Source: TheDrum
Wonderbra is returning its iconic ad after almost 25 years, but with a necessary twist to make it fit in the today’s society.
The ad “Hello Boys”, which caused its fair share of controversy even when it was first released, now is turned into a more empowering message with the ‘Hello Me’ iteration.
The ad features a woman in a similar pose to that in the original, wearing a strapless bra, but this time her confidence is not focused on the male gaze. Billboards will run in the UK across Ocean Outdoor’s out-of-home network.
The brand said it was time for a fresh proposition that celebrated “an era of empowered women; women who decide by themselves and for themselves, women who derive their sexuality from inner confidence. Women who want to feel sexy for themselves, when they want to”.
The campaign will further be supported by PR, in-store point of sale activity and influencer collaborations.
Heather Nogueira, UK business manager, marketing at Wonderbra’s US parent firm Hanesbrands, said: “This campaign comes at a crucial time when society is questioning the validity and authenticity of advertising that portray women in a deprecating manner, especially in the lingerie industry. We believe that the old cliché of women looking sexy to cater to someone else’s gaze has been replaced with women wanting to feel sexy on their own terms. This campaign is our way of empowering women to express their individuality with confidence in themselves & in their style. We learnt a lot from Hello Boys, but it is now time for Wonderbra to embrace the new dispensation of female self-empowerment.”
The original ‘Hello Boys’ poster featuring model Eva Herzigova was created by TBWA in the 90s to promote Wonderbra’s push-up bra. Despite stoking controversy and standing accused of causing road traffic accidents, it was voted the most iconic poster of all time by the public.
