Gretchen Carlson
There are no guarantees in life, but I believe faith provides all of us with a foundation to live the best lives possible - knowing that there is a higher being who loves us and will never leave us. Through the many struggles in my life, my faith is sometimes the only thing I have to hold onto. God was my only friend.Collection: Faith
For all of you out there who don't know what 'ignoramus' is, it's an ignorant lawyer.
I wanted to see how much of an insult it was to be called an ignoramus. I didn't know what it meant; I just Googled it.
One week after getting married in my thirties - while I was working as the main anchor at the CBS affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio - I got fired.
My career had zero to do with whether or not my husband also worked. It had everything to do with personal identity, personal goals, and making the most of my life.
I didn't win Class President in tenth grade. I was too chubby to win a role in the school play 'Oklahoma!' and I didn't make it into a singing and dancing group in high school for the same reason - too fat.
My advice to people who've lost their job: go back to the things that made you from the start.
The future is wide open. I may actually go back and get that law degree someday.
I might even pursue a career in politics. If I do, I will have had great practice dealing with the avalanche of daily criticism from working at Fox News and being a former Miss America. I'm ready for anything!
I believe giving back is one of the greatest life lessons we can teach our children: that the world isn't all about them and that, through our actions, people will really discover what kind of a person we truly are.
Trust is the most important aspect of being a journalist. If people don't trust or find you relatable - you will not have success.
We all remember growing up with mean girls, right?
Arbitration clauses have become prevalent in most corporate agreements or contracts for employees.
One of my proudest moments in life was earning the valedictorian medal in high school. I worked so hard for it!
I wasn't naive, but at the end of my Miss America year, when two different executives attacked me during what I thought were informational interviews about jobs, I was shocked. I didn't see it coming, and the worst thing about it was the shame I felt, as if I'd done something wrong.
I took off the makeup and stashed the crown, and now I was just another young woman out in the world. It's almost dizzying how fast the fame goes away - like a stage that turns dark at the end of a performance.
During my whole year as Miss America and afterward, I was calling agents, looking for advice and opportunities. When I was in New York or in Los Angeles doing different appearances, if I had time on my schedule, I tried to meet with executives.
To this day, I have an open door policy. I seek out interns and young women and try to help them. Women mentors were important to me, and I want to do that for others.
I wasn't prepared for the environment I encountered trying to break into television news. In the world of music, where I spent my formative years, we were judged solely on our talent, and gender wasn't a factor.
I know, normally folks on TV wouldn't readily admit their age, but since there's nothing you can do about it, you might as well own it and be happy.
Be brave and be fearless, and for God's sake, stand up for yourself.
The minute that you go to arbitration, it's 100% confidential, so nobody ever hears about it.
Holding true to what you believe - even in a big city - is so important.
Everyone knew how powerful Roger Ailes was. I certainly felt intimidated by that; the culture of 'Fox and Friends' was intimidating to me.
Sometimes when women come forward about sexual harassment, they're seen as a troublemaker.
Sexual harassment can really affect you for a long time, and I want more women to come forward.
I'm ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace.
I am particularly distressed when people in the public eye who influence our culture perpetuate sexism.
I've been for women's empowerment my entire life.
My grandfather was the minister at the Lutheran church. My dad owned a car dealership in town. My mom was the consummate volunteer and cheerleader for me.
I grew up thinking that I could be anything I wanted to be in this world because my mom told me that every single night.
I wanted to play the piano.
Becoming Miss America was one of those things. It immediately changed what I thought I was going to do with the rest of my life.
I'm setting up a fund to empower girls and women to speak up - on all issues, not just sexual harassment. For me, it's about inspiring women to come together.
I think one of the things I've learned is that the tone of an organization is set from the top down. And if you have men running an organization that want to honor women, that's a whole different experience than if they don't.
I respond to every email. I sign every autograph for every person.
Half of the equation is men, and right now, unfortunately, men are running the majority of corporations, so we have to make sure that if that is the case, that they are respectful and honor women for their true accomplishments.
I am saddened by the prevalence of powerful men disrespecting and objectifying women - and getting away with it for years.
We need more women in higher roles, because the tone for sexual harassment would no doubt be different.
My vibrato was my weakness. With romantic pieces, I could be a lot more schmaltzy. My wider vibrato fit that.
A lot of things I've done in my life have taken incredible mental fortitude.
I'm a huge believer in visualizing achieving the task before it happens.
I wish some days that I didn't have as much drive as I do. I'd sleep better.
I've always been an incredibly strong person, and I've also been underestimated.
I've been truly blessed to have so many supporters and, of course, blessed to have my family and all my friends.
I have strived to empower women and girls throughout my entire career.
I am extremely proud of my accomplishments at 'Fox News' and for keeping our loyal viewers engaged and informed on events and news topics of the day.
A lot of people who have come up to me at restaurants - men - and have said, 'I want to shake your hand, because I have daughters'.
It's so unbelievable that in 2017, almost every single woman has a story about sexual harassment.
I never expected to be the face of sexual harassment. But I never give up on anything. So when placed in a new, challenging situation, it's like, 'I'm going to give this 110% because that's what I've done my entire life.'