Hoda Kotb Went Up A Size On Maternity Leave—And Meredith Vieira Had The Best Reaction

From Delish

• Hoda Kotb returned to Today from maternity leave, and she told temporary co-host Meredith Veira that she went up a size during her time off.

• After combing through her closet for work dresses, Kotb discovered that all of her size 8 dresses were too tight, but approached it with her usual sense of humor.

• Meredith Vieira was supportive of Kotb and told her that “the number doesn’t matter.”

Hoda Kotb headed back to Today after a five-month maternity leave following the adoption of her daughter, Hope Catherine, at the beginning of September. And after months of bonding with her newborn, spending time with her family, and not dressing up (can you blame her?), she was surprised to find that her closet of size 8 dresses were just a little snug.

“I came back to work after five months—and I was going through my clothes to wear things—and I realized something major,” Kotb told her guest co-host, Meredith Vieira, who is filling in for Kotb’s regular co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, while she’s out on her maternity leave. “All of my dresses are 8s—and they’re all tight!”

“The number doesn’t matter. You’re gorgeous. She’s gorgeous. It is what it is!” Vieira replied. Kotb said that wearing a size 10 really didn’t bother her anyway. “Whenever I go down this road—and I don’t mind it—I’m good with it,” she told Vieira. “I just continue the road. I don’t hold back. I got new dresses, and it’s all going to be fine.”

The Today with Hoda & Jenna Instagram account shared the clip, and Kotb received an overwhelming amount of support from fans. “My Dr once told me that when we are in a very happy place we always gain a little weight. It’s a good thing, you were HAPPY!” one follower commented on the post, while another wrote “You are a perfect 10!!❤️”

Kotb’s relaxed, healthy approach to weight and size fluctuations will certainly come in handy as she raises daughters. On top of the recent addition of Hope Catherine to her family, the 55-year-old Today host is also mom to two-year-old Haley Joy.

Kotb has been all about posting sweet moments with her family on Instagram this summer, from joyful photos of Haley with Hoda’s longtime boyfriend, Joel Schiffman, to adorable pictures of Hope Catherine to an especially cute photo of Haley getting ready to blow out Kotb’s birthday candles last month.

When Kotb called in to Today in August to let viewers know she was returning, she admitted that it was a bittersweet moment. “I’m not going to lie, this probably has been the best summer of my entire life with these two kids, I’ve loved every second of it. But you know what else I’m going to love? Coming back to you guys,” she said.

We’re certainly glad to have Kotb back!

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