Better in Denim. vs Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans

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Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans | Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle

Sydney Bernice Sweeney, born on September 12th, 1997 in Spokane, Washington, gained fame from her roles in Euphoria, The White Lotus, and Everything Sucks! Known for working with major brands like Miu Miu, Laneige, and now American Eagle, she has garnered millions of views and critiques about her work. For the past month, she has faced online and public backlash for her star role in the American Eagle x Sydney Sweeney campaign, particularly for it’s double meaning behind the name, Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans. Although the name of the denim campaign literally refers to denim, the name also plays on the phrase “great genes” – where the ad highlights Sweeney’s fair skin, light colored eyes, and slim waist. By displaying these specific traits that match Eurocentric beauty standards, critics say the messaging feels very outdated and have called out the denim campaign for touching on insensitive issues like racism, the sexualization of women’s bodies, and even political representations on social media.

For example, President Donald Trump said “You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans,” after a reporter stated that Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican. “That’s what I wouldn’t have known, but I’m glad you told me that. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic,” Trump added. That’s not the only thing Trump has said on the American Eagle ad. In a Truth Social post, he wrote “Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Go get ’em Sydney!”

Better in Denim. | KATSEYE x Gap

KATSEYE [pronounced as cats-eye] is an LA based international girl group formed by Hybe UMG and Geffen. The group was formed through Dream Academy, a collaboration between the two labels and reality competition backed in 2023. The group’s formation was later shown in the Netflix docuseries Popstar Academy: Katseye, and now the group has amassed a following of over 22 million. Known for their intense choreography and vocals in songs like “Touch,” “Gnarly,” and “Gabriela,” the group starred in Gap’s Fall 2025 denim campaign featuring Kelis’ re-recorded version of “Milkshake.”

The ad featured original choreography by Robbie Blue, known for working with artists like Doechii, Tate McRae, Tinashe, and more. Throughout the video, dancers move in layers and create formations with the members, showcasing the flexibility and durability of the jeans. The ad also reintroduced the low rise denim and iconic early 2000’s trends into the clothing, with each of the KATSEYE members posing in individualized pieces. Directed by Bethany Vargas and shot by Bjorn Iooss, the high energy of the choreography combined with the timeless tune results in an ad where each frame shows motion, self-expression, and individuality for people from all kinds of backgrounds – unlike Sweeney’s denim campaign.

With over 18 million views on YouTube, more than 400 million total views across various social media platforms, and reaching No. 1 in TikTok searches, the Better in Denim. ad has made a significant impact – not only on the company’s stock, but also on people who felt the controversial American Eagle campaign was holding everyone back.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katseye
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Sweeney
https://www.gapinc.com/en-us/articles/2025/08/gap-unveils-fall-denim-campaign-starring-global-gi
https://www.businessinsider.com/gap-ceo-viral-denim-ad-cultural-takeover-millions-views-earnings-2025-8
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3v3w62ekq2o