Jenna Bush Hager defiantly celebrated her birthmark by revealing it live on air – decades after she was dumped by a boy because of it.
The 43-year-old Today show host had been speaking to Savannah Guthrie on Tuesday’s program about the new ‘diaper shorts’ fashion trend when she got onto the topic of the blemish on her leg.
Before showing off her birthmark, mom-of-three Jenna admitted that she would restrain from wearing shorts that would expose too much of her thigh out so that it would remain hidden.
‘I don’t know if I ever told you this, but I had a boyfriend who broke up with me in the seventh grade when he saw me in a bathing suit because of my birthmark,’ she said.
‘That is outrageous,’ Savannah, 53, quipped.
Jenna continued: ‘I know, it gave me a lot of PTS (post-traumatic stress).
‘So then, I had a rule where the shorts had to basically cover the birthmark. So long story short, I couldn’t wear the diaper shorts.’
‘Have you ever talked about your birthmark before on the air?’ Savannah asked, which in turn prompted Jenna to reveal her birthmark to the cameras.
Jenna Bush Hager defiantly defiantly celebrated her birthmark live on the Today show after feeling shame for years
The host had been talking about ‘diaper shorts’ with Savannah Guthrie when conversation turned to fears about showing off too much skin
‘Okay this is actually me reclaiming that time,’ she proudly declared as she jumped out of her seat and rolled up her shorts.
‘Never thought I’d do that, but here we go,’ she added, before revealing the birthmark on her thigh.
Viewers commended Jenna for celebrating it, while also sharing their own stories.
Commenting on YouTube, one said: ‘I have a red birthmark on the back of my neck and I have had rude people snicker and say it’s a hickey.
‘I used to be so self-conscious about it, but I’m 64 now and I don’t care anymore, lol.’
Another said: ‘Love that you were proud to show your beautiful birthmark you are beautiful inside and out.’
‘I had a birthmark on my hip but as I’ve gotten older it seems to have faded away,’ a third wrote.
After the milestone moment, Savannah complimented her friend.
Jenna revealed that an old boyfriend had once dumped her over her birthmark which caused her to become self-conscious over it
But Jenna reclaimed her birthmark and lifted her shorts to reveal it in all its glory
‘Can I say something?’ she said. ‘Your legs look awesome.’
‘Thank you,’ Jenna replied.
A birthmark is a blemish on the skin that is present at birth or develops in the first few weeks of life.
The type of birthmark depends on the main cells involved. Most include melanin collected in one area to create a different color to the rest of the body.
Vascular birthmarks consist of vessels that have not formed properly and can look reddish or blue.
Most birthmarks are caused by a change in a gene during early pregnancy when skin and blood vessels are forming.
Jenna has been married to Henry Hager since 2008 and the couple share three children together – Mila, 13; Poppy, nine; and Hal, five.
She has spoken many times about her ex-boyfriends in past episodes of the Today show, including the painfully awkward moment her parents threw her and her twin sister a surprise birthday – only for her to walk into the event and realize that they’d invited several of her exes.
