Rose McGowan was one of the most prominent actresses in the ’90s, known for her role in blockbuster films such as Scream, Jawbreaker, and Charmed.

Her fashion choices, particularly the revealing dress she wore to the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, also brought her fame.

However, the “n^ked dress” was more than just a bold fashion statement; it symbolized a “reclamation” of her body after her alleged s**ual assault.

McGowan is among the many women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of s**ual assault.

The actress claimed that the Hollywood mogul assaulted her at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997.

Her outspoken accusations against Weinstein made her an outcast in the entertainment industry, and she blames him for destroying her once-promising acting career.

“It got to the point where even if I said something as simple as ‘I want a tuna sandwich,’ people would give me this look like, ‘Oh my God, it’s that crazy lady,'” McGowan told The Guardian in 2020.

She said she was constantly gaslit, which caused her to “sometimes short-circuit.”

However, McGowan was not alone in accusing Weinstein of s**ual assault.

Over 100 women have come forward with stories about the movie mogul dating back to the 1970s.

Weinstein’s misdeeds came to light in 2017 when a New York Times investigation revealed that he had paid off multiple women over the years to keep silent.

A few days later, the New Yorker published accounts of numerous women who claimed he had assaulted them.

As a result, Weinstein was found guilty of rape and s**ual assault in 2020 and is serving a 23-year sentence.

Despite being recognized today for her advocacy of rape and s**ual assault survivors, Rose McGowan was once one of Hollywood’s hottest young actresses.

She was famous for her daring roles and bold fashion choices.

Her most memorable look is undoubtedly the dress she wore to the 1998 VMAs.

The black mesh dress had a backless design, with only a few sparkling strings draped across her backside and upper legs.

Maja Hanson designed the iconic dress, and the designer credits McGowan with starting the sheer-dress trend that is now commonplace on red carpets.

“Those kinds of looks were happening on the runway at the time, but I think she was the person who took it from the runway to the red carpet,” Hanson told Page Six in 2020.

“I don’t remember anyone doing it before her.

Other people have worn similar things since then, but she was the first to really have that ‘wow’ moment.”

Hanson also revealed that she did not know McGowan planned to wear the dress to the awards show.

The designer had also dressed the actor’s date, Marilyn Manson, and while he was getting fitted, McGowan found the dress and asked if she could borrow it.

The rest is fashion history.

For Rose McGowan, the dress represented more than just a “wow” moment.

Her appearance at the VMAs was her first public event following her alleged assault, and in her 2018 memoir, Brave, the actress referred to it as “a reclamation of my own body after my assault.”

The dress has become an iconic symbol of female empowerment and a statement against s**ual violence.

It has inspired numerous imitations and variations over the years, but none can compare to the original.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of s**ual assault, there are resources available to help.

In the United States, you can call the RAINN National s**ual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a s**ual assault service provider in your area.