Chicago morning anchor Tanja Babich sported glasses on air all last week — and on Friday, she told viewers the heartwarming reason why.
“Before we go, I just want to say thanks to the many of you who’ve reached out this week to say that you’ve liked seeing me in glasses,” the WLS-TV anchor said. “And some of you have also asked why I’m wearing them.”
One of Babich’s daughters, she explained, was not wearing her own glasses during remote learning because she was nervous about what her classmates would think of her if she wore them.
“So in a gesture of solidarity, I’ve been wearing mine all week to make this point: Whatever people say or think about you is none of your business,” Babich said. “Just be yourself, authentically and unapologetically. The rest will work itself out.”
At the end of the broadcast, Babich was joined by the rest of the ABC 7 Chicago morning news team. In an eight-box goodbye shot, all the morning show talent showed off their own glasses, too.
“Oh, I love you guys,” Babich said. “This is true solidarity.”
Babich, who requested viewers send in photos of their own kids in glasses, said she’s received an outpouring of support since the segment aired.
“It never occurred to me how many people would connect with this,” Babich told the Chicago Tribune. “I heard from parents whose babies were diagnosed with vision problems and they’re trying to wrap their heads around what that’s going to be like. Teachers who said, ‘Thank you. My students are so afraid to wear their glasses.’ A good friend, my daughter’s optometrist, actually, said, ‘Tanja, you have no idea how hard it is to get kids to wear glasses. Thank you.'”
You can watch the entire clip here.