Two words have come to define Julie Chen’s career: “But first.”

Overtly, it’s her oft-used transition between Big Brother segments. A viral video highlighting her nearly identical delivery of the line and accompanying movements over many seasons earned her the nickname “The Chenbot.” But over the course of the series' 17 seasons, she’s learned to embrace the expression and even turned it into a cheeky catchphrase.

More significantly though, “but first” is essentially what Chen heard at every turn as she embarked on a career in television news.

Yes, you can be an assignment reporter, but first you have to do it at half the salary.

OK, you can be an on-camera anchor, but first you have to look less Asian.

Sure, you can have this high-profile job, but first you have to agree to take on an additional, less prominent job as well.

That constant barrage of caveats would be enough to deter most people from continuing to reach for their dream job in their dream profession. But for Chen, every single “but first” fueled her relentless drive to become the multihyphenate of the highest order that she is today: The host of CBS’s long-running Big Brother, the co-host of CBS’s The Talk, mother to 5-year-old Charlie, wife to CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves, and object of infatuation for the millions of viewers who tweet about her perfectly coiffed hair, impeccably styled ensembles, lavish lifestyle, and all the other ineffable elements that have turned her into one of the most beguiling and beloved figures in television today.

But for a very long time, Chen was unsure if there truly was a place for her on television — no matter how hard she tried to carve one out for herself. “My whole life I’ve been told, ‘No. No. No. No. No. You can’t do this. OK, maybe we’ll let you slide in here but don’t expect to be treated equally to the others,'” Chen told BuzzFeed News while seated at a table in her dressing room at The Talk. “But every negative thing that’s happened to me along my career path has ended up being a blessing in disguise and gotten me exactly where I am today.”