In the world of daytime television, the most memorable moments often stem not from scripted segments or carefully rehearsed interviews, but from spontaneous bursts of genuine humanity. These are the moments where the shiny veneer of celebrity slips away, revealing the relatable, often awkward, people underneath. Such a delightful collision of past and present occurred recently on NBC’s Today show, when host Jenna Bush Hager shared a hilarious and endearing confession with actress Claire Danes. The topic? A teenage beauty decision driven entirely by fandom, nostalgia, and the enduring influence of the 1990s cult classic, My So-Called Life.

During a candid conversation, Hager admitted to the award-winning actress that, like countless other teenage girls in the mid-90s, she had once dyed her hair specifically to look like Angela Chase, the angst-ridden, flannel-wearing protagonist played by Danes. It was a revelation that instantly bridged the gap between interviewer and subject, turning a standard promotional appearance into a shared moment of cultural nostalgia that resonated with viewers across the country.

The Power of Angela Chase

To understand the weight of Hager’s confession, one must understand the seismic impact of My So-Called Life. Premiering in 1994, the show was short-lived, lasting only one season, but its legacy is nothing short of monumental. At the center of it was Claire Danes as Angela Chase, a character who became the patron saint of misunderstood adolescence. Angela was introspective, awkward, and deeply relatable. But more than her internal monologue, it was her external transformation that captivated a generation.

In one of the series’ most defining episodes, Angela dyes her hair a stark, vibrant shade of red—specifically, “Crimson Glow”—as an act of rebellion and self-definition. It was a visual representation of a young woman trying to break free from the expectations of her parents and society. For teenagers watching at home, including a young Jenna Bush, that hair color wasn’t just a style choice; it was a symbol of independence.

When Hager told Danes, “I dyed my hair to look like you,” she wasn’t just talking about a cosmetic change. She was tapping into a universal experience shared by women who grew up in that era. They didn’t just want to look like Claire Danes; they wanted to feel the depth and complexity that her character represented. Hager’s admission highlights how deeply pop culture permeates our personal lives, influencing how we present ourselves to the world during our most formative years.

A First Daughter’s Teenage Rebellion

There is an added layer of charm to this story when one considers Jenna Bush Hager’s background. As the daughter of a future President and the granddaughter of another, her teenage years were anything but ordinary. Yet, this anecdote serves as a powerful reminder that despite the Secret Service details and the political lineage, her adolescent experiences were strikingly normal.

Like millions of other American teens, she was sitting in front of the television, mesmerized by the drama of Liberty High School, pining after Jordan Catalano, and making questionable hair decisions in a bathroom sink. By sharing this story, Hager continues to cultivate her brand as the “relatable” host—the one who isn’t afraid to laugh at her past self or admit to the kind of “cringe” fan behavior that most people try to hide.

It frames the former First Daughter not as a political figure, but as a peer—someone who also fell victim to the trends of the 90s and is now able to look back and laugh about it with the very person who inspired it. It humanizes her in a way that few other anecdotes could, stripping away the prestige of her last name and replacing it with the universal awkwardness of puberty.

The “Crimson Glow” Phenomenon

The specific detail of dyeing one’s hair red is significant. In the context of the show, Angela Chase’s hair transformation was a pivotal plot point. It signified her transition from a “good girl” to someone edgier, someone who hung out with the rebellious Rayanne Graff. For real-life teenagers mimicking this, the results were often mixed.

While Danes looked effortlessly cool with her fiery bob, many fans—Hager likely included—found that box dye didn’t always yield the same cinematic results. These beauty blunders are a rite of passage. Sharing such a specific memory with the actress who inadvertently caused a wave of amateur dye jobs across America creates a humorous sense of accountability. It’s as if Hager is saying, “You did this to me,” while simultaneously thanking her for being such a compelling icon.

Claire Danes: The Enduring Icon

For Claire Danes, these moments must be a surreal testament to the longevity of her work. While she has gone on to win multiple Emmys and star in critically acclaimed dramas like Homeland and Fleishman Is in Trouble, she is frequently pulled back to her breakout role as a 15-year-old.

However, the interaction with Hager suggests that Danes embraces this legacy with grace. Instead of distancing herself from the character that made her famous, she engages with the nostalgia. When a successful television host tells you she altered her appearance to emulate you, it is the ultimate form of flattery. It validates the authenticity of her performance three decades ago. It proves that she didn’t just play a character; she created a cultural touchstone that stuck with people long after the credits rolled.

Why We Love These Confessions

Why does a story about hair dye resonate so strongly with audiences? Because it is rooted in vulnerability. We live in an era of curated perfection, where social media filters and professional styling teams ensure that public figures always look flawless. Hearing Jenna Bush Hager admit to a copycat dye job breaks that illusion. It invites the audience to recall their own “Angela Chase” moments—whether it was copying a haircut from Friends, wearing flannel because of Nirvana, or buying a specific lipstick because a pop star wore it.

Furthermore, watching a celebrity “fan out” over another celebrity is always entertaining. It disrupts the power dynamic of the interview. Suddenly, Hager isn’t the journalist and Danes isn’t the subject; they are two women bonding over a shared history. It brings a warmth to the screen that is impossible to fake.

A Nostalgic Bond

Ultimately, Jenna Bush Hager’s confession to Claire Danes is a love letter to the 1990s. It is a celebration of a time when television characters felt like friends and their struggles felt like our own. By admitting that she tried to transform into Angela Chase, Hager acknowledged the profound impact that art has on identity.

The interview may have moved on to discuss Danes’ current projects, but the highlight remained that spark of connection—the realization that for a brief period in the 90s, everyone, from the suburbs to the White House, just wanted to be a little bit more like Angela Chase. It was a delightful reminder that no matter how famous or successful one becomes, inside, we are all just teenagers trying to figure out who we are, one box of hair dye at a time.