Monica Lewinsky: Reclaiming Her Voice
More than 30 years ago, 22-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky became the focus of a national scandal that derailed her life.
Instead of beginning her career, she became “a figure of ridicule and public humiliation,” mocked endlessly by the media.
At the time, Lewinsky didn’t fully understand the “abuse of power” in her relationship with President Clinton. The public narrative painted her as a manipulative villain, ignoring the significant power imbalance.
She lost her job, became isolated, and spent years battling the stigma. “I was patient zero of online shaming,” she recalls, highlighting the intense cyberbullying that worsened her depression and anxiety.
Now 51, Lewinsky has reclaimed her identity as a survivor and advocate, using her voice to challenge the culture that once silenced her.
