accumulated substantial debt.
A Distress Sale and a Global Corporate Turnaround
Facing mounting losses and compounding financial stress, Roy Raymond opted to step away from his venture in 1982. He sold Victoria's Secret to businessman Leslie Wexner for a relatively modest sum of 1 million dollars. Upon taking control, Wexner completely overhauled the retail strategy, modernizing its appeal and aggressively transforming it into a high-profile global empire that soon became a dominant force in retail.
Spiraling Hardship, Isolation, and the Golden Gate Tragedy
In stark contrast to the exploding valuation of the label he conceptualized, Roy Raymond's personal trajectory took a disastrous path. He invested the capital from the buyout into several new entrepreneurial initiatives, yet each project collapsed. As the lingerie company soared to unprecedented commercial heights, Raymond was pushed toward total insolvency. The relentless financial drain cost him his vehicle, his family home, and eventually contributed to the breakdown of his marriage and divorce. Overwhelmed by mounting failures, isolation, and clinical depression, Roy Raymond ended his life on August 26, 1993, by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, concluding the life of the retail innovator on a devastating note.
Behind the Glamour: Misconduct Claims and Fallout
Even as the enterprise grew into an undisputed commercial juggernaut, dark controversies began to cast shadows over its reputation. Several top runway models, long celebrated worldwide as brand 'Angels,' eventually came forward with troubling accounts regarding workplace culture. They detailed mistreatment behind the scenes and backstage, alongside extreme, unhealthy demands to preserve rigid body shapes. Furthermore, intense scrutiny engulfed corporate leadership when Leslie Wexner's ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were exposed. Serious allegations emerged indicating that Epstein leveraged claims of being a Victoria's Secret talent recruiter to exploit aspiring young models. Despite weathering decades of scandal and institutional upheaval, the enterprise retains its prominent market stature, underscored by the worldwide spectacle of Kylie Jenner showcasing an extravagant 450 crore rupee fantasy garment.
