rundown
Sydney Sweeney attended Variety’s Power of Women gala wearing a sheer silver dress by Christian Cowan and Elias Mazzo. At the event, she gave a speech praising boxer Christy Martin, who she plays in her new film, Christie. In a recent interview with Variety magazine, Sweeney spoke about being considered a “sex symbol” and why she thinks it’s a misnomer.
On Wednesday, Sydney Sweeney made a bold statement on the red carpet at Variety’s Power of Women Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The Euphoria star attended the event in a sheer silver dress from Christian Cowan and Elias Mazzo’s Spring 2026 collection.
The floor-length crystal dress featured a scooped neckline, mid-length sleeves, and a twisted waist for a cinched effect. The back of the dress featured an elegant lace-up zipper that accentuated Sydney’s figure. Leaning towards a “see-through” design, the actress went braless and opted for nude underwear. She paired her look with diamond drop earrings and a ring from EFFY Jewelry and showed off her newly created blonde bob.
Sweeney, who will play boxer Christy Martin in the new film The Christie, was honored alongside Hollywood heavyweights including Kate Hudson, Wanda Sykes, Nicole Scherzinger and Jamie Lee Curtis. Martin also attended the event and sat next to Sweeney.
Sweeney took to the stage and gave a speech in which he paid tribute to Martin. “I know what it feels like to be undervalued. I know what it’s like to have someone else 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, that you deserve to be noticed, that you deserve to be taken seriously,” she said. “But we all have our own battles. Christie reminds us that sometimes strength doesn’t seem great, and sometimes it’s just getting back up again and again, no matter who’s watching.”
Sweeney went on to talk about how Martin’s on-screen portrayal inspired her. “Playing her taught me that surviving is not the end of the story, but the beginning of taking it back,” she continued, adding, “And I want all young girls to know that their power is already within them. You don’t have to wait for permission to be brave. You don’t have to shrink yourself to make others comfortable. If you fall, you can get back up and your story begins from there.”
The Any But You star recently spoke to Variety about the public’s perception of her. In an interview published on October 27, she said, “I play a lot of very divisive characters, and I think a lot of people think they know me, but they don’t. When people think, “Oh, she’s a sex symbol,” or “She’s leaning toward being a sex symbol,” I think, “No, I just feel good and I’m doing it for myself and I feel strong.”
