The polished, camera-ready looks of TV news anchors often make them seem flawless. But behind the studio lights, contouring, and professional makeup, many famous journalists look completely different in their natural state. From Fox News to CNN, some of the biggest names in broadcasting are almost unrecognizable without makeup.

Katie Couric

Katie Couric is an institution in the world of American journalism. The award-winning correspondent has been seen and heard by millions of people millions time over in her long career.

In addition to being a seasoned broadcast professional, she’s not afraid to get real with the public about her makeup routine, which she shared on YouTube.

“Can you believe how courageous I am to let you see me without makeup?” she asked in the segment. “It’s scary, right?” No, Katie, it’s awesome! She’s also not afraid to post au natural selfies on her Instagram page.

Lori Stokes

Lori Stokes is the co-anchor of Good Day New York on the Fox 5 network. Before that, she was the co-anchor of Eyewitness News on ABC 7 for 17 years, quite a long tenure.

She originally wanted to be a writer, but the mother of two changed her major to broadcast journalism, and found success in the field shortly thereafter.

You might not believe it, but Stokes is in her late fifties, something her appearance completely belies. Even the makeup-free selfie she posted on her Instagram page makes you question if she’s really that close to 60.

Gretchen Carlson

Gretchen Carlson knows a thing or two about beauty, given that she won Miss America in 1989. But the former CBS and Fox News anchor is much more than a pretty face, as she’s an author and an advocate who bravely filed a sexual harassment claim against the former head of Fox News in 2016.

And when it comes to putting her best face forward? She did an entire segment of her show The Real Story sans makeup. “For the first time in cable news, here I am makeup free — for a reason.” And that reason? Female empowerment.

Jemele Hill

Jemele Hill is a sports journalist who worked for the ESPN network in various capacities for over a decade. Unafraid to speak her mind (which included being critical of Donald Trump and calling out racism where she sees it), she left the network in 2018, and became a staff writer at The Atlantic.

Prior to that, she worked for several newspapers, including the Detroit Free Press and the Orlando Sentinel. Hill let her freckles shine in a makeup-free selfie that she posted on Instagram on her birthday, along with an extensive caption that celebrated her gratitude.

Savannah Guthrie

Anyone who watches The Today Show on NBC is familiar with the smiling face of Samantha Guthrie, the co-host of the morning wake-up program.

The attorney and mom has been part of The Today Show team for years, where she provides commentary and insight on the stories that her viewers care about.

When she’s not working hard on screen, she’s not afraid to take makeup-free selfies from far-flung locations, which she posts on her Instagram page. Who knew she had so many freckles? Her brow game is always on fleek, too!

Demetria Obilor

Demetria Obilor is the traffic ensemble anchor for WFAA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Dallas, Texas. She is also the anchor for the Noon Midday show on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Before that, Obilor was based in Las Vegas, where she was the traffic anchor and trending news reporter for a CBS affiliate, after working in Kansas reporting for an NBC affiliate.

The journalist got all stripped down for an Instagram selfie with absolutely no makeup, captioning it solely with “f r e s h” and a tidal wave emoji. Fresh indeed!

Hoda Kotb

Speaking of The Today Show, one person who comes to mind when you mention the NBC staple is Hoda Kotb, the award-winning co-anchor of the show’s forth hour.

In addition, she’s a correspondent for Dateline, and is a New York Times bestselling author. Kotb went bare-faced for all the world to see along with Kathie Lee Gifford back in 2014.

“This is it, the real deal. No makeup, not a drop,” she said in the segment. “I feel naked… I’m 45, I feel self-conscious.” Who wouldn’t feel totally vulnerable? That’s a brave thing to do!

Josina Anderson

Josina Anderson is a reporter and a National NFL Insider for the ESPN network, the first woman to receive the title in 2015. Some of the shows she appears on include SportsCenter, Sunday NFL Countdown, and NFL Live.

Before that, she was a weekend sports anchor for Fox 31 in Denver and a CBS affiliate in Coos Bay, Oregon. The Heartland Emmy award-winner posted a 100 percent au naturel selfie on her Instagram page, saying, “This was last night before ‘glam’ this morning.” She also had several hashtags in the caption, including #unbraided #natural #hair and #nomakeup #nofilter.

Kathie Lee Gifford

Kathie Lee Gifford has been a television staple since her time on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which ran for 15 years. The award-winning co-host of The Today Show has also been a correspondent for Good Morning America, and was inducted into the Broadcast & Cable Hall of Fame in 2015.

Gifford joined her co-anchor Hoda Kotb on The Today Show, sporting only a swipe of lip gloss. “Here I am, bare and unafraid,” she mused. “We came into this world bare, naked, and that’s the way we’re gonna go out.” Amen to that.