Sydney Sweeney shows her 'authentic' self in new American Eagle campaign
Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney has declared she gets to show her "authentic" self in her new American Eagle campaign which shows her wearing shorts on the beach.
Sydney Sweeney gets to show her "authentic" self in her new American Eagle campaign.
The Euphoria star, 28, showcases a range of shorts in the new Syd For Short adverts - inspired by her nickname Syd and her love of the beach - and she's credited the denim company with allowing fans to see a more relaxed version of herself away from the glamour of Hollywood.
She told PEOPLE: "What's really fun about my partnership with American Eagle is that I am getting to show a very authentic side of who I am.
"Everyone back home and my friends and my family, they know me as Syd, and so getting to show that side of my personality with American Eagle is really special for me."
She went on to share her typical summer outfit, adding: "[A] good T-shirt, some shorts, a black belt and some sneakers ... that's Syd right there."
In a press release for the campaign, she said: "[There's] something timeless about a great pair of jean shorts. They’re simple, but they make you feel confident and put-together without trying too hard."
American Eagle's chief marketing officer Craig Brommers also insisted the ads are designed to showcase the actress' "real" look when she's away from Hollywood, telling USA Today: "Yes, there is the actress on the red carpet with box office hits and Emmy-nominated performances on streaming shows. But there's also this very carefree, casual, real side, the girl-next-door side."
He also revealed Sydney was "very involved" in shooting the new adverts, telling the publication: "She's in there selecting shots and selecting angles and selecting story lines that she likes the most. So this is not about a payday.
"This is not about someone showing up and cashing a cheque. This partnership is deep. It is authentic, and it's someone who is a very savvy business person and very understanding about her brand."
The new campaign for the brand comes after Sydney's previous ads for American Eagle sparked a major backlash over the use of the tagline: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans".
The ads sparked accusations they were glorifying Sydney's white heritage and physique, but the actress went on to defend the campaign by declaring she is "against hate".
She told PEOPLE: "I was honestly surprised by the reaction. I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand. I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true."
Insisting that she always “leads with kindness”, Sydney added: “Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness. In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press but recently I have come to see that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it. So I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us."
Shortly after the campaign was released, American Eagle took to Instagram to defend the ad, writing: "'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans.
"Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone."
