Gavin Newom had high school makeover after ‘Newscum’ bullying

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s slicked-back hair, tailored suits and carefully curated image didn’t happen by accident — they were born out of teenage insecurity, bullying, and an ’80s TV drama.

In his new memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry,” Newsom reveals his signature aesthetic originated in a bid to reinvent himself in the hallways of Redwood High School in Marin County.

While sports were a massive part of his identity as a baseball player, Newsom divulged he had an obsession that triggered a total image overhaul: The ’80s detective drama “Remington Steele.”

Inspired by Pierce Brosnan‘s suave, suit-wearing character, a teenage Newsom decided to ditch the “scum” label for a makeover fit for Hollywood. He meticulously learned to slick back his hair with gel — a look that would later become his trademark — and would occasionally wear a full suit to high school.

The transformation helped change Newsom’s reputation, who was once the target of bullies because of his undiagnosed dyslexia. The torture seemed to stop almost overnight, according to the memoir.

The memoir reveals that the bully who had dubbed him “Newscum” backed off, and his peers handed him a new nickname that proved eerily prophetic: “El Presidente.”

Newsom’s high school suit and gel era was a turning point — the moment he realized image could be armor, according to the memoir, which is set for release later this month.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters