The Style Advice Lauren Sánchez Received From Barbara Walters Decades Ago Still Rings True Today

Lauren Sánchez has made more than her fair share of headlines for her bold style choices. From plunging necklines to dramatic cut-outs, revealing outfits have become her signature. The peak of her controversial fashion choices might have been in January 2025, when Lauren Sánchez wore an inappropriate outfit with a visible lacy bra to Donald Trump's inauguration. Needless to say, the newly minted Mrs. Bezos faces quite a bit of criticism, and so many wonder why she hasn't toned it down yet.

It turns out that this unwavering commitment to her personal style may have to do with a powerful piece of advice she received long before Jeff Bezos ever entered the scene. Back in 1999, Sánchez was still an ambitious young reporter auditioning for a seat on "The View." Before the audition, producers gave her a full makeover with slicked-back hair and conservative clothes to make her more like the other blazer-wearing women on the show. But after the audition, Barbara Walters, the creator, pulled her aside.

"She goes, 'What are you doing?'" Sánchez recalled in 2024. "I was like, 'What do you mean?' She said, 'If you're going to go down, go down as yourself. Because if you don't, you'll beat yourself up twice'" (via "The View"). The aspiring host didn't land the job, but she walked away with a lesson she's clearly taken to heart. When she returned to "The View" decades later, this time to promote her children's book and share Walters' advice, she wore a plunging dress that was unmistakably her. Lauren Sánchez even wore another revealing outfit during the book launch that many deemed inappropriate for the cause. Her outfits might cause controversy, but it's clear that she is staying true to herself, and propriety aside, that's worth respecting.

Lauren Sánchez's interview on "The View" wasn't just to promote her new book. She also opened up about her engagement to Jeff Bezos, their blended family, and, of course, her bold sense of style. When host Sunny Hostin asked if she had always leaned into her signature sexy, daring fashion, Sánchez revealed a surprising source of inspiration: "I really look up to women like Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, [and] Sofía Vergara," she said. "They really embrace their culture when they dress."

Like her four style icons, Sánchez is of Latin American descent, and just like them, she's become known for unapologetically sultry, statement-making looks. The difference, however, between Sánchez and these women is that she isn't a Hollywood star, despite her many acting stints. Her acting portfolio mostly consists of background roles where she appears as herself or as a reporter, as well as celebrity cameos — not that she hasn't accomplished many other impressive feats.

Mrs. Bezos, however, brings this show-business style of fashion to White House events and book launches, leading to claims that she dresses inappropriately. Even during a news anchor gig, where Lauren Sánchez looked unrecognizable compared to now, her outfit still didn't meet the status quo for the setting. On one hand, we applaud her for being her authentic self, like Barbara Walters advised, but on the other, we wonder why she doesn't put more work into getting decent roles in the movie industry, since she clearly draws inspiration from it and already worked small-time acting jobs. Sánchez seems to have gotten the "dress for the life you want" part down pat. Perhaps it's time to use the endless range of Bezos connections to actually give her acting career a shot.