‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ Star Vanessa Hudgens’ Neon-Leopard Bikini From Her Fabletics Sun-Daze Drop Is Making a Splash Again

Early 2000s fashion keeps finding its way back into the conversation, and few stars have leaned into it as playfully as Vanessa Hudgens. Her Fabletics collaboration is a good example of how a celebrity can turn her own closet into a retail moment. It also shows how a well-timed capsule can stay in circulation long after it launches.

Hudgens first joined the brand as the face of the Velour collection, which debuted on Dec. 1, 2021, as Fabletics’ first-ever lifestyle line. That 32-piece collection was inspired by the 1970s and included bodysuits, biker shorts and wide-leg jumpsuits. It set the stage for a much more personal project the following spring.

That project is the Sun-Daze collection, and promo images of Hudgens in a leopard-print string bikini from it are circulating online again. The photos show her in a tan leopard bikini with neon green accents and tie-side bottoms, posing outdoors and in front of a pool with a garden hose. They are throwbacks, since the collection actually launched on April 1, 2022.

Vanessa Hudgens promoting her "Sun-Daze" collection for Fabletics https://t.co/uuA0e9qPXq

— LOKII (@TheLOKII_) October 17, 2026

The size-inclusive capsule features 16 pieces. Hudgens began the design process by looking at her own early 2000s style and closet, picking her favorite pieces for inspiration. The result was a nod to kitschy 2000s trends and California cool-girl style.

VIP prices ranged from $9.95 to $59.95. The lineup included activewear sets in bright prints like Pink Rave Geo and Desert Leopard, casual terry sets in Lavender Lustre and Aqua Blue, tops and baby tees, a bucket hat and a playful phone charm. The sports bra has a hidden pocket, and the pants carry a beach-vibe patch that Hudgens chose herself.

The swimwear is the standout. The string bikini was an all-new design and category for Fabletics, arriving just a day after the brand announced its official move into swim. The bikini pieces are made partly from recycled materials and are chlorine resistant, and they can be mixed and matched with sports bras and leggings in the same leopard fabric.

Hudgens has said her favorite styles included the neutral leopard print with a touch of neon, on both the bathing suit and the workout set. She also singled out a baby pink terrycloth halter dress with a keyhole detail. She leaned into soft Terry Island fabrics and added patches she personally designed, so the details feel personal.

The timing wasn’t an accident. Hudgens is nicknamed the Queen of Coachella by fans, and the capsule was positioned for festival season, with pieces made for sweating in the desert as well as lounging by the pool. The collection was her first with the brand and arrived shortly after she hosted ABC’s Oscars red carpet show.

Fabletics members could shop at VIP prices, with the $50 monthly membership fee credited toward purchases. The mix of activewear, loungewear and swimwear was meant to work for everything from workouts to errands. It’s the kind of range that makes a bikini feel like part of a wider wardrobe rather than a one-off.

The partnership didn’t stop there. In the fall of 2022, Fabletics launched a second Hudgens collection, a 13-piece capsule that debuted on Oct. 1. It ranged from XXS to 4X, with VIP prices starting at $12, and leaned into darker, fall-friendly pieces like an oversized faux leather button-down.

Fabletics has continued to lean on celebrity partners since. In February 2026, the brand announced an inaugural collection with Keke Palmer, which shows how central star collaborations remain to its strategy. Hudgens’ run helped set that template, blending a recognizable face with hands-on design choices.

Part of the appeal is the contrast between the sun-soaked California setting and the playful styling. A hose in hand, bare feet by the pool and gold bracelets give the shots a carefree, vintage-summer feel. That tone fits the collection’s whole premise of looking back to the early 2000s while staying modern.

The renewed attention also speaks to how well Y2K-inspired design ages online. A leopard print with neon accents is instantly recognizable, and it translates well to a quick scroll. Years after launch, the Sun-Daze imagery still reads as fresh.

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