Female news anchors wearing glasses are not a new phenomenon. Glasses serve various purposes for anchors on screen. Correcting poor vision is a primary reason anchors choose glasses. Anchors regularly read teleprompters requiring clear sight.
However, glasses have become a fashion accessory for some anchors. They add a touch of sophistication and style. For anchors in male-dominated fields, glasses project an image of intelligence and authority, helping compensate for their gender.
Glasses also protect eyes from studio lights, prolonging an anchor’s career. Over time, bright lights can increase the risk of eye disease. Glasses shield eyes from these risks.
Despite benefits, many anchors avoid glasses, feeling they do not suit them or make them appear too serious. The choice remains personal.
In recent years, more female anchors have embraced on-screen glasses. This trend likely reflects changing attitudes considering glasses an acceptable accessory. The perception that glasses indicate intelligence encourages anchors to desire authority.
However, reasons vary for each anchor. Some simply feel more confident wearing glasses, while others use them to customize their appearance. Ultimately, each anchor decides if glasses suit their goals and style.
20 Female news anchors who wear glasses
Tanja Babich
Tanja Babich, an ABC7 Chicago news anchor, wore glasses on-air to support her 10-year-old daughter, who also wears eyeglasses. Babich’s daughter felt shy wearing her glasses, so Babich wore hers while reporting news for a week.
She did this to boost her daughter’s confidence and set an example of self-acceptance. By wearing glasses on television screens, Babich aimed to tell viewers that everyone should embrace their authentic selves regardless of what others think.
Babich’s decision received positive responses from people who liked her encouragement of individuality through her small on-air action with glasses.
Deborah Norville
Deborah Norville wears glasses because she has nearsightedness and astigmatism, two common eye conditions that make it hard to see close or far objects.
Her glasses correct her vision and enable her to see clearly. Norville has said the glasses help her vision and make her feel more professional and polished. The main reason Norville wears glasses is for better vision and increased confidence.
As an anchor for “Inside Edition” on CBS News, appearing on television screens, Norville’s glasses have become part of her public image for decades.
Megyn Kelly
Megyn Kelly, a former anchor for NBC News, wears glasses for vision correction as she has nearsightedness and astigmatism, leading her to wear glasses from childhood.
Glasses help correct these eye conditions and improve her vision, enabling her to see clearly. Kelly has also said glasses make her feel professional and polished. Thus, for better vision and increased confidence, Kelly chooses to wear glasses when appearing on television screens.
Besides vision correction, glasses have become a trendy accessory for many female news anchors and personalities to make a statement and express their style.
Savannah Guthrie
Savannah Guthrie, an anchor for NBC News’ “Today” show, wears glasses for vision correction after undergoing multiple eye surgeries.
In 2019, Guthrie had surgery to reattach her retina following an accident that caused blurry vision. She later required laser treatments to repair her retina fully.
Though her vision improved after her third eye surgery in 2021, Guthrie still needs glasses for residual vision issues. Her glasses enable her to see clearly when appearing on television screens.
Besides vision correction, glasses have become a trendy accessory for Guthrie and other female anchors as a fashion statement.
Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts, an anchor for ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” wears glasses on-air for vision correction due to nearsightedness, making distant objects appear blurry.
Roberts has needed glasses since childhood enabling her to see when appearing on television screens clearly. Glasses also make Roberts feel professional and polished.
Thus, for better vision and more confidence, Roberts often wears glasses instead of contact lenses, which she has also been seen wearing on air.
Roberts’s glasses have become a signature part of her look for many years, helping viewers experience a sense of familiarity and consistency with her appearance.
Amy Robach
Amy Robach, an anchor for ABC News, wears glasses on-air to either correct her vision or as a fashion accessory of personal preference. No specific information was disclosed on why she needs glasses.
Robach may wear them for nearsightedness that makes distant objects appear blurry, enabling her to see clearly when reporting news on television screens.
Besides vision correction, glasses have become a trendy fashion statement among many female news anchors and personalities. Robach follows this growing on-air trend by choosing to wear glasses as they make her feel more professional and polished. Her glasses have thus become a signature part of her public persona.
Stephanie Ruhle
Stephanie Ruhle, an anchor for MSNBC, wears glasses on-air for vision correction or as a fashion statement of personal preference.
No specific reason was found for why she needs glasses. Ruhle may wear them for nearsightedness that causes distant objects to appear blurry, enabling her to see clearly when reporting news on television screens.
In a tweet from August 2020, Ruhle expressed her desire for glasses to make a comeback and hoped to wear them on air, illustrating she may view glasses as a trendy accessory that makes her feel professional and polished.
Thus, besides vision correction, Ruhle’s glasses have become part of her public persona, embraced as a personal style choice following the growing on-air trend of glasses as a fashionable accessory for many female news anchors and personalities.
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford, a former anchor for Today Show, wore glasses on-air for several years as an iconic part of her image. She has needed glasses for most of her adult life due to nearsightedness that makes distant objects appear blurry, requiring glasses to see while co-hosting the show clearly.
Besides vision correction, Gifford liked how her glasses made her look more professional and polished. Thus, for vision improvement and feeling more confident, Gifford embraced her glasses as a signature style that shaped viewers’ perception of her on-air persona for many years.
Anita Vogel
Anita Vogel, a news correspondent for CBS News, wears glasses on-air for vision correction due to nearsightedness that makes distant objects appear blurry.
Her glasses help refract light to enable her to see clearly while reporting news on television screens. Vogel’s glasses improve her vision and make her feel more professional and polished. Thus, Vogel wears glasses for better vision and increased confidence when appearing on CBS News.
Her glasses have become an iconic part of her public image for many years, signalling to viewers a sense of familiarity and consistency while informing them about important news stories.
Kristen Welker
Kristen Welker, a correspondent for NBC News, has been seen wearing glasses on air. While no specific reason was found why she wears glasses, they may be for vision correction due to nearsightedness that makes distant objects appear blurry. It enables her to see clearly when reporting news on television screens.
In an image from 2017, Welker was seen in special glasses to view the solar eclipse at the White House, indicating she may wear glasses for specific events or purposes.
Besides vision correction, Welker’s glasses likely help make her feel more professional and polished while appearing on NBC News.
Andrea Mitchell
An NBC News correspondent, Andrea Mitchell, wears glasses on air, likely for vision correction. She has needed glasses since childhood due to nearsightedness that makes distant objects appear blurry, requiring glasses to see clearly while reporting news on television screens.
In 2014, Mitchell mentioned she started wearing glasses in the 1980s as a reporter, indicating she wears glasses for vision improvement. Mitchell’s glasses enable her to see better while appearing on NBC News.
Besides better vision, Mitchell’s glasses make her feel more professional and polished, shaping viewers’ perception of her authority and expertise as a longtime political journalist.
Thus, for both functional and stylistic reasons, Mitchell’s signature glasses have become a familiar part of her public image for decades.
Karen Travers
Karen Travers, a White House correspondent for MSNBC, wears glasses on-air, likely for vision correction due to nearsightedness. Her glasses help refract light to enable her to see clearly while reporting news on television screens.
Travers’ glasses improve her vision and make her feel more professional and polished. Thus, for better vision and increased confidence, Travers likely chooses to wear glasses when appearing on MSNBC.
Her glasses have become a familiar part of her public image, signaling to viewers a sense of consistency while informing them about White House news. Besides vision correction, Travers’ glasses have shaped viewers’ perception of her authoritative persona as a seasoned political journalist.
Hallie Jackson
Hallie Jackson, a White House correspondent for NBC News, wears glasses on-air for either vision correction due to nearsightedness or as a personal preference.
A recent video shows her reporting the news while wearing glasses, indicating she likely needs them to see clearly when appearing on television screens.
Jackson’s glasses improve her vision and make her feel more professional and polished. Thus, for better vision and increased confidence, Jackson wears glasses.
Her signature glasses have become a familiar part of her persona over the years, signaling continuity to viewers while she reports on important White House news stories.
Besides vision correction, Jackson’s glasses also shape perceptions of her professional and authoritative image as a political journalist.
Kate Snow
Kate Snow, a correspondent for NBC News, wears glasses on air, likely for vision correction due to nearsightedness. Her glasses help refract light to enable her to see clearly while reporting news on television screens.
Snow’s glasses improve her vision and make her feel more professional and polished. Thus, for better vision and increased confidence, Snow wears glasses when appearing on NBC News.
Her signature glasses have become a familiar part of her public image, signaling continuity to viewers over the years while she covers important stories.
Besides vision correction, Snow’s glasses help shape perceptions of her credibility and knowledgeable persona as an established journalist at NBC News for decades. Her glasses have become tied to viewers’ impressions of her professional image.
Lorraine Kelly
Lorraine Kelly, a presenter for Good Morning Britain, wears glasses on air either for vision correction due to her childhood nearsightedness or as a personal preference.
Lorraine had needed glasses since childhood, requiring them to see clearly while presenting television programs. However, Lorraine recently defended a guest wearing sunglasses during an interview, citing an eye infection, indicating Lorraine may wear glasses for reasons beyond vision issues.
Lorraine’s glasses improve her sight and make her feel professional and polished. Thus, for better vision and confidence, Lorraine chooses to wear glasses in the air.
Her signature glasses have become familiar to viewers, shaping their perception of Lorraine’s public persona as a decades-long presenter who exudes warmth, approachability, and friendliness through her appearance.
Christiane Amanpour
Christiane Amanpour, a chief international anchor for CNN, wears glasses on air, likely for vision correction due to nearsightedness. Her glasses help refract light to enable her to see clearly while reporting international news on television screens.
Amanpour’s glasses improve her vision and make her feel more professional and polished. Thus, Amanpour wears glasses when anchoring her program on CNN for better vision and increased confidence.
Her signature glasses have become a familiar part of her public persona, signaling consistency to viewers over the years while she covers major global events and interviews prominent figures.
Besides vision correction, Amanpour’s glasses have shaped perceptions of her seasoned and authoritative image as an accomplished journalist.
Katie Couric
Katie Couric, a former anchor for CBS News, wears glasses on air for a few possible reasons.
Glasses are likely for vision correction due to her childhood nearsightedness requiring glasses to see properly while reporting television news. Besides vision correction, Couric’s glasses may also serve as a fashionable accessory that aligns with the rising on-air trend of female anchors wearing glasses as a style statement.
An article mentioned Couric wore sunglasses for a particular segment, suggesting she may sometimes wear glasses for specific situations.
Couric’s eyewear improves her vision and helps her feel confident and polished. Thus, Couric’s signature glasses shaped viewers’ perceptions of her professional yet approachable image as a longtime television journalist for both optical and stylistic purposes.
Lara Logan
Lara Logan, a correspondent for 60 Minutes on CBS, wears glasses on air, likely for vision correction due to nearsightedness. Her glasses help refract light in a way that enables her to see clearly while investigating and reporting news stories on television screens.
Logan’s glasses improve her vision and make her feel more professional and polished. Thus, Logan wears glasses for better vision and increased confidence when appearing on 60 Minutes.
Her signature glasses have become a familiar part of her public persona, signaling consistency to viewers while reporting major international stories.
Besides vision correction, Logan’s glasses have shaped viewers’ perception of her authoritative and fearless image as an accomplished foreign correspondent.
Robin Meade
Robin Meade, an anchor for HLN, wears glasses on-air, likely as a fashion statement or personal preference. A signed photograph shows Meade wearing glasses, suggesting she may view them as accessories.
Meade’s glasses improve her vision due to nearsightedness and make her feel more professional and polished. Thus, Meade wears glasses when appearing on HLN for both optical and stylistic purposes.
Her signature eyewear has become a familiar part of her public persona, adding to viewers’ perceptions of her warm yet authoritative image as an experienced journalist and morning show anchor for many years.
Ashleigh Banfield
Ashleigh Banfield, a former correspondent for CNN, has been wearing glasses since her early career, necessitated by her childhood nearsightedness requiring them for properly seeing while reporting news on television.
Banfield’s glasses have become a trademark style, launching the trend of female anchors wearing glasses on air as a fashionable accessory. Banfield’s rise in 2001 coincided with her wearing glasses, followed by an increasing number of women on TV donning eyewear.
Besides vision improvement, Banfield’s signature eyeglasses help make her feel professional and polished while enhancing viewers’ perception of her serious yet affable image as an experienced journalist at CNN for many years.
Summary
Female news anchors wearing glasses have multifaceted reasons for their choice. While some use glasses primarily for vision correction, others consider them a fashion statement.
Glasses can also project authority and protect eyes from studio lights. The trend has gained momentum in recent years due to changing attitudes. Each anchor’s reason for wearing glasses is personal, whether to boost confidence or personalize appearance.
The on-air trend emphasizes individuality and authenticity, encouraging viewers to embrace their true selves. As glasses become an integral part of their public image, female news anchors showcase both style and functionality.
FAQ
Why does no one on TV wear glasses?
Although many characters in entertainment wear glasses, some TV shows or movies may not feature characters wearing glasses. It is not because there is a rule against it; rather, it may not be a crucial aspect of a character’s appearance. Additionally, some characters may wear contact lenses or receive LASIK eye surgery to correct their vision, which may eliminate the need for glasses.
Why do all smart people have glasses?
There are studies and cultural associations that suggest that there may be a correlation between higher intelligence and wearing glasses. Some studies have shown that people with higher cognitive function are more likely to need corrective lenses. In pop culture, glasses are often used as a shorthand for intelligence and are associated with intelligent and competent characters.
Do news anchors read from a screen?
Yes, news anchors often read from a screen while they are on air. This screen is called a teleprompter and displays a prepared script for the anchor to read from. Teleprompters are commonly used in TV news and allow anchors to deliver information to their audience while looking directly at the camera.
Why do news anchors talk like that?
News anchors often have a distinct speaking style that can seem formal and serious. This is because they often read from a teleprompter, which displays a prepared script for them to read. They may also try to convey a sense of authority and credibility to their audience. News anchors are expected to be knowledgeable and trustworthy sources of information, and their speaking style may be seen as a way to project that image to their viewers.
Are there any male news anchors who wear glasses on-air?
Yes, male news anchors do wear glasses on air. Although the focus often leans towards female anchors, examples of male anchors wearing glasses include Brian Williams, Anderson Cooper, Lester Holt, and David Muir. The trend of on-air glasses extends beyond gender boundaries.
