Lauren Sánchez Bezos's bold style: The Latinas who inspire her and the advice that keeps her authentic

Lauren Sánchez Bezos has been known for her daring fashion as well as for her personal life. But behind her bold choices on and off the red carpet lies a powerful piece of advice, one that’s been guiding her for over two decades, and could be the secret behind her authentic self.

Back in 1999, long before her name was linked with Jeff Bezos, she was an ambitious broadcast journalist with her sights set on a seat at 'The View.' At the time, the show was replacing original co-host Debbie Matenopoulos, and Lauren auditioned twice, ultimately without landing the role. But she walked away with something else entirely.

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“She goes, ‘What are you doing?’” Lauren recalled during a 2024 appearance on The View. “And 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.’”

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The woman delivering that unforgettable advice was none other than Barbara Walters. Producers had styled Lauren conservatively for the audition, slicking her hair back and toning down her wardrobe to match the panel’s buttoned-up vibe. But Walters wasn’t buying it, and her words clearly stuck.

Fast forward to 2024, Lauren returned to the show, not as a hopeful co-host, but as a guest, this time to promote her children’s book, 'The Fly Who Flew to Space.' Wearing a dress that made her feel fully herself, she walked onto that set not seeking approval, but reflecting on her journey.

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“I’m a little nervous,” she admitted. “My hand was shaking back there, and my sister looked at me, and she goes, ‘You’re not auditioning this time; you’re a guest.’" Co-host Joy Behar jumped in with a reminder. “She auditioned for this show twice, and the powers that be decided, 'No, you’re not getting the job,'” she said. “But look at you now, I don’t think that you needed the job!”

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But Sánchez hasn’t just been guided by Walters. She also credited Behar for once offering her a quiet but meaningful gesture of support: “I was having a tough time, I was stressed out,” she said. “And you walked past me and were like, ‘Keep your chin up, kid.’”

The Latina powerhouses who inspire Lauren Sanchez Bezos:

These days, Lauren Sánchez doesn’t hold back, and that includes her wardrobe. Even when the backlash grows loud, Lauren remains centered on the advice Walters gave her long ago. “It was incredible advice,” she said plainly.

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Her bold fashion is also inspired by women she sees as icons, women who celebrate culture, confidence, and style on their own terms. “I really look up to women like Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, [and] Sofía Vergara,” she said during the interview. “They really embrace their culture when they dress.”

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Much like them, Lauren, who is a proud Latina, isn’t interested in dimming her light to fit in. “People like to put you in a box, and I don't fit in that box. I never have. As a journalist, as a pilot, as a mom, and even fiancée,” she said at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit in 2024. “People want me to dress or look or act a certain way. But I'm just being as authentic to me as I can be."

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She also reflected on being in the spotlight. “I don’t wish fame on anyone, it’s nothing I ever wanted,” she said. “It can make you hide because it’s scary to put yourself out there and have people comment about your life who don’t know you. I’ve shed a few tears, trust me. But my sister will be like, ‘Get up and go take a shower.’”