THE similarities between US model Brooks Nader and actress Sydney Sweeney do not end with their stunning looks.
Hollywood insiders have revealed how Brooks, who is set to take on Pamela Anderson’s iconic role in a raunchy reboot of Baywatch, is now on a one-woman mission to match Sydney’s superstar status.
Brooks Nader, pictured at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show in May, has been fiercely ambitious from an early age Credit: Getty
Sydney Sweeney launched her lingerie line SYRN earlier this year – and Brooks is ‘no prude either’ Credit: SYRN
Sources close to Brooks, 29, say that her fearless ambition and ruthless drive to succeed in a notoriously cut-throat industry is “like nothing Hollywood has seen in decades” – and it’s clear she’s following in Sydney’s path in a bid to rival her superstar status.
Like her predecessor, Pammy, Brooks was plucked from obscurity in sleepy Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where her dad earned around £10,000 a year, and her mum, Holland, was a nurse.
She told how she and her three sisters would “play in mud piles” and go to church for three hours every Jattvibeday.
But she was fiercely ambitious from an early age and, after being scouted by a New York modelling agent when she was 18, Brooks became a sensation almost as fast as Sydney, 28.
She booked herself a flight to Miami and turned up to an open audition for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue – alongside 10,000 other hopefuls.
She waited outside for hours in searing heat, and the gamble paid off – she was one of just six girls who made it into the issue.
Within months, she was plastered across giant billboards, had dropped out of Tulane University in New Orleans, and never looked back.
Five years later, Brooks was back at Sports Illustrated, this time as the cover star.
“Her talent is self-promotion, creating dramas, getting into the conversation, having women rather than men take up her side and back her journey,” a source reveals.
“She’s friendly, fun and, of course, like Sydney, she is not afraid to reveal her body.
“She really admires Sydney and they’re both pursuing their own paths, but at the same time Brooks is desperate to prove to TV and movie producers that hiring her for high-profile projects would be great for attention, marketing, eyeballs, social media content, and excitement.”
Although Brooks only made her TV debut two years ago on Dancing With The Stars, America’s version of Strictly, she has planted herself firmly in the glare of the limelight ever since.
During filming, she made headlines when it emerged that she was romping with her pro partner Gleb Savchenko on set between dances.
Their relationship collapsed when she accused him of cheating – which he denies.
Brooks’ short-lived marriage to advertising exec Billy Haire was already over by then – she simply dismissed their divorce as “getting the D-word” – and more recently she has hooked up with British actor Taron Egerton.
Now Brooks is happily single and looking for the right man to take charge – and share her spot in the limelight: “To impress me, it’s all about personality,” she says.
Brooks is now single again after splitting from Taron Egerton Credit: Splash
Sydney’s bikini body has earned her an army of fans Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
“I did the whole pretty boy thing. I just want you to make me laugh. And someone who is a great listener, respectful, caring, chilled out, someone who supports my dreams — and is cool with my chaos!
“I feel like I’m always making the plans, so I find it sexy when someone takes control and plans a date— whether you’re picking me up in a car or helicopter.”
Brooks’ casting in Baywatch came as a surprise to many in the movie industry since she had no previous acting experience – and could not even swim very well.
She admitted: “I’m having acting lessons – I’m going to surprise everyone – and swimming lessons every day. I have the hardest swim trainer ever.”
And now she is ready to take her fame to the next level – like Sydney, she is said to be weighing up an offer from Playboy.
She already has her own reality show Love Thy Nader, featuring her sisters Mary Holland, Grace Ann and Sarah Jane – who she calls her “built in besties”.
Sydney starred with Glen Powell in Anyone But You in 2024 Credit: Alamy
Brooks is playing CJ in the Baywatch reboot Credit: Instagram
And she is looking for a meaty film role to sink her teeth into next: “I’d love to play a version of myself in a movie,” she says.
“A crazy Southern girl who is living in the wild world of New York. Kind of like how Eva Longoria is pretty much herself in Desperate Housewives; she always said she didn’t even have to act!”
An LA-based producer tells us how she may yet get her wish: “Her casting on the Baywatch reboot is staggering on the face of it because she landed this role despite her lack of experience.
“She might not be technically the most talented, but she knows that what matters is who’s talking about you. She’s already paid for her contract with the huge volume of coverage she had since joining the cast in the spring.”
Our source has even suggested that Brooks’ recent dates with Kingsman star Taron, 36, may in fact have been orchestrated to boost her profile further: “Those snaps upped her appeal again, and she lapped it up,” he said.
Sydney with her music producer boyfriend Scooter Braun Credit: Instagram/sydney_sweeney
Brooks and her Dancing With The Stars partner Gleb Savchenko Credit: Tiktok/brooksnader
“And then she has been snapped walking around with her top ‘accidentally’ exposing her breasts which were captured by the media.
“She lives by the adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Brooks seemingly revels in the chaos, but she is a very, very smart cookie.
“She knows there are thousands of actresses out there with greater CVs than her, but she is all-in on showing the Hollywood money men that social followers, headlines, hashtags and a f*** it attitude will make her a more attractive hire for the next big project.
“She’s not looking for a fight with Sydney, and obviously there can be more than one sex symbol in Hollywood, but she knows how to create drama and get herself talked about.”
Among the many other similarities between the two are a slew of recent lucrative advertising campaigns.
Sydney’s controversial ad campaign for American Eagle jeans last summer saw the value of the company soar by 30 per cent, while Brooks has a collaboration with Hudson jeans.
Brooks also has deals with Old Navy, Samsung and Alice & Olivia but wants to attract high-end jewellery and cosmetic brands too.
She is even considering baring all in Playboy.
Our insider adds: “There is no doubt that being seen as the most talked about star or hottest actress of the moment in Hollywood is the golden ticket.
“Sydney, arguably, holds that honour at the moment, but it is always up for grabs in this town.
“It’s been the summer of sexy for Sydney with Euphoria ending with some very sexualised scenes, and so many promo shoots in her underwear for her lingerie brand.
“Brooks knows that she can match that and perhaps go further. She is no prude either – and proud of her body.
“There is no doubt Hollywood is listening and watching. Within 18 months she will get to audition for a role which will get Oscar buzz or be a monster smash.”
