At the age of 26, actress Sydney Sweeney has found a way to accept her body as it is. In high school, she recalls feeling dissatisfied with the size of her breasts, often wishing for a reduction when she reached adulthood. She felt confined by the societal expectations projected onto her. But, it was her mother, Lisa’s sage advice, that urged her to reconsider, to live a little further before making such a drastic move.
Talking with Glamour UK, Sydney confided about her mother’s counsel that had eventually led her to a change in perspective, ‘Don’t do it. You’ll regret it in college.’ turns out Lisa was right. Today, Sweeney is grateful she didn’t take the plunge. ‘I like them. They’ve become my best friends.’ Her outspokenness about body acceptance speaks volumes about how she has grown comfortable in her own skin.
‘Everybody’s body is unique and beautiful. It shines through when you’re happy and confident within,’ remarked Sydney. Having covered up her body from a young age due to self-consciousness, her current comfort with her body is a significant leap. Now, she wants to influence younger girls to see the beauty and power in their varying bodies.
Sydney’s evolution and acceptance of her body is evident in her stylistic choices now. Having once been the girl in oversized sweatshirts hiding her physique during high school, Sydney has thrown off those shackles. She now flourishes in anything she chooses to wear, whether it’s the everyday attire or glamorous red carpet ensembles.
However, despite her triumphant self-assurance, Sydney finds herself being scrutinized and misunderstood by the media. Her style, her choice of dress, often leads to distorted media headlines. The star expresses her frustration, ‘When it comes to red carpet images and they call the shots like, ‘Sydney Sweeney flaunts figure,’ or ‘Sydney Sweeney in a risqué dress,’ I want to set the record straight – I wore the same dress that anyone else would choose! I just happen to be more endowed.’
The star from ‘Euphoria’ unfortunately suffers from prejudiced interpretations of her style. A dress deemed as ‘elegant’ or ‘well-behaved’ on someone else suddenly becomes ‘provocative’ when she dons it. Sydney expresses, ‘Just because I am curvy, it shouldn’t alter the narrative.’ However, she is pragmatic about the media’s agenda, acknowledging the role sensational headlines play in generating interest.
‘Yes, it’s all about the catchy headlines. I understand that. It’s for the clicks.’ Despite these challenges, she maintains a strong stand. ‘Embrace what you’ve got. Treasure it. Love them,’ she quipped, demonstrating her acceptance and determination.
The same philosophy is evident in how she manages her online presence. Her Instagram account balances a mixture of glamorous red carpet photos and intimate snapshots of her life, making clear that she chooses how she wants to present herself to the world.
Although her posts often highlight her love for fashion, she steers clear of engaging in political discussions. She says, ‘I keep my focus on sharing my work and put a little bit of myself in between. I didn’t study politics or social issues, so I think it’s wise not to comment on topics I’m not fully informed about. I believe in responsible use of my social media influence.’
Sweeney did face some criticism the previous year when she organized a birthday party for her mother that included MAGA-inspired headgear. The event sparked heated debates among her followers, demonstrating the precarious balance one has to maintain when living in the public eye.