Scandal star Bellamy Young DEMANDS the show returns as she weighs in on current political climate
The 55-year-old actress famously played Melody 'Mellie' Grant in the series, the no-nonsense powerhouse who started as the First Lady of the United States before running as a Republican presidential candidate and going on to become the first female President of the United States.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com at the New York Women in Communications Matrix Awards, where she was an honoree, Bellamy proclaimed that she is 'through' with men leading the country.
On the red carpet at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, she also revealed that the cast of Scandal have fond memories of the series and would love the opportunity to take the story further.
Bellamy said: 'So our sweet Kate Burton was president for like a week when we shot this, but yes, I was the first elected. When is it going to happen [in reality]? I'm so through with this!'
She continued: 'We're well past - if you look at the state of the world - we're well overdue for any sort of diversion from our historic path.
'But even being in the care of the women tonight of New York WICI (Women in Communications Inc.) as they plan for this event, we are given to a certain degree of thoughtfulness and attention to detail that I think would be really strategically important in running a thorough formation.'
There has never been a female President of the United States, although Kamala Harris fought for the top job as the Democrat nominee in the 2024 Election.
Hillary Clinton also ran against Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election.
Scandal ran on ABC from 2012 to 2018 across seven seasons.
Created by Shonda Rhimes, the political thriller is set Washington, D.C., and focuses on Olivia Pope's (Kerry Washington) crisis management firm and its staff, as well as staff at the White House and surrounding political scene.
The cast starred Tony Goldwyn as Fitzgerald Grant III, President of the United States, Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan, Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins, Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beene, Joshua Malina as David Rosen, and Scott Foley as Jake Ballard.
When asked whether there have been conversations about Scandal returning to television screens, Bellamy expressed her desire to revisit the show.
She added: 'So I wish that that were implemented. All the actors would show up anywhere tonight and start filming. We would love it.
'Shonda has always been clear that she knew where the story started and she knew where the story ended, but never say never.
'She also didn't know where the future was going when she started and finished that story, so who's to say?
'Maybe there's an itch she might be looking to scratch. I can only put it into the ether.'
Besides Bellamy, this year's Matrix honorees also included Kristen Welker, Moderator of NBC's Meet the Press; Leslie Berland, EVP, Chief Marketing Officer, Verizon; Nkechi Okoro Carroll, writer, showrunner, producer; and Dustee Jenkins, Chief Public Affairs Officer at Spotify.
Teneshia Jackson Warner, Founder and CEO of Egami Group was also honored, as well as Lucy Kaylin, Editorial Director of Hearst Magazines.
This year's theme is Leading Luminaries and the honorees are luminaries who are lighting the path of success and influencing the future.
Speaking to DailyMail.com on the red carpet, Kristen Welker said that it was 'an incredible honor' to be recognized by the New York Women in Communications.
'Several of my colleagues at NBC News have won this award; Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and the great Andrea Mitchell, who's here tonight presenting me with my award,' she enthused.
'So it's a pinch me moment. I don't know how I'm going to get through my remarks after Andrea speaks. It really is incredibly humbling, so I'm excited.'
'If I could go back and talk to my teenage self, I would say, always believe in yourself,' Kristen, 48, continued.
'People are going to doubt you all along the way, when you're starting, when you're in the middle of your career, even when you get your dream job, and the one thing that gets you through all of those trials and tribulations is to believe in yourself and to surround yourself by a loving group of friends and family and to have a great team.
'It's all about community.'
The glitzy event was hosted by none other than media personality, podcaster, and attorney, Rachel Lindsay, who made history as the first Black female lead of The Bachelorette.
'It's one of those events where I feel like the energy in the room is so infectious,' she told DailyMail.com.
'It's just such an honor to be here, to be standing before people who are just here to support women, not just who are currently doing it, but investing in the people that are going to do it.
'So that's just really cool. I'm just like, I'm just happy to be invited.'
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The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
Britain has no business laughing at Trump's EU trade deal
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The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
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Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Melania Trump's fashion favorites: First lady's most and LEAST expensive wardrobe pieces revealed
Long before she became the First Lady, Melania Trump was known around New York for her timeless style - and it's only evolved since she's stepped into the White House. When she first married Donald Trump, she seemed to have a penchant for silky, colorful dresses as she attended some of Manhattan's most exclusive events, like the short, slinky, bright pink dress she Breast Cancer Research Foundation's hot pink party in 2005. But now, times have changed, and Melania seems to be all business, donning elegant dresses and pantsuits, as well as expensive yet elevated accessories. As the First Lady, 55, she's been known to be a fan of certain designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen and Ralph Lauren. During President Trump's inauguration into his first term in 2017, she donned a powder blue, cashmere dress with a wrap overcoat and matching gloves made by Ralph Lauren. In 2016, she spoke to Elle Magazine about the various challenges of dressing for a campaign, telling the outlet over email that she doesn't find it to be hard at all. 'I don't find it to be challenging,' she said at the time. 'I style myself and choose what to wear based on what I feel good in it.' Now, FEMAIL has rounded up all of Melania's fashion favorites since being in The White House, from most expensive to least expensive. When she first married Donald Trump, she seemed to have a penchant for silky, colorful dresses as she attended some of Manhattan's most exclusive events, like the short, slinky, bright pink dress she Breast Cancer Research Foundation's hot pink party in 2005 MOST EXPENSIVE Hermès Matte Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 25 Black Bag: $50,000 One of, if not the most, expensive pieces in Melania's closet appears to be the Hermès Matte Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 25 in Black. The bag is a rarity, as it's made of one of the brand's most coveted materials: crocodile skin. According to Fashionphile, a high-end consignment boutique, their bags made with crocodile skin typically go for more than three times the traditional leather ones that are for sale. Online, these bags can be priced on secondhand websites for over $100,000. It seems to be a staple in Melania's closet, too, as she has been seen wearing it multiple times over the past few years. She famously sported the purse when she and Trump departed the White House on inauguration day in January 2021, as Joe Biden entered his presidency. Melania paired the bag with a black, knee-length skirt and cropped tweed jacket, along with a pair of black gloves and sky-high black Christian Louboutin heels. It seems to be a staple in Melania's closet, too, as she has been seen wearing it multiple times over the past few years She also wore the bag in 2019, when she and her husband joined then-prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip for a meeting in London At the time, the couple were headed off to Mar-a-Lago, where they stayed when their days in The White House were over. She also wore the bag in 2019, when she and her husband joined then-prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip for a meeting in London. She paired it with her favorite Celine trench coat, but it was the bag, which has gold detail on it, that really made a statement. Floral Dolce & Gabbana jacket: $51,500 In 2017, Melania pulled out all the stops as she donned a dramatic coat by Dolce & Gabbana that was covered in silk, 3D floral appliques. Oh, and did we mention that it cost $51,500? According to Business Insider, just purchasing the jacket cost a deposit of $25,750. She wore the colorful jacket while visiting Sicily, Italy, during the 2017 G7 Summit, which convenes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. She wore the colorful jacket while visiting Sicily, Italy, during the 2017 G7 Summit, which convenes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States Melania sported the fancy coat, which featured bold red, purple, green, white and blue florals when sightseeing around the city with the other spouses of world leaders. The jacket also featured bedazzled, embroidered flowers on it. She paired the coat with a matching clutch bag that had the same exact florals sewn onto it. At the time, the expensive jacket sparked a lot of controversy, as many pointed out that it was worth more than the monthly salary of many Americans. J. Mendel gown she wore to a 2018 visit to Great Britain: $6,990 During husband Donald Trump's official visit to Britain in 2018, Melania donned a Grecian-style, lemon yellow $6,990 gown by designer to a state dinner at Blenheim Palace. The whimsical gown featured a long, off-the-shoulder cape, and knotted detailing at the waist. It appeared to be made of chiffon, and Melania matched the look with a pair of yellow Manolo Blahnik heels. Per Today, she chose the color yellow in honor of Queen Elizabeth, whose favorite color was reportedly yellow. Of course, she accessorized with her $4 million engagement ring and a pair of sparkling diamond studs in her ears. LEAST EXPENSIVE Controversial 'I really don't care, do u?' jacket from Zara: $39.99 In 2018, Melania made headlines and sparked outrage across the world as she donned a $39 jacket from Zara that read, 'I really don't care, do u?' on its back while on her way to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border. The jacket was a military-green, army-style jacket, and the crass words were spray painted on the back in white. The first lady's surprise visit to a children's shelter - where a handful of the 55 children it houses had been taken from their parents - was intended to underline her compassion for children, and came after she lobbied Trump to end separations. But instead, it was overshadowed by the former model's choice of jacket. At the time, her husband claimed that the message was really one that was for the 'fake news media.' In 2018, Melania made headlines and sparked outrage across the world as she donned a $39 jacket from Zara that read, 'I really don't care, do u?' on its back while on her way to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border ''I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO YOU?' written on the back of Melania's jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares,' he tweeted at the time. However, in her 2024 self-titled memoir, Melania, claimed it that the jacket was meant to protest against 'anonymously sourced reporting.' 'I was determined… not to let the media's false narratives affect my mission to help the children and families at the border,' she wrote. 'In fact, I decided to let them know that their criticism would never stop me from doing what I feel is right. To make the point, I wore a particular jacket as I boarded the plane, a jacket that quickly became famous,' she added. Melania recounts how when the plane door closed, her press secretary's inbox was 'flooded with urgent emails from top-tier media outlets regarding the jacket.' 'It's a message for the media,' I said, 'to let them know I was unconcerned with their opinions of me' [but] she told me I couldn't say that. 'Why not? It is the truth.'' Melania wrote about their exchange. 'I disagreed with her insistence that I couldn't say that,' the First Lady wrote. 'Ignoring my comments, she told a CNN reporter she was friendly with that it was simply a jacket, a fashion choice with no underlying message.' The mom-of-one wrote that the frenzy over the jacket 'overshadowed the importance of the children, the border, and the policy change.' She called it 'just another example of the media's irresponsible behavior.' Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers: $50 Although Melania owns her fair share of designer heels, when it's time to get comfy, she's been proven to be a fan of Converse shoes, which typically range from around $50 to $100, depending on the style. She's been known to wear low-top Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars, which typically are priced anywhere from $50 to $60. The First Lady appears to own the sneakers in all different colors, too - white, gray and black. Most recently, she sported a pair of gray Chuck Taylors when she accompanied her husband to Texas to visit devastation from the flash floods. She matched the shoes with a pair of army-green pants and light khaki coat by Dolce and Gabbana. In 2017, she wore her white pair of low-top Converse as she visited those who had been impacted by Hurricane Irma. She paired the shoes with a casual, green button-up shirt and white skinny jeans. FLOTUS hat: $20 In 2017, Melania stepped out in perhaps the least expensive item she's ever worn - a black baseball cap that simply read, 'FLOTUS' on it, short for First Lady of the United States, of course. At the time, she was stepping off of Air Force One with her husband, and paired the hat with a pair of aviator sunglasses and crisp white button down. It's unclear exactly where she bought her hat, but there are now tons of websites that sell extremely similar versions, some for even less than $20. You could even customize your own for $12 on Amazon.
