Gretchen Carlson

I mean, this was still back when Miss America was spending a lot of time sitting in drugstores and shopping malls, signing autographs. And I was like, what am I doing with my life? This is not what I thought it was gonna be. So I really tried to perform my violin at every possible place.

I mean, this was still back when Miss America was spending a lot of time sitting in drugstores and shopping malls, signing autographs. And I was like, what am I doing with my life? This is not what I thought it was gonna be. So I really tried to perform my violin at every possible place.

I tried to make sure that I could speak at every possible venue so that I could continue to spread the message and try to break down the stereotypes that Miss America is not some dumb blonde, right? And that was still existing a lot. It's followed me my whole career, quite honestly. People just assume that you're a bimbo. And it was almost like my resume with all these achievements.

I tried to make sure that I could speak at every possible venue so that I could continue to spread the message and try to break down the stereotypes that Miss America is not some dumb blonde, right? And that was still existing a lot. It's followed me my whole career, quite honestly. People just assume that you're a bimbo. And it was almost like my resume with all these achievements.

All my achievements, they just disappeared. And there was a time at CBS when I took it off my resume, actually, because it was just easier to not own up to it. Now I'm to the point like, look, people, you've got to get past this. These are really smart women. But yeah, it was an interesting shift in my life and being looked at for my exterior.

All my achievements, they just disappeared. And there was a time at CBS when I took it off my resume, actually, because it was just easier to not own up to it. Now I'm to the point like, look, people, you've got to get past this. These are really smart women. But yeah, it was an interesting shift in my life and being looked at for my exterior.

What? Yes. Talk about shaming a person. Yeah. There were a lot of people that were really incredibly rude to me that year, including journalists. Some of them I got back at once I got into the television industry. I happened to run into one of them and put her in her place after I had made it a little bit. But it's a horrible, shaming experience.

What? Yes. Talk about shaming a person. Yeah. There were a lot of people that were really incredibly rude to me that year, including journalists. Some of them I got back at once I got into the television industry. I happened to run into one of them and put her in her place after I had made it a little bit. But it's a horrible, shaming experience.

And I mean, I think it really prepared me for actually what I went through later on at Fox.

And I mean, I think it really prepared me for actually what I went through later on at Fox.

When people were standing in line to get my autograph at, you know, some ridiculous drugstore event that I hated, I would actually hear people say when they got close, that's Miss America? Because I didn't look how they wanted me to. I mean, first of all, I'm five foot three, right? But there was no category for height.

When people were standing in line to get my autograph at, you know, some ridiculous drugstore event that I hated, I would actually hear people say when they got close, that's Miss America? Because I didn't look how they wanted me to. I mean, first of all, I'm five foot three, right? But there was no category for height.

But people just assume that you're supposed to be some statuesque model, which I was. And I would have been dead last in Miss USA, which is all based on beauty. There's no talent. There's no scholarship, just to be clear. But yeah, it started to build my thick skin.

But people just assume that you're supposed to be some statuesque model, which I was. And I would have been dead last in Miss USA, which is all based on beauty. There's no talent. There's no scholarship, just to be clear. But yeah, it started to build my thick skin.

And then when I got into the television industry, my goodness, I mean, the things you hear from viewers as well, like, so by the time I got to Fox, my skin was really thick. I think it really prepared me and helped me for what I endured and made me have the ability to finally do something about it.

And then when I got into the television industry, my goodness, I mean, the things you hear from viewers as well, like, so by the time I got to Fox, my skin was really thick. I think it really prepared me and helped me for what I endured and made me have the ability to finally do something about it.

Yes. And I can only imagine what you went through. I hear from so many women in the military over the last nine years. So my heart goes out to all of them and to anyone else who's a survivor of any kind of sexual misconduct. But yes, when I was Miss America, I was sexually assaulted twice. And I never, ever told anyone for 25 years until I wrote my memoir, which was called Getting Real.

Yes. And I can only imagine what you went through. I hear from so many women in the military over the last nine years. So my heart goes out to all of them and to anyone else who's a survivor of any kind of sexual misconduct. But yes, when I was Miss America, I was sexually assaulted twice. And I never, ever told anyone for 25 years until I wrote my memoir, which was called Getting Real.

And what happened was, so many women will be able to relate to this. I was actually trying to get ahead again in life. Like it was coming to the end of my years, Miss America. I realized that maybe I would be interested in going into television. So I started cold calling women. people in the business, from agents to PR people to television executives.

And what happened was, so many women will be able to relate to this. I was actually trying to get ahead again in life. Like it was coming to the end of my years, Miss America. I realized that maybe I would be interested in going into television. So I started cold calling women. people in the business, from agents to PR people to television executives.