It’s that time of year again — time for long legs, tan skin and angel wings.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is upon us.

For those of you who don’t know, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is a lavish lingerie showcase that airs on CBS every winter. Each year, the program attracts millions of viewers from more than 100 countries. 

Victoria’s Secret Angels model million-dollar costume lingerie as well as the company’s current products. Celebrities and performers also grace the event, some present to provide musical entertainment for viewers and attendees. This year, the program is scheduled to air on Dec. 10 at 9 p.m.

It’s not that I’m a devout Victoria’s Secret fan or an avid fashion show viewer, but the buzz surrounding the event makes it hard to ignore.

I’ve seen event advertisements and promotions, even the occasional Facebook invite for screening parties — but it’s nothing compared to what’s to come.

It’s inevitable that during and after the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, social media will be aflutter with criticism and praise of the Angels who strut down the runway — most of whom near 6-feet tall and weigh around 110 pounds. 

Among the comments I’ve seen regarding these winged women are “These girls need to eat some cheeseburgers,” “I’m never eating again,” “I’m so glad I have curves” and many others that seem to express an extreme attitude about body image.

Personally, I find Victoria’s Secret models beautiful, but I’m under no illusion that I (or the majority of the population) have the ability to look like them. No matter how healthy the diet or extensive the exercise program, a body shape can only change so much.

For instance, Mariah Carey’s athletic body will never mirror Taylor Swift’s petite frame.  

And though I’m an “angelic” height, there’s nothing I can do to reduce the width of my shoulders or hips. Nor can others will themselves to grow six inches.

Everyone is built differently. Some women have naturally thin 5-foot-10 frames, while others don’t.

And that’s OK.

Though I, along with many others, perceive these women as beautiful, a scant number would argue that Victoria’s Secret models are the only beautiful females in the world. I certainly don’t think that’s the case.

Freckles and round faces can be just as attractive as sharp jaw lines and high cheekbones. And as opponents of the models point out, so can curves.

But just as those who admire the models shouldn’t aspire to look exactly like them, those who renounce them shouldn’t ridicule thin women or rationalize a lack of diet and exercise.

While it’s true that Victoria’s Secret models take extreme measures to maintain their figures, not all thin women do. 

For most, thinness is genetically predisposed, as is other women’s tendencies toward pronounced curves.

And though I’m partial to the curvature of my body, that’s not to say that I, like other similarly built women, can’t improve my appearance by reducing the amount of cheeseburgers and fried food I ingest and increasing the amount of time I spend exercising. 

And that’s the case for all viewers of the fashion show and people in general, despite which opinion they hold of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Whether you think Victoria’s Secret models are too thin or just right, you can always and only take action to better yourself.

Happy watching and healthy living!

Bailey is a junior in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].