Sydney Sweeney stole the show in a sheer silver gown at Variety’s Power of Women event — and Sharon Stone had her back.
While Sweeney’s bold look turned heads, Stone praised the Euphoria star for embracing her confidence and power. “It’s OK to use what mama gave you,” Stone told Variety on the red carpet. “It’s hard to be hot, and I think we all know that. It’s really OK to use every bit of hotness you have — right here, right now — and go for whatever that is. Everybody has their own certain kind of hotness … who are you not to be beautiful?”
Stone, who will appear alongside Sweeney in Euphoria’s third season, said she and the actress spoke during filming about the backlash over Sweeney’s American Eagle “Good Jeans” campaign.
She recalled telling Sweeney about her friend Jane Goodall, who was criticized decades ago for appearing on the cover of Life Magazine in safari shorts. “Other scientists said, ‘Well, she only got the cover because she had good legs.’ And Jane said, ‘Well, if I did, then that helped me get more money for my research,’” Stone said.
Sweeney’s response? “Yeah, and I’m sure I made a billion dollars for the jeans company, and I’m good with that. Because, you know what? I’ll get another job.”
That confidence followed months of online backlash to the campaign’s tongue-in-cheek ad. In it, Sweeney says, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring… My jeans are blue,” as the camera zooms in on her eyes. Critics called it tone-deaf. Others called it clever marketing.
American Eagle later clarified, saying the ad “is and always was about the jeans — her jeans, her story,” and promised to keep celebrating confidence and individuality.
Sweeney has clearly moved on. With Euphoria season 3 in production and a packed slate of new projects, the actress continues to prove she’s more than capable of owning every moment — and every look — that comes her way.