CNN Anchor Kaitlan Collins Has Had Quite The Transformation

Kaitlan Collins has a clear passion and skill for political reporting — but it doesn't stem from her upbringing in Alabama. "[I] had a really apolitical upbringing. I think the most national news show that we watched was 'The Today Show,'" the CNN journalist told InStyle. But while her passion for all things political wouldn't manifest until a little later in her life, what she did have from an early age was a natural curiosity for other people. "I was never too timid or afraid to call someone I didn't know or stop somebody on the street and introduce myself," she told Elle of the journalistic tendencies that shone through when she was young.

But this star has had quite the transformation since she was a confident Alabama tot making friends with her neighbors, in more ways than one. She's gone from a southern stunner to a gorgeous, intelligent journalist who isn't even fazed by public clashes with the president of the United States. Making us love her even more? Collins has worn some fun and flirty outfits while doing it.

Like so many young people, Kaitlan Collins wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life when she headed to college. She stayed close to home at The University of Alabama, where she, surprisingly, originally studied chemistry. "I really struggled at the beginning," she recalled to InStyle of her college experience. She told Garden & Gun she chose science because it was her sister's major, but knew her heart wasn't in it. "I realized it wasn't the path for me," she recalled. "I started flipping through the course catalogue. I've always been a big reader, and I noticed the journalism courses. When I went back in the fall, in my first two classes, I realized journalism was such a better fit for me and really dedicated myself to it for the next three years," she added. And she never looked back.

The then-future CNN star graduated with a Bachelors in political science and journalism in 2014. That pushed her into the job that kicked off an inspiring career that would take her across not only the nation, but the world. Though that doesn't mean she doesn't miss home. "You know, you don't really appreciate the South until you leave," she admitted.

Kaitlan Collins' penchant for political reporting began at The Daily Caller when she landed a reporter gig fresh out of college in 2014. "I didn't even know what The Daily Caller was. But I needed a job..." she recalled to InStyle. She soon became the outlet's White House reporter and worked hard to ensure she was prepared for what the important role entailed. "Every night I would go home and study and read so much, because I wanted to belong and feel like I deserved to be in the Briefing Room," she told Elle. During her stint at The Daily Caller, Collins also contributed the Fox Business Network.

All that hard work gave her the skills to become a White House reporter at CNN in 2017. But that presented new challenges, and even she saw a transformation in herself when she began appearing on the news channel. "I saw a maturity and a thoughtfulness [in myself] and was much more intentional with my reporting," she shared.

We also saw the star step up her style game to represent her high-profile new job. The journalist started carving out a fashion niche, wearing mature and sophisticated outfits that were chic but never boring. During a rally in Alabama, she wore a tailored, red dress with a popped collar and flattering waist belt, which felt appropriate for covering an important event without appearing stuffy, outdated, or frumpy.

It didn't take long for Kaitlan Collins to ruffle feathers at the White House. Just one year into her job at CNN, Collins was denied access to a White House press briefing after asking questions President Donald Trump's administration didn't appreciate. "Collins was told by White House deputy chief of staff for communications Bill Shine and press secretary Sarah Sanders that her questions were 'inappropriate.' They were not," CNN fired back in a statement. "Just because the White House is uncomfortable with a question regarding the news of day doesn't mean the question isn't relevant and shouldn't be asked," the company added. But the star wasn't worried about the attention on her. "I was getting so many calls and messages asking if I was okay, it truly didn't faze me at all. It was just what you came to expect from the Trump White House," she told Forbes.

Not only did CNN support Collins, she was later promoted to Chief White House Correspondent. But that came with its own challenges, as the journalist dealt with bullying while reporting on the White House. "There were the personal attacks, where it wasn't just the standard fare of an administration thinking they hadn't been treated fairly, and it got incredibly personal, which, in my opinion, it never should," she said.

But while Collins was learning to deal with the downsides of fame, on camera, she'd never looked better. The beauty cemented her place as one of the most stylish journalists on TV, often sporting chic blazer and pants combos during her piece to cameras. One of her best? The navy pantsuit and brown turtleneck she wore while at the White House Rose Garden in 2020.

In 2022, Kaitlan Collins became even more visible on CNN. The news network announced that Collins would be joining Don Lemon and Poppy Harlow on a new morning show, "CNN This Morning." "[I am] thrilled to start this new adventure," Collins said in a statement (via CNN). Appearing on the show came with a big lifestyle change too, as Collins moved to New York City from Washington D.C. to accommodate filming. The TV personality appeared on the news series until spring 2023, when she left for a primetime gig on the network. That show was called "The Source with Kaitlan Collins" and it proved to be hit with viewers, as The Wrap reported the pilot episode averaged 540,000 viewers.

2023 also brought one of Collins biggest work challenges, as she was tasked with moderating a town hall with then former-president Donald Trump. The interaction saw a few insults from the businessman, including Trump telling Collins, "You are a nasty person, I'll tell you." But Collins didn't seem bothered about Trump's jibes, as her confidence appeared to be at an all-time high.

That was reflected in her bold fashion choices as, from 2022 onward, Collins wore some of her spiciest outfits ever. She showed a couple in a carousel of Instagram images from a friend's wedding. In one, she wore a skin-tight green, satin corset dress, and in another, she had jaws on the floor in a daring, deep plunge black gown that proved she's a true fashionista. Collins had also started showing off her lethal legs in stylish dresses and skirts.

In 2024, Kaitlan Collins put her years of experience to good use — but she certainly wasn't resting on her laurels. "I'm so careful and prepared when I go on air now. I make sure I know exactly what I'm talking about, because I know the responsibility and the weight that it carries," the glossy-haired brunette (who featured on Time's Time100 Next list that year) told Elle that year. That was particularly admirable considering she continued to face a barrage of mean-spirited quips from president Donald Trump. During a NATO summit press conference, after noticing Collins was about to ask a question, Trump said (via Daily Mail), "Oh, fake news CNN? Ay yai yai. Here we go. Wait 'til you hear this question." But Collins had a mature approach to the jibes. "My feeling is to not take it personally because if you respond to that, then it's getting away from the point of the question we're asking, which is way more important than a conflict with the president of the United States," she told Vanity Fair.

Collins' repeated clashes with the president and her dedication to CNN also meant she was gaining notoriety across the world, and interest began seeping from her career into her personal life. Despite her incredibly busy schedule, Daily Mail reported in 2024 that she'd signed up to the celebrity dating app Raya. But it seems Collins' work is still her focus as she looks for love, because she's never been busier. "There are no days off. You can't have a chill Friday. If you ever think it's going to be chill, it's guaranteed to not be," she told Vanity Fair. And we can't see her inspirational career slowing down anytime soon.