Jenna Bush Hager is starting summer with a bold new look! The Today show co-host took a major hair leap on June 16 by cutting her long blonde locks into a sleek bob, inspired by the iconic hairstyle worn by Leslie Bibb in The White Lotus.
The transformation was done live on air with the help of celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan, who has also been responsible for creating the legendary Rachel haircut from Friends.
A Haircut That’s Been Months in the Making
On the special episode of Today with Jenna & Friends, Hager was joined by Chris McMillan and The White Lotus actress Leslie Bibb, who co-hosted the episode and helped announce the long-anticipated chop. Leslie Bibb joked, “When I was here back in March, Jenna vowed to get on board with the bob, and today is the day.”
Before sitting in the chair, Hager shared a bit of background on McMillan’s past work, highlighting the viral impact of his haircut on Bibb for The White Lotus. Hager noted that McMillan’s cut on Bibb had inspired many viewers of the show to consider the same bold bob style.
McMillan, who also famously created The Rachel haircut, shared that he didn’t expect the cut on Bibb to go viral. He explained, “It was just a grow-out of a short haircut… The intention wasn’t to give her a bob, it was to grow her out into a bob.”
The Bob: A Spring Clean for the Hair
McMillan discussed the reasons why bobs are a great choice, saying, “Bobs are like spring cleaning. There are sometimes bad damage, bad layers, it evens it up and creates a nice strong perimeter.” As McMillan worked his magic on Hager’s hair, the audience could see the bright blonde strands transform into a voluminous, stylish bob.
Fans Will Have to Wait for the Full Reveal
The full reveal of Hager’s bob won’t be shown until the June 17 episode of Today with Jenna & Friends, where fans can see the transformation in all its glory. Hager’s playful anticipation for the reveal is palpable, and fans are eager to see the results of this fresh new look.
The Bob and Face Shapes: Jenna vs. Jennifer Aniston
In a conversation with Today.com, McMillan drew comparisons between Hager’s face shape and that of Jennifer Aniston, whose iconic Rachel cut still influences hairstyling to this day.
He explained, “Jenna has a lot of face from here to here,” gesturing to the jawline, “and a small forehead, very similar to Jennifer Aniston’s face shape.”
This type of face shape is often ideal for a bob haircut, which McMillan emphasized can be styled in multiple ways: sleek behind the ears, wavy, or natural.
Leslie Bibb’s “C—- Little Bob”
Bibb herself couldn’t help but gush about McMillan’s work and the popularity of the bob, even joking about the viral nature of the haircut at the OLAPLEX Summer Soirée on June 4.
Bibb shared, “This haircut has really taken off,” and even joked about how McMillan had dubbed the look the “c—- little bob” after a conversation with a friend.
A TikTok video capturing the moment of their conversation quickly went viral, giving the bob even more attention.
Bibb, however, made it clear that despite the funny name, “it’s a great f——- haircut.” And with Chris McMillan cutting the hair and Tracey Cunningham coloring it, it’s no surprise the bob has become such a sensation.
