All Photography by Rebecca Rütten
Last Tuesday, SLEEK hosted its first book club with feminist author Sophie Passmann in collaboration with MAC Cosmetics.
Her new German book “Wie kann sie nur?” explores the staging of femininity on social media. In that spirit, we invited creatives, actors, artists, and more to join us, spending the evening with drinks by Campari and products from MAC Cosmetics at the SLEEK art space. The most exciting part? The book came to life.
In a conversation between Sophie Passmann and Christian Bracht, compelling questions were raised. Sophie answered with a disarming mix of seriousness and irony, addressing the kind of criticism women in the public eye face, criticism that is often anything but constructive. She also spoke about her hopes for the industry and what she wishes would change. At one point, the room fell completely silent. Sophie shared that a single comment, if it reaches her at the wrong moment, can trigger a panic attack. She laughed it off, slightly embarrassed. The audience, however, responded with stillness and empathy.
She also addressed current issues within the industry, reflecting on how she wished certain men in her close circle had reacted, and why she believes it is long overdue to exclude those who behave harmfully toward women from the industry and its events.
Sophie sat there with a sense of calm and openness, filling the room with both depth and lightness. Guests were treated to refreshing drinks from Campari, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, alongside Sophie’s new book and the latest issue of SLEEK 88, featuring her on the cover.
A book club that was more than just a reading. An open conversation.
Sophie shared that, in the past, a partner like MAC Cosmetics would have felt like a distant dream. Now, she sits here, two books, a cover story, and many achievements later, with a resilience that speaks for itself.