The Internet Went Wild For Vice Presidential Debate Moderator Elaine Quijano

Step aside, Lester Holt.

Brandon Friederich

Oct 5, 2016

Social media was in an uproar following last night’s vice presidential debate, but not solely because of anything to do with veep candidates Tim Kaine (D) and Mike Pence (R). Many seemed much more interested in the event’s moderator, Elaine Quijano.

Quijano is a Filipino-American and at 42, is the youngest anchor to moderate a presidential debate in nearly 30 years—in addition to being the first Asian-American journalist to moderate a national debate. She’s also a former White House correspondent for CNN, and is currently a news anchor for CBS News.

Twitter users especially seemed keen to comment on the reporter’s striking appearance.

https://twitter.com/nealcampbell/status/783473416963784704

OMG The Moderator For VP Debate is so gorgeous😍 #VPDebate

— RDC Sports (@RDC_Sports) October 5, 2016

Well, the winner of this debate is already the hot moderator. #VPDebate

— Mark Eaton (@Mark13Eaton) October 5, 2016

The fact that Quijano was repeatedly interrupted by both Kaine and Pence also stirred up a buzz on social media.

👏E👏L👏A👏I👏N👏E👏

— 🐅 tiger (@tigerwang) October 5, 2016

Throw @Elaine_Quijano a parade for her telling the candidates that nobody can understand them when they're talking over each other

— @hayesbrown.bsky.social (@HayesBrown) October 5, 2016

If I wanted to watch two white dudes bicker near a woman named Elaine, I would definitely just watch Seinfeld.

— Maris Kreizman (@mariskreizman) October 5, 2016

The number of hashtagged #VPDebate tweets was truly astonishing, but one user perfectly captured the sentiment Quijano must have felt after night was over.