THE RUNDOWN
- Sydney Sweeney attended Variety’s Power of Women gala in a sheer silver dress by Christian Cowan and Elias Matso.
- At the event, the actress delivered a speech honoring boxer Christy Martin, whom she’ll portray in the upcoming film Christy.
- In a recent interview with Variety, Sweeney spoke about being seen as a “sex symbol” and why she thinks it’s a mischaracterization.
On Wednesday, Sydney Sweeney made a bold statement on the red carpet at Variety’s Power of Women gala held at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The Euphoria star attended the event in a sheer silver dress from Christian Cowan and Elias Matso’s spring 2026 collection.
The floor-length crystal gown featured a scooped neckline, mid-length sleeves, and a twisted waist that gave a cinched effect. The back of the dress had an elegant lace-up fastener that accentuated Sydney’s figure. Leaning into the “see-through” design, the actress went braless and opted for nude underwear. She paired the look with diamond drop earrings and rings from EFFY Jewelry, as she showed off her newly minted blonde bob.
Sweeney, who’s set to play the boxer Christy Martin in the upcoming film Christy, was honored alongside Hollywood heavyweights such as Kate Hudson, Wanda Sykes, Nicole Scherzinger, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Martin also attended the event and sat next to Sweeney.
Taking the stage, Sweeney paid tribute to Martin in a speech. “I know what it feels like to be underestimated—to have people define you before you’ve had a chance to define yourself. I know what it feels like to have to prove that you deserve to be here, to be seen, to be taken seriously,” she said. “But every one of us has our own fight, and Christy reminds us all that strength doesn’t look loud sometimes, and sometimes it’s just about getting back up again and again, no matter who’s watching.”
Sweeney went on to share how portraying Martin on-screen inspired her. “Playing her taught me that surviving isn’t the end of the story; it’s the beginning of reclaiming it,” she continued, adding, “And to every young girl out there, I hope that you know that your power is already within you. You don’t have to wait for permission to be brave. You don’t have to shrink yourself to make others comfortable, and if you fall, you can just get right back up, and that’s where your story can begin.”
The Anyone But You star recently spoke to Variety about the public’s perception of her. “I play a lot of very divisive characters, and I think that a lot of people think they know me, but they don’t,” she said in an interview published on October 27. “So when people think, ‘Ah, she’s a sex symbol,’ or ‘She’s leaning into that,’ I’m like, ‘No, I just feel good and I’m doing it for myself and I feel strong.’”