Gretchen Carlson

Gretchen Carlson, born on June 21, 1966, in Minnesota, is a prominent American broadcast journalist, writer, and television personality. A gifted youth violinist, she showcased her talents in various music competitions before transitioning to the world of beauty pageants. In 1988, she won the title of Miss Minnesota, which led her to become Miss America in 1989. Following her reign, Carlson pursued higher education at Stanford University, graduating in 1990.

Her career in television began with local news stations across Virginia, Ohio, and Texas, eventually leading her to national prominence as a correspondent and anchor for CBS. From 2002 to 2005, she hosted the Saturday edition of The Early Show on CBS News. Carlson then joined Fox News, where she co-hosted the morning show Fox & Friends from 2005 to 2013, and later hosted The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson until 2016.

In July 2016, Carlson made headlines by filing a lawsuit against Roger Ailes, the then chairman and CEO of Fox News, alleging sexual harassment. Her courageous stand inspired many others to come forward, resulting in Ailes' resignation and a settlement of twenty million dollars from 21st Century Fox, along with a public apology. This case became a pivotal moment in the #MeToo movement.

In 2019, she co-founded Lift Our Voices, advocating for the elimination of non-disclosure agreements and forced arbitration clauses in employment contracts. Her efforts culminated in the passage of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act in February 2022, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 3, 2022. Additionally, Carlson supported the Speak Out Act, which was signed into law later that year.

Beyond her advocacy work, Carlson served as chairwoman of the board of directors for the Miss America Organization from 2018 to 2019. In 2017, she was recognized as one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World. She is also the author of two books: her memoir, Getting Real, and the New York Times bestseller, Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back.