Megyn Kelly reflects on 'sexy' black dress that elicited criticism at 2016 Republican National Convention

Megyn Kelly has no regrets about one of her most controversial fashion choices -- in fact, she says, it was one of the most empowering decisions she's made through her entire career.

Speaking to The Cut, Kelly reflected on the controversy that erupted after she wore a black spaghetti-strap dress while reporting on Fox News live from the 2016 Republican National Convention. The outfit choice, she says, was very deliberate.

"I put on the most feminine thing I had, and I rocked the coverage," Kelly said. "I asked all my normal questions, which are always probing and often merciless, in my sexy dress. Just because I’m blonde and I have my sexy dress on doesn’t make me a bimbo."

At the time, Kelly's name frequently appeared in national headlines, but not for news she'd made on her own: Then-nominee Donald Trump had repeatedly leveraged insults against the anchor, and she was also outed as an accuser against Roger Ailes, Fox News' then-chairman and CEO.

Both publicly and privately, Kelly said, she was a target of scrutiny and ridicule, even from colleague she'd considered friends.

"Let me tell you, it would have been much easier at Fox News to not say anything about Roger Ailes. Roger and I got along just fine. He loved me," she said. "I would have had a long and profitable career had Roger stayed at the helm, but it would have been the wrong thing to do once confronted with the allegations that I read in the paper."

And as for Trump, Kelly has come to better understand -- as well as one can -- how to handle unwanted attention from the president.

"After the debate, Trump tried to bully me for nine months," Kelly sad. "I don’t know what’s in his head, but I do think he was genuinely angry in the beginning. Then I believe he enjoyed the narrative. He likes to create media stories, and I became one of his favorites. Once, I went to Trump Tower and told him I was not enjoying it. He agreed to let it go, but he was sorry to see it go because I do think he enjoyed the thread."

Read Megyn Kelly's full interview with The Cut here.