Former Miss America now Fox News host Gretchen Carlson shares her struggles with 'dumb blonde' image

It's difficult being stereotyped because of the way one looks, and no one understands this struggle more than former Miss USA and Fox News host Gretchen Carlson.

Carlson, who is the host of "Real Story" on Fox News, recently spoke with CBN News' Wendy Griffith and talked about her new book "Getting Real" where she shared her personal journey of growth and acceptance.

Carlson stepped into the limelight back in 1989 when she won Miss America. However, instead of enjoying her new title, Carlson found herself struggling to prove her worth as far as brains and smarts were concerned.

"When people don't want to debate you about the tough issues, it's just easier to call you a dumb blonde," she lamented.

Suddenly, her resume "evaporated" when she won the beauty pageant, and so did her successes in high school, where she graduated as valedictorian.

But Carlson is more concerned about the younger generation being stereotyped, since they take things way too seriously during this age of social media.

"I don't worry about this for myself; my skin got thick a long time ago. I write about these things in the book as inspiration for young people," she added.

When young kids receive unpleasant comments in social media, the former beauty queen has but one thing to say: "Don't look at them. Walk away."

The television host who has both beauty and brains was raised as a Lutheran, and she also shared details about her faith in her book "Getting Real." There are so many things in life that need questioning, she said, but faith in God is definitely an exception.

"As a journalist you're supposed to ask a lot of questions. It's the one thing I don't question in life, and I feel so blessed that I don't," she said about her faith.

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