A Q&A with Meg Zucker, Wall Street Lawyer and Author Who Wants Us to “Flaunt It”

By TueNight Crew

Age: 52 and grateful.

Basic bio: Meg Zucker is a lawyer who fights crime on Wall Street, as well as a wife, mother of three, and President and Founder of the non-profit Don’t Hide It, Flaunt It (DHIFI). Her forthcoming parenting book, Born Different: How to Help Your Children Claim Their Power, will be published next year by Tarcher Perigee, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Beyond the bio: I spent years consumed by the judgment of others. Let’s face it, when you look like me — born with a genetic condition — people stare all the time. If their thoughts appeared in bubbles over their heads, they’d likely take the form of pity. But having children, two of three born with my condition, helped me to face my fears and learn and accept that being different is actually a huge gift. 

What makes you a grown-ass lady? 

Working hard to create a platform to help other people learn how to achieve unconditional self-acceptance and then apply that mindset to others. 

1. On the nightstand: Always Ken Follet’s latest. Ok, and the latest Jennifer Weiner too. 

2. Can’t stop/won’t stop: Helping parents of kids who are different raise their children from a place of strength rather than fear. 

3. Jam of the minute: “Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd. Or quite frankly all his music — love!  

4. Thing I miss: Taking long walks while being under lockdown with my oldest son. That was unexpected quality time before he left for his freshman year at college! 

5. ‘80s crush: Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles. 

6. Current crush: Ryan Reynolds. My husband is ok with it since he’s a Deadpool fan. 

7. Latest fave find: Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask (Choco Mint flavor). It’s awesome at night for moisture on your lips before bedtime or as a gloss during the day. 

8. Last thing you lost: I left my favorite pillow at a hotel and I was absolutely crushed!  I was so sad I even held a small memorial service for it with my family. I probably shouldn’t admit that. But the good news is my husband John called the hotel and they eventually located it and returned it to me. Even better, John wrote a letter scolding me as if it were from the pillow asking me never to take it on vacation again. I certainly won’t. 

9. Best thing that happened recently: My literary agent selling my book! 

10. Looking forward to: DHIFI’s national social emotional learning/empathy educational program Kids Flaunt launching again for the seventh year this September. Once again it will be available to teachers and elementary students in all private and public schools across the country.

Originally Published August 2, 2021. Updated August 4, 2021.