Cher made it clear that it's a woman's world during her electrifying performance at the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Tuesday. The iconic singer, now 78, brought back the magic that the VS Fashion Show once embodied as she headlined the event's first-ever all-female musical lineup, which also featured BLACKPINK's LISA and Tyla.
Taking the spotlight on the Victoria's Secret runway in New York, Cher delivered live performances of her timeless hits, 'Stronger' and 'Believe.' The Oscar winner received an introduction befitting a legend, with the catwalk dimming as images of Cher from various stages of her career filled the giant screen behind the runway.
Cher kicked off with 'Stronger,' donning glittery black cargo pants and a sparkling corseted black jacket. As the final act of the night, Cher's performance elicited cheers from the audience, with even model Adriana Lima lip-syncing along as she walked the runway. Fans were equally enthralled. 'CHER'S PERFORMANCE SOMEONE PINCH ME,' one person posted on X. Another wrote, 'CHER IS SO ICONIC.' 'That Cher Opening? Masterpiece thank you,' a third person commented about the singer's introduction.
Before the show, Cher was modest on the VS pink carpet. 'Don't expect that much!' she told pre-show host Olivia Culpo. 'I'm gonna go out there and do my best.' When asked what part of the show she was most excited for, Cher said, 'I really am most excited about all the women, that it's only women, and they're great.' Speaking of the show's models, the singer shared, 'I met them all and we had a great time the last couple of days. And I'm really proud of it [and] proud that women are finally being able to in many ways — not in all ways, but in some ways — to find their own destiny.'
As for her look, she downplayed what the audience could expect. 'It's not much,' she said. 'It's not a big deal.' Victoria's Secret announced Cher as the fashion show's headliner in an Instagram post on Sept. 17. 'It's a woman's world, so it's understood that you can't have a fashion show without the mother of fashion herself—@Cher! We're beyond excited to announce she will officially be performing at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15,' the brand captioned a montage, including clips from the singer's 'Believe' music video and title cards proclaiming her an 'icon' and a 'legend.'
Cher is the latest in a line of A-list stars to headline the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Past performers include Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and Selena Gomez. The 2024 show marked a return to form for the underwear empire. The live runway show was the brand's first since 2019, when VS halted the program due to declining ratings and criticism over the body types celebrated and excluded on the catwalk.
Last year, VS attempted to reinvent their show with a pre-taped 'fashion event' called 'Victoria's Secret The Tour ’23.' Filmed in Barcelona, Lagos, Bogotá, London, and Tokyo, the show, which streamed online, featured familiar VS models such as Adriana Lima, Gigi Hadid, and Emily Ratajkowski — but without audiences or the brand's signature angel wings, which were discontinued in 2021.
In May, Victoria's Secret announced the return of the live fashion show. 'We've read the comments and heard you,' the brand captioned a post on Instagram. 'The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is ✨ BACK ✨ and will reflect who we are today, plus everything you know and love—the glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment, and more! Stay tuned…it only gets more iconic from here.'
Adding to fans' excitement, in August, VS revealed that Tyra Banks would be returning to the company's runway for the first time in 19 years. The model has walked in nine shows for Victoria's Secret throughout her career. The brand declared on Instagram, 'Sorry, couldn't write a caption, we were too busy picking up our jaws off the floor at @tyrabanks and @gigihadid delivering VSFS invites. You understand.'
