Maggie Vespa, TV news anchor, responded live to criticism she received from a viewer who advised her to “dress like a normal woman.”
Maggie Vespa, anchor for KGW-TV in Portland, USA, received many supportive messages after responding live to a criticism she received on her social media.
A viewer used Vespa’s Facebook page to advise the journalist to “dress like a normal woman”; she shared the story during the newscast, exposing the pressure women working under the spotlight face daily.
Vespa showed the audience a message from a man who criticized her clothing, especially her high-waisted pants: “They look ridiculous on you. Please change your wardrobe, you are too beautiful to look so stupid.”
According to the journalist, the viewer criticized her outfit again before she blocked him. In a second message, the man advised the anchor to “try dressing like a normal woman” and questioned whether the TV network didn’t have money to buy new clothes.
This story took place six years ago, but the live response from Vespa at the time is still considered relevant and important. The journalist highlighted the double standard that women face for being considered “less trustworthy” if they don’t adhere to typical standards, which are considered “normal,” something men don’t have to deal with.
“Dress however you want… and if someone tries to make you feel less because of it, the problem is theirs, not yours. In other words, there’s no one way for a normal woman to look or be.”
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.