Over 16,000 Sign Petition Seeking Victoria’s Secret Apology Over Body-Shaming Ad

An online petition on change.org initiated by three female British students to pressure Victoria's Secret, which allegedly promotes negative body image, has gathered so far 16,000 signatures.

The advert showed 10 slim women modeling the Body bra collection of the lingerie firm with the words 'THE PERFECT BODY" printed on the middle of the material.

With that title and images of only slim women, it is suggestive that only one ideal body type exists. Leeds residents Frances Black, Gabrielle Kountourides and Laura Ferris, creators of the petition, criticised the advert for its failure to celebrate different female body types, reports MSNBC.

The petition reads: "We would like Victoria's Secret to apologize and take responsibility for the unhealthy and damaging message that their 'Perfect Body' campaign is sending out about women's bodies and how they should be judged."

By perpetuating low self-esteem, it is contributory to a culture that allows health problems such as negative body images and eating disorders.

The three women lament that they have yet to hear Victoria's Secret's response to their complaint.

Time noted that the American lingerie firm previous marketing efforts, such as its Love Your Body campaign, likewise elicited negative comments from women's groups. The magazine cited how Victoria's Secret contrasts with soap and beauty product manufacturer Dove which promotes ideal body image "correctly."

The Dove Real Beauty campaign similarly features 11 women wearing white underwear, including two black models and at least two models considered Plus-size women.

Dear Kate, another underwear maker that has the tagline "made by women for women," proposed a revision of the bra ad that would still feature 10 female models wearing black underwear. Three of them are Plus-size women, of which two are blacks.

YouTube/NSTP