Growing Into Feminism

When I finally spoke up against sexual harassment, it changed my life and career. Here’s why I encourage other women to do the same

- Gretchen Carlson

Gretchen Carlson is a news anchor, journalist, columnist, and empowerment advocate. After her departure from Fox News in 2016, she filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the network’s then chairman and CEO, Roger Ailes. The case was settled. She is the author of the book Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back, published in October.

I’ve always been a believer in the idea of building self-confidence from the inside out. I came up with this strategy as a kid. I was fat, and in the ’70s, when I was growing up, nobody was talking about body positivity. Levi’s would advertise your waist size and inseam length on the outside of your pants; I always used a Sharpie to x out my size. I remember shopping for my first bra in fifth grade at our local store and the saleslady shouting out, “I need the biggest size we have for the chubby girl in the dressing room!”

I was a good student and a violin prodigy—a guest soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra at age 13—and drew on mysmarts, sense of humor, and perseverance to get through my teen years.

So much so that later, after I’d lost 30 pounds and was attending Stanford, I set a huge goal for myself: to become Miss America. I figured my story of struggle and weight loss would inspire other teens, and because of the number of points awarded for talent, my parents also encouraged me to enter the pageant.