Once again, Washington actress Blanca Blanco causes a stir on the red carpet

Actress Blanca Blanco, who grew up in Eastern Washington, made a stir on the red carpet at the Golden Globes on Sunday. A red stir.

On a night when the vast majority of attendees wore black in support of the #TimesUp movement, launched recently to fight against sexual harassment and gender inequality in Hollywood, Blanco wore a red dress by Atria Couture that left little to the imagination, with a slit up the left side to her hip bone, and a diagonal slit across the front exposing much of her midriff and more.

It was a look that sparked some controversy. As the British tabloid the Daily Mail sniffed, “Underwear free, there was no mistaking that this was an outfit designed to stand out and make headlines.”

In a statement to the fashion/lifestyle/entertainment website Refinery29, Blanco defended her dress.

“I love red,” Blanco wrote. “Wearing red does not means I am against #timesup movement. I applaud and stand by the courageous actresses that continue to brake [sic] the circle of abuse through their actions and their style choice. It is one of many factors leading women to a safer place because of their status in the acting world. I am excited about the ‘Time’s UP’ movement because true change is long overdue.”

She also took to Twitter, writing, “The issue is bigger than my dress color. #TIMESUP” and “Shaming is part of the problem.”

Blanco, who attended the ceremony with her longtime boyfriend and frequent co-star, actor John Savage, was not the only woman who eschewed wearing black. Model Barbara Meier wore a colorful gown emblazoned with flowers. Meher Tatna, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globes presenter, wore a red dress that reflected her Indian heritage. Also, an unnamed woman wearing magenta could be seen seated behind actor Willem Dafoe during the Sunday broadcast.

Blanco, who turns 37 later this month, grew up in Chelan. According to her biography at imdb.com, she earned an associate’s degree at Spokane Falls Commuity College, a bachelor’s in psychology from Washington State University and a master’s of social work at Eastern Washington University before she moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.

This is not the first time Blanco has made a stir on the red carpet. At the Academy Awards last year, the high slit on her golden gown appeared to leave very little to the imagination, and fashion watchers were quick to judge it a wardrobe malfunction. At the time, Blanco said that contrary to how it appeared, she was wearing a skin-toned bodysuit under her dress and was properly covered up. But she did tell the Daily Mail newspaper: “I think maybe I wouldn’t have had the split as high.”

Comparing her Oscar dress and her Golden Globe dress, however, it’s clear to see that she disregarded her own advice.

Blanco’s film credits include the 2011 release “Showgirls 2,” and 2017’s “Fake News” with Eric Roberts and Savage.