It was late 2010. Megyn Kelly was a rising star at Fox News, not yet the household name she’d become after the 2016 debates, but she was definitely getting there. Then, the GQ magazine feature dropped. It wasn't just a standard interview. It included a photo shoot that, looking back, feels like a time capsule of a very specific moment in media history.
People lost their minds. Some called it unprofessional. Others thought it was just a smart branding move. Honestly, it basically set the stage for how the public would view Kelly for the next decade: as someone who refused to stay in the "serious news anchor" box that everyone tried to build for her.
The GQ Magazine Shoot: More Than Just Pictures
The article, titled "Megyn Kelly: The Fox News Dominatrix," wasn't exactly subtle. It featured Kelly in a black slip dress, posed in ways that many traditionalists thought were "too much" for a legal pundit and news anchor. But if you actually read the piece, it was a pretty deep look at a woman who had transitioned from a high-stakes corporate lawyer at Jones Day to a TV personality who could out-talk anyone on her set.
Kelly was 40 at the time. She was also pregnant. In later years, she’d look back and say she felt "proud" of those photos. She told People magazine in 2016 that she figured she looked pretty good and didn't see why she should be ashamed. You’ve gotta admire that kind of confidence, even if the timing made some of her Fox colleagues a little twitchy.
Why the Backlash Mattered
The "GQ magazine Megyn Kelly" controversy wasn't just about the clothes. It was about the perceived conflict between being a "serious journalist" and a "sex symbol."
- Critics argued that it undermined her credibility when interviewing world leaders.
- Supporters claimed it was a double standard—male anchors do fitness shoots or "Man of the Year" spreads all the time without their IQ being questioned.
- The network's stance was complicated. Fox News at the time leaned heavily into a specific aesthetic for its female anchors, yet the GQ shoot still pushed the envelope.
Trump, the "Bimbo" Retweet, and 2016
Fast forward six years. Donald Trump is running for president. He’s in a heated feud with Kelly after she grilled him at the first GOP debate. What does he do? He digs up the old GQ magazine shoot.
✨ Don't miss: Is Lester Holt Ill? What Really Happened With the NBC News Legend
Trump retweeted a supporter who called her a "bimbo" and shared the photos from 2010. It was a classic "this you?" moment intended to discredit her. But the strategy kinda backfired. Instead of making her look silly, it reminded everyone that the "bimbo" narrative was exactly what she’d been fighting against her entire career. She didn't blink. She basically just kept doing her job while the internet argued over photos that were already half a decade old.
Lessons from the GQ Profile
There are some real-world takeaways from this whole saga if you're looking at career branding or public image.
- Own your narrative. Kelly didn't apologize for the GQ piece. She leaned into the fact that she was a multi-faceted person.
- Visuals are a business. As she told the GQ interviewer, TV is a visual medium. You can't ignore that, but you can control how you participate in it.
- Critics have long memories. If you do something "edgy" in your 30s or 40s, expect it to resurface if you ever reach the top of your field.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the GQ shoot was some kind of "scandal" that almost cost her her job. In reality, it probably helped her. It brought her to the attention of a demographic that wasn't watching Fox News at 2:00 PM on a Tuesday. It made her "cool" in a way that traditional news anchors rarely are.
💡 You might also like: Nina Dobrev in Lingerie: Why Her 2026 Style Shift is More Than Just a Trend
She wasn't some victim of a "gotcha" photographer. She knew exactly what she was doing. She was a lawyer, remember? She’d spent years at firms like Bickel & Brewer and Jones Day. People like that don't just "accidentally" pose for a major national magazine without weighing the pros and cons.
Where She Is Now
Today, Kelly has moved on from Fox, had a rocky stint at NBC, and now runs her own media empire with The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM. She has more creative control than she ever did in 2010. When you look at her path, the GQ magazine moment looks less like a mistake and more like an early declaration of independence. She was telling the world that she wasn't going to play by the "boring anchor" rules.
✨ Don't miss: Ozzy and Sharon Married: The Chaos, the Survival, and the Final Goodbye
If you’re looking to manage your own public image, take a page from her book. Don't let others define your "professionalism" based on narrow, outdated standards. Whether it’s a high-profile magazine shoot or just a bold LinkedIn post, the key is consistency and not backing down when the trolls start digging through your archives.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your digital footprint. If you have high-profile photos or articles from early in your career, be ready to defend or explain them if they resurface.
- Define your "professional" boundaries. Decide now what kind of "off-brand" projects you're willing to take to build your personal brand.
- Focus on the work. Megyn Kelly’s GQ shoot only became a "thing" because she was actually good at her job. If she hadn't been a top-tier interviewer, the photos wouldn't have mattered.