Hoda Kotb opened up about some of her biggest dating regrets during a candid conversation with her Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager, admitting that she used to worry about “fitting in” to a man’s life.
Hoda, 59, and Jenna, 42, were discussing Kate Hudson’s recent comments about how she took a year off from dating, when the former first daughter revealed that she wishes she had gone on more dates before meeting her now husband Henry Hager.
“So you got married young,” Hoda commented as Jenna confirmed, “Yeah, I was 26, but I dated in college, I dated in high school, I didn’t date enough, which is what I realized,” before which she admitted: “I was a serial monogamist, which was fine, but I should have dated more.”
Referring to her 46-year-old husband, Jenna continued: “I’m glad I met the right person from the beginning and it’s great, we’ve built a really amazing life and I’m proud of it.”
‘But you should also have fun and date while you can. “I think girls are taught ‘be careful because otherwise you’ll get a bad reputation’ and it’s like you can do both: you can date a lot of people and be true to yourself,” the mother of three added.
Hoda Kotb has opened up about her dating regrets, while her co-host Jenna Bush Hager (right) says she wishes she had gone on more dates.
Jenna, 42, said she “didn’t go on enough dates” before meeting her now-husband Henry Hager in 2004.
Hoda, who recently revealed she was dating again, agreed with her co-host, saying: Exactly, that’s right, you can. And I think people think, “something’s wrong with me if I don’t know someone right now or right now.”
“But you’re right that you date and you try, and not everyone you’re in a relationship with is meant to go the distance,” the mother of two added.
Jenna replied: ‘No, but I think when we were little it was like you had that prince dream, so I went into a relationship, if I’m honest, thinking, “Is this going to go all the way?” At an early age.’
Hoda replied: ‘Correct! Imagine thinking, “Yeah, is this the person I’m going to marry?” Because when you meet someone, you already edit it in advance… you think: ‘Oh my God, a family, a wedding, children, how do you think, ‘do I see it, do I see it?’
The TV host then revealed: “One of the things I used to want when I met someone was, ‘Does he like me?’ I hope you like it.” Not like “this is who I am.”
‘You may be the juiciest orange in the group, but some people don’t like oranges. “I can’t help you if you don’t like oranges, that’s just me,” Hoda continued.
‘But I was so worried about fitting into his life… ‘This is his ideal, I can be that,’ rather than ‘Do I want it?’
Jenna, who married Henry in Texas in May 2008, agreed, saying, “We need to change the narrative!”