The highlight of the session was the unveiling of Sunny, a bold new initiative created in partnership between Hello Sunshine and e.l.f. Beauty. More than a media platform, Sunny is designed as a creative ecosystem to support, inspire, and elevate teenage girls. From interactive financial literacy games on Roblox to mentorship opportunities and co-created fashion drops, Sunny aims to give young women the tools to move from content consumers to cultural authors.
“We’ve spent too long talking about Gen Z. It’s time we start building with them,” Witherspoon told a packed audience at the Palais. For her, the message goes far beyond branding. Sunny is an extension of her mission at Hello Sunshine: to tell meaningful stories by and for women, now broadened to include the youngest voices often left out of the conversation.
“If we don’t see real stories, we can’t imagine new possibilities,” she said, underscoring the importance of authentic representation. She emphasized that the industry has a responsibility, not just to show diversity, but to empower it from the inside out. That means mentorship, access, and shared authorship. “Joy is the most radical form of rebellion,” she added, quoting Vietnamese-American astronaut Amanda Wynn. “It’s not frivolous, it’s powerful. Because when we give young women the space to feel joy, we’re telling them they deserve more than just survival, they deserve to thrive.”
As the panel wrapped, the energy in the room shifted. This wasn’t just about a brand campaign. It was about redefining how young women are seen—and more importantly, how they see themselves. Witherspoon’s final words said it all: “We want girls to know they’re not just part of the story. They are the story.”