Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has once again stepped into the digital spotlight, participating in a viral social media trend that jokes about the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. In a video released Friday, the Democrat governor is seen walking down a sidewalk alongside content creator Kamaryn Johnson. The pair mimics a high-fashion runway walk before turning to face the camera, a performance that Pritzker quipped was the reason he couldn’t join the official Victoria’s Secret lineup.
“I had to hold it down in Illinois,” Pritzker joked regarding his absence from the actual runway. The video quickly generated a wave of engagement, with many social media users praising the collaboration. One user described the pairing as the “duo I didn’t know I needed,” while another called the performance “immaculate.”
This latest video is part of a broader, more experimental social media strategy for the Illinois governor, who has frequently leaned into Gen Z slang and meme culture. Pritzker has previously embraced terms like “governor-maxing” to describe his administration’s activities and “aura-farming,” a slang term referring to attempts to look cool or charismatic. In August, the governor faced a mix of reactions after posting a video in which he struck a series of model-like poses with a caption referencing an “aura-farming contest.”
However, the governor’s digital presence has also drawn sharp rebukes from conservative commentators and political opponents. RealClearPolitics president Tom Bevan described the August video as perhaps “the cringiest thing he’s ever posted.” Others were more personal in their critiques. Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire characterized Pritzker as a “medical marvel,” offering a harsh assessment of the governor’s physical appearance following his recent weight loss. Kaelan Dorr, a former White House deputy assistant, also weighed in by mocking the engagement metrics of the governor’s posts.
Beyond the humor and the backlash, Pritzker has been candid about a significant personal transformation. In September, he revealed during a CBS interview that he had lost 80 pounds. He attributed this change to a GLP-1 medication regimen, joining a growing number of public figures who have utilized the new class of weight-loss drugs. Pritzker noted that he has been “driven my whole life to lose weight” and described the availability of the medication as something that has “meant a lot” to him personally.
As Pritzker’s national profile continues to grow through these viral moments and personal updates, questions about his political future remain a constant fixture of the conversation. When asked about a potential 2028 presidential bid, the governor remained noncommittal. While he did not rule out future plans, he emphasized his current commitment to his home state, stating that he has not made any final decisions and intends to serve as the governor of Illinois “for a while longer.”
