Victoria's Secret is an American global lingerie retailer founded in 1977 by Roy Raymond and his wife Gaye Raymond as a small chain of five stores aimed at making lingerie shopping comfortable for men. The company was sold in 1982 to entrepreneur Leslie Wexner, who founded Limited Brands (later L Brands), under whose leadership it expanded aggressively into malls across the United States, reaching 350 stores and $1 billion in sales by the early 1990s and becoming the largest lingerie retailer in the country. The brand cultivated a glamorous image through annual fashion shows featuring supermodels like the 'Angels,' which aired on network television from 1995 to 2018, boosting its cultural prominence but also drawing criticism for promoting unrealistic body standards. The company has faced significant controversies regarding its workplace culture and leadership ties, including allegations of sexual misconduct and a toxic environment, harassment by former chief marketing officer Ed Razek, and scrutiny over Wexner's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. These issues contributed to declining sales and prompted a rebranding effort. In 2021, Victoria's Secret was spun off from L Brands as an independent public company, Victoria's Secret & Co., aiming to address inclusivity concerns by diversifying its marketing and product lines. Despite challenges, it remains a global powerhouse with thousands of stores worldwide, online sales, and products like PINK targeting younger demographics, while also facing criticism for labor practices in its supply chain and contributing to objectification in advertising.