Hillary Clinton touched on sexism and her 2016 election loss in a letter to a third-grade girl who lost her election for class president.
Martha Kennedy Morales, an 8-year-old at a Maryland private school, lost to a boy in her class by one vote and became vice president. Clinton sent Martha a note praising her for running and consoling her over the loss, while harkening back to her own loss to Donald Trump, The Washington Post first reported.
"While I know you may have been disappointed that you did not win President, I am so proud of you for deciding to run in the first place," Clinton wrote. "As I know too well, it's not easy when you stand up and put yourself in contention for a role that's only been sought by boys."
Class presidential positions have been held by girls, before, however. Clinton would have been the first woman U.S. president had she been victorious against Trump.
"As you continue to learn and grow in the years ahead, never stop standing up for what is right and seeking opportunities to be a leader, and know that I am cheering you on for a future of great success," Clinton wrote.
Martha told CNN she was thrilled to hear from Clinton, and her parents said she looks up to the former secretary of state.
Clinton has blamed a variety of factors in the two years since she lost the 2016 election, sexism and misogyny among them.
"I knew it. I knew this would happen to me," she reportedly said when campaign manager Robby Mook told her she would lose. "They were never going to let me be president."