Karlie Kloss Explains Why She Decided to Stop Working with Victoria’s Secret

Back in 2015 Karlie Kloss announced she'd be hanging up her wings after being a Victoria's Secret Angel for nearly three years. She did return to the lingerie giant's annual runway show in 2017 but has largely stopped working with the brand. In an interview with British Vogue fresh off her second wedding celebration with husband Josh Kushner, she revealed why she stopped working with Victoria's Secret, despite being one of its most high-profile models and having one of the most lucrative contracts in the business.

"The reason I decided to stop working with Victoria’s Secret was I didn’t feel it was an image that was truly reflective of who I am and the kind of message I want to send to young women around the world about what it means to be beautiful,” she said. “I think that was a pivotal moment in me stepping into my power as a feminist, being able to make my own choices and my own narrative, whether through the companies I choose to work with or through the image I put out to the world.”

Back in 2015, Victoria's Secret exec Ed Razek said in a statement of Kloss's departure from the Angel roster: "Karlie and I met several months ago to discuss the many things she hoped to do in her life and career. As we talked, it became clear she would not have the time to fulfill her myriad commitments. Reluctantly, we agreed she would leave the brand at the end of her contract."

Over the past few years, Victoria's Secret (and Razek himself) has been criticized for its lack of diversity when it comes to the models that appear in its campaigns and on its runways. Last year Kloss did come to the defense of those who choose to work with the brand. "There’s something really powerful about a woman who owns her sexuality and is in charge," she told the Telegraph. "A show like this celebrates that and allows all of us to be the best versions of ourselves. Whether it’s wearing heels, makeup, or a beautiful piece of lingerie—if you are in control and empowered by yourself, it’s sexy. I personally love investing in a powerful scent or piece of lingerie, but I ensure it’s on my terms. I like to set a positive example, so would never be part of something I didn’t believe in."

It sounds as though Kloss has zero regrets, though. She told British Vogue, “Looking back at my late teens and early twenties, I think I was fearful that I would lose a job or lose my position if I said I didn’t want to do something. But I did not lose out on jobs. If anything, the more I exercised the power of my voice, the more I earned respect from my peers. And I earned more respect for myself. Only now do I have the confidence to stand tall—all 6 feet 2 inches of me—and know the power of my voice.”

Originally Appeared on Glamour