Who Gets to Wear the Jeans? American Eagle, Sydney Sweeney!

Sydney Sweeney’s topless American Eagle campaign is being praised as “bold” and “empowering.” But it reveals a familiar pattern: white women get to be the face of rebellion and freedom, while the Black and Brown communities that created these styles remain invisible.

Denim is more than fabric it’s a symbol shaped by Black and Brown working-class culture. The low-rise jeans, crop tops, and visible thongs that are trendy now were made iconic by women of color decades ago.

When white women like Sydney pose half-naked in jeans, it’s seen as art and empowerment. When women of color do the same, they face judgment and censorship.

Pairing this campaign with activism around domestic violence doesn’t erase the fact that it sanitizes and sells a look rooted in communities rarely credited or centered.

Real empowerment means hiring and crediting creatives of color, challenging racial double standards, and sharing authentic stories not repackaging culture for profit.

I’m not mad at Sydney. I’m tired of the same story repeating. It’s 2025. Time for change.