Stacey Abrams says she was pressured to change her appearance during gubernatorial run
The former Georgia candidate for governor hasn't ruled out being a running mate for a 2020 Democratic nominee
The former Georgia gubernatorial candidate was encouraged to make her look more appealing to beauty standards, she says while making her run
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Stacey Abrams’ star continues to rise in the Democratic party, but in a recent interview with OWN she reveals that despite all that she was still pressured to appeal to traditional beauty standards during her run for governor of Georgia in 2018.
“Beauty is not the thing I think about all the time,” Abrams explained when asked about pressures to cater her look to men while navigating through the world of politics.
READ MORE: Stacey Abrams’ voting rights PAC raised more than $3 million in six months
Even her friends suggested changes
The conversation was part of an in-depth interview featured on the network’s four part series, Black Women Own The Conversation. But surprisingly, it wasn’t just men who seemed pre-occupied with her looks, as the 45-year-old went on to explain that her own friends pushed her to make physical changes during her campaign as well.
“I used to be that thin and I miss those days but not enough to go back to them,” she told the live studio audience composed of 100 Black women. “I want to be healthy but I’m not trying to fit anyone else’s image.”
READ MORE: Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams talks 2020, voter suppression
Despite advice to play coy, Abrams has confirmed that she would be happy to be the running mate of whoever snags the 2020 presidential candidacy for the democratic party.
“There are those who advised me against saying that out loud,” she admitted earlier this week. “But, the reality is, of course, the work that I want to see for America, the progress I want to see us make, I would be honored to be the running mate of the Democratic nominee.”
The Black Women OWN the Conversation series, premiered on August 24th and features panels of well-known women such as Abrams, singer Monica, actress Kym Whitley, model Winnie Harlow, Pose star Angelica Ross, cultural critic Brittney Cooper, political commentator Angela Rye, Queen Sugar’s Tina Lifford and California’s first-ever surgeon general Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.
““For a variety of reasons, no one is more on the cutting edge in American life today than Black women,” said Tina Perry, President, OWN, according to Deadline. “At a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, this is a terrific opportunity to hear from them on everything from love to family, from politics to faith.”
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