Hillary Clinton's natural appearance scrutinized

(CBS News) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is back from an overseas trip that took her to China, Bangladesh and India over the weekend. But it's not her diplomacy that's making news - it's her appearance.

On a stop in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Clinton appeared with no makeup, natural hair, and glasses - and she made no apologies.

Published pictures from the trip have sparked a flurry of articles opinions about her looks. Comments have ranged from Clinton looks "like a schoolgirl" to she looks "tired and withdrawn."

Clinton, responding to the controversy on CNN, said, "I feel so relieved to be at the stage I'm at in my life right now, Jill, because if I want to wear my glasses, I'm wearing my glasses. If I - you know, want to pull my hair back, I'm pulling my hair back. And, you know, at some point, it's just not - it's just not something that deserves a whole lot of time and attention. If others want to worry about it, I'll let them do the worrying for a change."

Clinton's attitude is a very polarizing issue, "CBS This Morning" contributor Lee Woodruff said Wednesday. Woodruff said she's often heard discussion that focuses on appearance when it comes to women in power.

"I'm tired of the conversation being always about a woman's looks," Woodruff said. "And Hillary, Hillary gets nailed. Did we do this to Janet Reno, to Indira Gandhi, do we do it to Merkel? I mean, are they getting raked over the coals if they're having a bad hair day?"

"CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie Rose added, "You should be allowed to grow older as you do. And she's very comfortable in her own skin now. Especially now. And that's one of her more admirable qualities, of which there are many, intelligence, a work ethic, a whole range of other things, including feeling natural about herself."

For more discussion on "CBS This Morning" about the importance of appearance in politics, watch the video in the player above.

[credibility2]

There are many men who look worse than she.

[Molly-Pchr]

How shallow and preoccupied with our bellybuttons we are...and we like to think we're so advanced. Articles about her looks. Another attack on women by the liberal media.

[momofadj]

give me a break

[gep1955]

Funny how the media writes about her looks and not about if she's doing her job and looking out for America overseas. What mindless drivel now qualifies as journalism.

[audemus]

Perhaps Hillary doesn't place the same importance on superficial, phony, lieing appearances as some of our more Republican, Tea party, conservative right-wing nut jobbers do.

[Mistzi]

I think she lookd fine.

[venusvegasvada]

Actually I think she looks just fine.

I think women that trowel on makeup look horrible. Natural is way better.

[rightontarget]

Bravo Hillary!!!!!!! You go girl!!!!!!!! You look just fine with or without all the makeup. Government and diplomatic realations are SERIOUS business and nobody gives a rat's azz about the superficial BS. You are an intelligent and very capable woman who knows what is really important. To your critics I say they are very insecure and superficial and don't have a clue.

[aquariousminus1]

Hillary is the best thing to happen to America in years. Other countries admire and respect her. She is as much as Obama the voice of America to the world. What's more, she has the ability to rise above the fray. She s actually loved by most people. There are always a few who say "left-winger= I hate you; you're an idiot", but she is, by and far, the most generally admired politician that we have. She is human!! She drinks at bars with friends and has a face and a smile and a laugh!! She is as close to ideal as it gets in the modern era. And at the end of the day, I sleep better knowing Hillary has a high hand in how the world is ticking. #Hillary2016

[O_ReallyFactor]

What an absolutely stupid story. Who cares?

[KPeters_from_UK]

Obviously VoteObamaSufferLiberals does. He loves to make superficial judgements on powerful women.