TV host Julie Chen had surgery to fix 'Asian eyes'

Mike Gallagher

Sep 13, 2013 - 12:38

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TV host Julie Chen had surgery to fix 'Asian eyes'

The news anchor, 43, made the emotional admission in an episode of The Talk yesterday, describing how she was told she would never be an anchor because she is Chinese. 'My secret dates back to - my heart is racing - it dates back to when I was 25 yea

Television host has made the stunning revelation that she underwent plastic surgery to fix her "Asian eyes."

Julie Chen, who hosts The Talk, says she was just 25 when she made the decision to 'westeise' her look after her ethnic appearance was criticised by her boss.

"I asked my news director if over the holidays, if anchors want to take vacations, could I fill in? And he said, 'You will never be on this anchor desk, because you're Chinese,'" said Chen.

"He said, 'Let's face it Julie, how relatable are you to our community? How big of an Asian community do we have in Dayton? On top of that, because of your Asian eyes, I've noticed that when you're on camera, you look disinterested and bored.'"

Since the procedure, the TV personality has enjoyed a successful career, including hosting all 15 seasons of the US version of Big Brother.

"I don't like to live with regrets. I did it, I moved on, no one's more proud of being Chinese than I am, and I have to live with the decisions I have made," she said.

Emotional admission: Julie Chen pictured before having a cosmetic procedure to make her eyes look 'less Asian' in her early 20s (left) and pictured in a headshot after the surgery (right)