Sydney Sweeney at 28 Wears Dresses Without a Bra 0 8

The premiere of the film "Christy" starring Sydney Sweeney took place on November 7. The box office earnings of the film are not impressive so far. Perhaps this is because many Americans perceive Sweeney not as an actress but as a symbol. The controversial advertisement for American Eagle jeans featuring her was discussed by everyone, including U.S. President Donald Trump. The cosmetics company Dr. Squatch, after a successful collaboration with Sweeney, was acquired for $1.5 billion. She has millions of followers on social media. Just like with Trump, America is divided into two parts regarding Sydney Sweeney. Some admire her because she is a beautiful, heterosexual, healthy young woman of the white race. Others claim that her only asset is her breasts, which she is not shy about showing.

In the film "Christy," Sydney Sweeney portrays Christy Martin, who played a key role in the recognition and popularization of women's boxing. For the role, the actress had to gain 35 pounds (15.9 kg). When the film was first shown at the Toronto Film Festival, critics wrote that Sweeney's performance deserved an Oscar nomination. However, following the first weekend of its North American release, the film only ranked 11th. It seems that the actress's fans do not want to see her in the role of a strong woman. Fans, including even the sitting U.S. president, are used to seeing her differently.

"When women thrive, society thrives." Under this slogan, the American magazine Variety, which covers news from the entertainment world, held a gala event "Power of Women" in Los Angeles on October 26, 2025. Lifetime achievement awards were presented to five outstanding women in show business: Kate Hudson, Wanda Sykes, Nicole Scherzinger, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Sydney Sweeney.

In her acceptance speech, Sweeney dedicated her award to Christy Martin: "I am not a fighter in the ring, but I saw something of myself in Christy. I know what it’s like to be underestimated when people define you before you even have a chance to define yourself. I know what it’s like to prove that you deserve to be here, to be seen, to be taken seriously. Each of us has our own struggle. And Christy reminds us all that strength doesn’t always look bright; sometimes it’s just about getting back up, again and again, regardless of who’s watching you. Playing her, I realized that survival is not the end of the story; it’s the beginning of the comeback."

As is often the case at film festivals and various awards, the most interesting part for the general public and the most discussed in tabloids and social media was the red carpet.

On it, Sweeney was in a league of her own—in a sheer, form-fitting dress made of silver fabric by Christian Cowan and Elias Matt. It is worn without a bra.

"The dress, conveying the atmosphere of medieval chainmail, dreamily cascaded down the superstar's figure. The designer dress featured lacing on the back, adding even more edge to the look, while the unique fabric created the impression of moisture, hugging Sweeney's body curves and cinching the waist to create the perfect hourglass silhouette," described the "boldest dress of the fall" by a Sports Illustrated reviewer.

On Sweeney's social media accounts—where she has millions of followers—there were many dissatisfied comments accusing her of objectification and sexualization. "How can we focus on her words when the first thing we see is her breasts?" "This does not empower women; it diminishes them."

Conservative television host Megyn Kelly (known to Russians for her interview with Vladimir Putin in 2018) admitted on her show that she is a fan of Sweeney but condemned the sheer dress. Sydney Sweeney's popularity among conservatives is generally high, especially after it became known that she registered as a supporter of the Republican Party before last year's presidential elections in the U.S.

Sharon Stone came to Sweeney's defense. In an exclusive interview with Variety, she stated: "It’s normal to use what your mom gave you. It’s really great. Being sexy is hard, and I think we all know that. It’s completely okay to use all your sexuality—right here and right now—and strive for whatever it may be."

Sydney Sweeney's appearance and sexuality have become a topic of cultural wars more than once.

With a Police Escort on Sunset Boulevard

In October 2023, the band The Rolling Stones released a studio album "Hackney Diamonds" consisting solely of new material. Sydney Sweeney appeared in the music video for the album's song "Angry." She dances in a convertible along Los Angeles's Sunset Boulevard past billboards featuring the Rolling Stones.

Blur frontman and Gorillaz member Damon Albarn criticized the album "Hackney Diamonds" and the "Angry" video in an interview with the French magazine Les Inrockuptibles: "I listened to their new song and watched this awful video showing them at different stages of life on billboards. And this young objectified woman. What the hell? It’s something completely incoherent."

Sweeney responded to the objectification accusations in an interview with the British version of Glamour: "It’s sexy and strong, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I starred in a Rolling Stones video. How cool and iconic is that? I felt really good. All the movements, everything I did, was freestyle. Who else can ride standing in a convertible down Sunset Boulevard with police escort? I never imagined that something like this would happen in my career."

Harbingers of the Death of Wokism

The American restaurant chain Hooters has long been a feeding ground for comedians and stand-up performers. For many years, it has served as a target for jokes. "Restaurant" is not a typo; it is derived from "breast." Hooters is a slang term with the same meaning. The restaurant's emblem is an owl, whose large eyes are incorporated into the letters "OO," stylized to resemble female breasts. The waitresses' uniforms consist of orange shorts and a white top featuring this owl. Teenagers, servicemen, and single men visit the chain's restaurants not only to enjoy the signature chicken wings but also to gawk at the waitresses.

On March 2, 2024, Sydney Sweeney appeared as a guest host on the evening musical-comedy show SNL (Saturday Night Live) on NBC. In a comedic sketch, she and regular SNL cast members Chloe Fineman and Sarah Sherman portrayed Hooters waitresses. Sweeney played waitress Tina, who is working her first day. At the end of the day, the girls counted their tips. One had $42. The second had $39. Waiter Dennis received only 12 cents in tips, and one of the customers left him a note: "You ruined my day." Tina lays out her tips—$3600. A customer rushes to the counter, throws down stacks of cash, and says he’s running to the bank to withdraw more.

Interestingly, NBC journalist Samantha Vincenti referred to Sweeney as "genetically gifted" while commenting on this sketch.

But about genetics—later. The sketch provoked an uproar among feminists, supporters of the woke ideology (woke, an American political term denoting heightened attention to issues of racial, social, and gender justice, discrimination, and inequality), and advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion—DEI. Traditional value supporters came to Sweeney's defense.

Vanity Fair editor Karen Valby, in an article about SNL, "splattered Sydney Sweeney with mud," expressing grievances against the show's creators: "Her breasts were fully exposed and frequently mentioned; her hair fell in waves like a mermaid. I don’t know if she’s funny, as in the show she only needed to be young and beautiful."

"Why are discussions about Sydney Sweeney's breasts so inadequate?" is the headline of Kate Lloyd's article in the British version of Vogue. "It pains me that in the last few weeks, the old good breast has found itself at the center of perhaps the silliest cultural war of our time," Lloyd states.

American ultra-conservative political scientist and influencer Richard Hanania posted a video on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in which Sydney Sweeney thanks the SNL participants, captioning it: "Wokism is dead." Journalist Amy Hamm titled her column in the Canadian newspaper National Post "Wokism Cannot Compete with Sydney Sweeney's Undeniable Beauty." The column begins: "Do Sydney Sweeney's D-cup breasts herald the death of wokism? This is the question the public is asking, at least on social media."

"Beauty is now politicized," notes the journalist. "For this, we should thank the tyrannical, woke, and (ironically) minority avant-garde that has forced our culture for years to pretend that ugly is beautiful."

The British tabloid Daily Mail, in an article titled "Why Sydney Sweeney and Her D-Cup Breasts Are Presented as Evidence That Wokism Is Dead," pointed out that American conservatives have chosen Sweeney as an unusual antidote to the rampant political correctness.

"In high school, I was embarrassed by my large breasts and said that when I turned 18, I would get plastic surgery to reduce them. And my mom would say, 'Don’t do that. You’ll regret it in college.' And I’m so glad I didn’t do it. I like them. They are my best friends. Every body is beautiful. When you are confident and happy inside, it really shows to others" (interview with Glamour, 2023).

In May 2025, it became known that Sweeney became the face of Dr. Squatch, a company that produces body care products for men. A limited edition (5000 pieces) of soap called Sydney's Bathwater Bliss was released with a unique ingredient. The soap's scent was described in the advertisement as "with notes of pine, Douglas fir, earthy moss, and a hint of Sydney Sweeney's bathwater." The bathwater was the unique ingredient. A certificate was included with the soap, certifying that the water was authentic.

The soap went on sale on the Dr. Squatch website for $8 per piece on June 6 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. The entire batch sold out instantly, and the website crashed under the pressure of fans. The soap then appeared on eBay, but it was resold there at a different price—ranging from $400 to $600. Those who missed out on the soap could console themselves with a small promotional video featuring Sweeney in the bath.

Public opinion was once again divided. Some condemned the actress for allowing herself to be objectified and sexualized. Others said that such advertising positively affects men, making them pay more attention to personal hygiene.

Less than a month after the soap sold out, it became known that one of the largest global consumer goods manufacturers—Unilever—was acquiring Dr. Squatch for $1.5 billion.