Irish presenter Angela Scanlon views her distinctive and colorful fashion sense as an "act of defiance" against societal expectations for women. The 42-year-old has cultivated a significant online following, amassing over 500,000 Instagram followers, and co-hosts the podcast "Get A Grip" with Vicky Pattison.
Scanlon's social media series, "Things I Love That My Husband Hates," gained unexpected traction as she showcased outfits that her husband, Roy Horgan, did not favor. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Scanlon revealed that this approach is a way to "push back against expectations" and live authentically.
Initially pursuing a career in styling before transitioning to journalism and documentaries, Scanlon noted a shift in her approach when she began hosting her own chat show. "I think sometimes you kind of get a job or you sit in a certain seat and you're almost cosplaying as what you believe you should look like," she stated. She recalled adopting a more conservative style for certain roles before fully embracing her personal aesthetic during a three-series chat show in Ireland.
Scanlon suggested that in the past, women in business felt pressure to emulate male presentation, such as wearing suits, to be taken seriously. "I think my desire is to do it in a way that suits me and that's true to me and that's pushing against maybe expectations and norms," she explained, hoping her choices might encourage others to do the same.
She characterized her style as an outward expression of her desire to be herself, stating, "I don't like being told what to wear and I find myself literally kind of bristling when I feel like someone's trying to shape me." The viral "husband hates" series, she said, stemmed from a personal inclination to wear something precisely because someone advised against it. "If somebody tells me not to wear something it's a reason to wear it as far as I'm concerned," Scanlon commented.
She realized the series resonated with others who felt hesitant to wear cherished items for fear of judgment. "I think a lot of the time the choices that we make are because we're afraid of what people will think," she observed, adding, "And actually a lot of the time what I'm hoping I'm doing by turning off the dial on my weirdness is that other people will feel free to unleash their own."
Scanlon is also launching her second podcast, "Gift List," which explores the nuances of gifting with celebrity guests. Louis Theroux is featured as the first guest, sharing his preference for receiving gifts over choosing them due to the perceived "high stakes." The six-episode series is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, with new installments released every three weeks.