Kerry Washington likes to make ''bold'' fashion choices.

The 'Scandal' star - who plays crisis manager Olivia Pope in the hit ABC show - enjoys showing off her figure on the red carpet and thinks her own vibrant look is a world away from her on-screen persona's ''neutral'' style.

The raven-haired beauty - who gave birth to her daughter, Isabelle Amarachi, with her husband, Nnamdi Asomugha, in June last year - said: ''Red-Carpet Kerry wears a lot more colour and pattern than Olivia does. She makes bold choices. When I was pregnant, I showed up at the SAG awards in a bare-midriff gown by Prada. I knew some people were going to hate it, but I thought it was super cute and really fun.

''Olivia, meanwhile, sticks to a more neutral palette in pastels by designers like Dior, Ferragamo, and Escada.''

However, the 38-year-old actress - who launched her 'The Limited Scandal' clothing line with the show's costume designer Lyn Paolo and The Limited's Senior VP of Design, Elliot Staples, last year - believes Olivia's style has had a ''huge influence'' on viewers.

She told the March issue of InStyle magazine: ''After the first couple of episodes aired, people started posting on Twitter things like ,'I have a job interview today, and I'm trying to dress like Olivia Pope.'

''Olivia's had a huge influence.''