As Ohio billionaire Les Wexner faces intense scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, we look at the billion-dollar retail empire Wexner built in central Ohio, which gave rise to the fast-fashion trend, the mall as mecca, “sex sells” marketing campaigns and high-end fashion shows.
Social media posts from millennial women blame Victoria’s Secret and Pink for ushering in an era of hyper-sexualization and objectification, turning skinny models into iconic superstar “angels” and sending young girls to malls, clamoring for flashy suggestive attire that manifested in long-term body issues and eating disorders for some.
Along the way, Wexner raked in billions, gave away millions upon millions, and transformed his hometown and alma mater in the process.
Guests:
- Tim Feran, freelance journalist
- Chantal Fernandez, journalist/co-author, Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon
- Rachel Rodgers, associate professor of applied psychology, Northeastern University
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