Wow. When Victoria Rowell wore this "President Obama Dress" dress to the 2009 Emmy Awards, millions of people around the world probably uttered the phrase simultaneously: "What was she thinking?"
The actress who played the iconic character Drucilla Winters on 'The Young and the Restless' released a statement to tell us exactly what inspired this rather unusual gown. It is a personal story that touches on the issues of health insurance and universal access to health care. Rowell told Essence.com:
"Setting the ruffles and caviar dreams aside is but a meager gesture to echo the herculean efforts of a health care reform package long overdue and one which President Obama is introducing for all Americans," Rowell told ESSENCE.com. "I spent 18 years in foster care, enduring inadequate health and dental care and unforgivably, was turned away more than once at a doctor's office. Nationally, 25,000 foster youth annually emancipate from foster care without health coverage," says Rowell. "I emerged from Washington D.C. Health and Human Services as a proud American citizen – an advocate not a victim."
That Dress!
©AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles, CA. September 20, 2009. Job: 90920A1. www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com Pictured: Victoria Rowell.
AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM
©AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles, CA. September 20, 2009. Job: 90920A1. www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com Pictured: Victoria Rowell.
AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Victoria Rowell arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victoria Rowell
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Victoria Rowell arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victoria Rowell
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Victoria Rowell arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victoria Rowell
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Victoria Rowell arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victoria Rowell
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Victoria Rowell arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victoria Rowell
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Victoria Rowell arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victoria Rowell
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Victoria Rowell arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victoria Rowell
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Victoria Rowell arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victoria Rowell
Getty Images
Even if her message in wearing this dress was not perfectly clear, now that Rowell has elucidated her meaning, I hope it is one we can all rally behind. Her wearing this dress featuring the president may have seemed questionable, but she used her red carpet moment to promote a cause that is important to the millions of Americans without health insurance. This type of political display shows more tact and grace than those pundits and tea partiers using violent language and lies to get their feelings about health care reform across. This more than excuses a dress that on the surface appears tacky.
So to Victoria I say: Kudos for a creative, personal and meaningful display. Rowell was successful in bringing attention to Obama at a critical time. Let's help her spread her message about supporting the president in his health care reform battle. Send this article to your friends to get the word out on the meaning of Victoria Rowell's Obama dress -- and more importantly call your local representative to express your true feelings on health insurance, care and access. And do it with style and grace!
Via Bossip
Comments: (210)
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By: Lynnie on 9/23/2009 11:32AM
Don't know how long ago you had the issue with your insurance company, but sometimes going through the appellant process is well worth it. I fought tooth and nail with mine to cover my hospitalization when I had my son. They were trying to deny my coverage, which would have kicked in the first of the year, but the delivery as a 'life-changing event' would make it kick in from delivery on (only a difference of 11 days). Well, as things would have it, I was admitted to the hospital on the 19th, and delivered at 7 minutes after midnight, making it the 20th. They tried to use that technicality to deny coverage for my hospitalization, but paid everything for the baby. It took a few months, but it was finally resolved, and covered. If your issue wasn't too long ago, you might want to look into it.
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By: raldel on 9/23/2009 12:51PM
First, I believe your math is wrong. Using the numbers you gave, you make $26,000 a year, not $22,000. So there is that $4,000 you said you are in debt. Be glad you have some insurance because you are not guaranteed it. Insurance is not a right, it is a priviledge for those that earn it, whether you like it or not.
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By: ken on 9/23/2009 8:35AM
"I emerged from Washington D.C. Health and Human Services as a proud American citizen – an advocate not a victim."
Yeah ... real hard life ...
She was born in Portland, Maine. She was already a citizen. She trained as a dancer for 8 years and started acting at the age of 14. She was a model for Seventeen magazine as well as other things. Yeah ... she had a real ytough life and couldn't afford to go to a doctor's office. What a load of pretentious crap these people in the entertainment industry are.
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By: Srhodes on 9/23/2009 6:52AM
I know that the dress was tacky, but who are you to say that any life in foster care was easy? So she had some breaks along the way, good for her, but living in foster care is hell and you don't have the right to minimize it.
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By: CW on 9/23/2009 7:59AM
I agree with Ken. I grew up on Welfare and gone to the doctor and dentist at least 2 times a year...Also, my 2 adopted sons, who lived in DCF foster homes for 4 years, had medicare benefits while in the state's custody. If anyone is neglected of these benefits, it's not the state or government, it's the guardians of those children who just don't take them to the doctors.
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By: Dee on 9/23/2009 8:03AM
I came from "not much", and i've been working and paying for my own medical insurance for over a decade. Get off your lazy behind and work and pay for your own medical needs.
So Ken quit complaining and get a second job if your minimum wage job doesn't cover the cost.
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By: pepesme on 9/23/2009 8:12AM
I nannied for a family that fostered children for years, and healthcare was NEVER an issue for them. The system they have set up gave them great care. They went to the dentist twice a year, got all their well visits and vaccinations. The healthcare system already in place even took care of the preemie twins they cared for with their myriad of health issues. Furthermore, for her to complain that children are emancipated out of the system without healthcare is silly. Everyone is "emancipated" without healthcare when they grow up. It is a part of growing up that you become responsible for yourself.
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By: Len on 9/23/2009 8:41AM
Ken, I think you need to do a little bit more research before you just go around ranting and calling someone "pretentious". Rowell was born in Portland, Maine and her mother who suffered from schizophrenia, took a taxi to a hospital to give birth to Rowell, leaving a son and two small daughters unsupervised. When she was 16 days old, Rowell, along with her two sisters, Sheree and Lori, were surrendered to child services.
That in itself is traumatizing enough for a youngster to have to deal with and they lived in the foster care system for many years. And to touch on the other persons comment who was on DSS as a child, not all doctors accept DSS and when they do they don't all treat their patients the same. I've see this personally how in some states they are treated like second class citizens. As for you knocking on her having taken ballet and dance, might I bring to your attention that she received scholarships for that schooling. And as far as her modeling that didn't really begin to take off until she was in her 20's (1980's) and at that she wasn't what we call a "supermodel" so just how much do you think she was paid?
I'll just write your rant off to your not having enough knowledge of both the acting or modeling industry and leave it at that. Not to mention you true lack of compassion in thinking that you can speak to a persons character and life without even having walked a mile in their shoes.
Must be real nice to be you. But to Victoria Roswell I tip my hat to you lady - you are classy and have made something of yourself despite odds that might have left others in the projects!
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By: Dee on 9/23/2009 8:30AM
If you read her autobiography you would have a better understanding of her situation. She was born to a mentally ill white woman who bore many children and was unfit to care for them. She was ultimately taken from her mother and raised by a series of white women in Maine. Her mother never relinquished her parental rights and as a result she was a "victim" of the system.
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By: angie b on 9/23/2009 8:41AM
I've read about her before- she did grow up in foster care and YOU don't know what she went through! You sir, are the pretentious judgmental one. No need for name calling and faux fact checking. You explored the surface fo this actress, just b/c she didn't live in a roach infested tenement and have bread and water everyday doesn't diminish in what her view was difficult. Shame on you Judge Judy!! Kudos to the eloquent way in which she chose to bring attention to her passion.
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