Monica Lewinsky, 52, Accepts 2026 Honor and Recalls Dark Moments After 1998 Scandal
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 12
Monica Lewinsky, 52, Accepts 2026 Honor and Recalls Dark Moments After 1998 Scandal
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 12
Monica Lewinsky said being honored as the 2026 Woman of the 21st Century brought a sharp contrast with the "extreme negativity" that followed the White House scandal nearly 30 years ago.
At the Beverly Hills ceremony, the 52-year-old said "billions of strangers" directed negative energy at her after the affair became public in 1998, leaving her deeply affected and at times bitter.
Lewinsky said the experience reshaped her view of power into two forms: authority that affects others and inner strength tied to self-connection; she also described resilience as a non-linear process.
Her remarks echo earlier comments that public humiliation once made life "almost unbearable," while she said recent progress has come partly through her "Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky" podcast, even as fear still lingers.
How did experiencing a 'gross abuse of power' ultimately lead Monica Lewinsky to redefine her own personal strength?
After surviving global shaming, what is Monica Lewinsky’s most critical advice for navigating today's toxic online culture?
Did producing a TV series about her past finally grant her control of her story, or just repackage her trauma?