News Release for immediate release

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Pennie Mertzelos

Director of Media Relations

(708)-456-0768

http://[e-mail]

Celebrities Team Up with Aerie to Empower all Young Women

CHICAGO – Sept 27 – Aerie is empowering young women this Fall with the launch of an influential campaign, #ExpressYourself. Women will have the chance to earn college scholarships by entering their clothing designs in a national online contest. Customized designs can be created on Aerie’s website, and are then to be shared on Aerie’s Instagram account. Celebrities, such as Alicia keys, will host Aerie’s #ExpressYourself Event and reveal who the national winners are.
The event will be held at the Virgin Hotel in Chicago, on December 10, 2016. The event will not only embrace all young women, but will also give women direct access to influential celebrities who support Aerie’s values. "Aerie shares my values in uplifting women, building their confidence and embracing the unique qualities that make us all beautiful," commented Alicia Keys. "I am honored to be a host of the #ExpressYourself event."
-more-

Aerie

Page Two
All participants are invited to go to Aerie.com and design their own bras, underwear, and swim wear. “Not only are young women encouraged to share their designs, but Aerie encourages young women to empower one another by liking fellow designs, and posting encouraging messages to one another.”
Pictures of young women’s designs will be accepted on Aerie’s Instagram account from September 27 through December 1. On December 5, Aerie will select fifteen designs with the most likes, five from each of the three categories. The fifteen finalists will be flown to the #ExpressYourself event to receive recognition for their creativity and accept their scholarships, while enjoying a lavish weekend, courtesy of Aerie’s bank account.
The #ExpressYourself event will not only reward the fifteen finalists, but will also host a variety of investors, public figures, and celebrities who support Aeries values regarding young women. In addition to Alicia keys, Ashley Benson, Kiera Knightley, Vanessa Hudgens, and Emma Watson are a few of the celebrities that will not only be at the event, but have also decided to publically speak at the event.
Earlier this year, Aerie vowed to never again retouch or photo shop any of their ads. This decision was Aerie’s stand against false advertisement that young women are not only subjected to, but also pressured to mimic. Aerie and the celebrity speakers at the #ExpressYourself event support a realistic, and positive body image for all young women.

-more-

Aerie

Page Three

Ashley Benson, Pretty Little Liars actress publicly slammed ABC Family for an image the network put out to promote the show in 2013. Benson went on to share her personal philosophy with her followers, “Remember, you are ALL beautiful. Please don’t ever try and look like the people you see in magazines or posters because it’s fake. It only causes an unhealthy mind about how you see yourself. You are perfect the way you are.”
The #ExpressYourself event will not only showcase remarkable women, but will also support the importance of education for young women. Aerie is determined to empower young women across the world, and change the expectations that are attached to beauty in our society today. Aerie, celebrities, and young millennials around the world embrace and accept all forms beauty. “We think it’s time for a change. We think it’s time to get real and think real. We want every girl to feel good about who they are and what they look like, inside and out.”

About American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products at affordable prices under its American Eagle Outfitters^® and Aerie^® brands. The company operates more than 1,000 stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, and ships to 81 countries worldwide through its websites. American Eagle Outfitters and Aerie merchandise also

is available at 101 international stores operated by licensees in 17 countries. For more information, please visit www.ae.com.