What Happened to Monica Lewinsky: She Turned 50 & Talks on Having Kids or 'Greatest' Love of Her Life

• Lewinsky reflected on her affair with Bill Clinton and its long-term impact.
• She became an advocate against cyberbullying and a producer in Hollywood.
• Lewinsky discussed personal growth and the possibility of having a family.

Monica Lewinsky's life was forever changed by a scandal that captured the world's attention. Once a White House intern, her affair with then-President Bill Clinton became public knowledge and a pivotal moment in her life, steering her on a path of challenges and eventual advocacy.

In January 1998, Lewinsky found herself at the center of a media storm when it was revealed she had been romantically involved with Clinton, then 49. She was just 22 years old when the relationship began, and by 24, she faced immense public scrutiny.

Lewinsky retreated from the public eye as the media splashed her photos all over in the wake of the news. Consequently, her reputation was tarnished and she was called names, which severely impacted her sense of self.

Lewinsky remained silent about the events from that period for a decade and eventually came back into the limelight in 2014. It was the year she had her first major public talk at the Forbes "30 Under 30 Summit."

Fast forward to March 2015, she gave another speech about public shaming on "TED Talk" where she openly talked about the scandal that disrupted her life.

She mentioned the effect that online news had on her reputation at the time, as she went from being a completely private figure to a publicly humiliated one worldwide overnight.

Even though it was before social media, people still managed to critique Lewinsky for her relations with the president online. "I was Patient Zero of losing a personal reputation on a global scale almost instantaneously," said Lewinsky.

Being a victim of cyberbullying and online harassment at the time, Lewinsky shared that she not only lost her reputation but her dignity and almost her life as well. Her mother, Marcia Lewis Straus, who was beside her through it all, feared that she would be humiliated to death or that she would take her own life.

Lewinsky admitted, "Not a day goes by, that I’m not reminded of my mistake. And I regret that mistake deeply," Lewinsky referenced her relationship with Clinton, which she deemed consensual.

The scandal's exposure was a result of betrayal by Linda Tripp, Lewinsky's confidant, who had secretly recorded their telephone conversations. Tripp had worked with Lewinsky for almost two years at the Pentagon, during a time when Lewinsky confided in her about her affair with Clinton.

On January 16, 1998, Lewinsky, then 25, had lunch with Tripp, who had invited her to meet her at a mall in Washington D.C. It turns out the outing was a trap. While dining with Tripp, Lewinsky was ambushed by federal agents who appeared out of nowhere and told her she was in trouble.

Lewinsky was rushed to a hotel room upstairs where she found prosecutors and more federal agents. She began to cry, as they told her they were investigating the president for allegedly sexually harassing a former Arkansas state employee, Paula Jones. Lewinsky was further told that if she refused to cooperate, she would be charged with perjury and would be imprisoned for 27 years.

Lewinsky's struggle wasn't just public but deeply personal. She recounted a poignant conversation with her mother in September 2010, discussing the tragic death of a young college freshman, Tyler Clementi, who had been secretly webcammed by a roommate while being intimate with another man.

Days after this was made public, Clementi, who was bullied online as a result, died by suicide. Lewinsky said her mom was gutted by these events, expressing empathy for the 18-year-old's parents. Lewinsky later realized that her parent was reliving her own trauma from 1998.

Additionally, Lewinsky saw parallels between Clementi's ordeal and her own experiences of public humiliation and shame. "It was an unbearably tragic event," she stated. This reflection helped her find purpose in advocating against cyberbullying.

Determined to forge a new path, Lewinsky uprooted to England, where she obtained a master’s degree in social psychology from the London School of Economics. She moved to another country, hoping to escape scrutiny and lead a normal life. For the most part, the professors and fellow students made it easier for Lewinsky to settle into her new life.

Despite her academic achievements, finding employment proved difficult due to her "history." She found herself moving from city to city, looking for opportunities that rarely materialized. "I eventually came to realize that traditional employment might not be an option for me," Lewinsky asserted in a June 2014 interview.

She could not even land volunteer work at a charity months after she finally gathered the courage to approach a particular organization. They told her that working for them was not a good idea. Lewinsky expressed, "It was a very desolate 10 years for me. I was really floundering. I could not find my way."

Lewinsky admitted those were some of the lowest moments in her life, that left her feeling defeated. She reiterated her earlier statement, saying she deeply regrets what transpired between her and the former president.

That said, she eventually moved back to her hometown Los Angeles, where she intended to start afresh. She was still dependent on her parents, seeing she could barely make ends meet then. Even some of her friends chipped in and others loaned her money.

The turning point came when Lewinsky embraced her narrative, refusing offers to commercialize her story and focusing instead on meaningful projects. "Perhaps by sharing my story, I reasoned, I might be able to help others in their darkest moments of humiliation," said Lewinsky.

She has since become a notable figure in the fight against bullying as an anti-bullying advocate and speaker. In October 2018, Lewinsky shared her PSA on YouTube called #DefyTheName.

The writer has also ventured into Hollywood as a producer, including her involvement in the HBO Max documentary "15 Minutes of Shame" and the documentary "American Crime Story: Impeachment," where she served as a producer, offering a unique perspective on the events that once threatened to define her.

As a producer, Lewinsky sought to infuse these projects with empathy and understanding, stating, "I don’t make decisions to work on things that are connected to my past lightly... It just seemed from the times we were living in, it would happen eventually."

She is the subject of the limited series, and her role is played by Beanie Feldstein, and Tripp's part is portrayed by Sarah Paulson, whose partner is actress Holland Taylor. The team also includes Nina Jacobson, Sarah Burgess, and Ryan Murphy.

Lewinsky explained her intended goal with the show, "was to bring as much humanity as possible." After going through a difficult period in her life, she perceives herself as the most sensitive person. "I advocated on behalf of many characters at different points in places that I thought we could pull back," she added.

In a September 2021 interview, Lewinsky said she did not need Clinton's apology, adding that if she had been asked about it five years prior, she would have probably wanted some level of understanding from him for closure. But for her, this was not the case, and she was grateful for that.

Lewinsky is more thankful for her family's support through the challenges she faced and considers herself extremely lucky. She emphasized that these are the people who know her better than anyone else outside her circle.

Throughout the years, Lewinsky's personal life has also been a subject of interest. She once shared that every man she has dated in the past years, helped her rediscover herself, adding, "The self that was shattered in 1998. And so, no matter the heartbreak, tears, or disenchantment, I’ll always be grateful to them.

Lewinsky admitted that her past still affects her romantic relationships as she always remembers the events of 1998. She once walked out on a man while on a date after learning that he was married for a green card.

Lewinsky was instantly overwhelmed with anxiety, fearing that someone might take pictures of them together and that soon enough, the tabloids would be all over it. "I’ve become adept at figuring out when men are interested in me for the wrong reason. Thankfully, those have been few and far between," she said.

In an August 2021 interview, the brunette beauty was asked what or who is the love of her life, and she answered peanut butter. Despite the difficulties, Lewinsky has navigated relationships with a sense of privacy and strength, learning from each experience. "I kinda feel if anybody has earned a right to have their romantic life private, it's me," she stated.

As she turned 50 in September 2023, Lewinsky, who once shared she had not been married, reflected on her desires for a normal life, including marriage and children. "I don't know if that will happen or not, and I'm more okay with that than I used to be," Lewinsky commented on marriage.

Lewinsky, who wanted to be treated normally, desired to be a family woman so much that she wanted people to forget about her and her past, but things panned out differently.

She acknowledged that while not all her dreams have materialized, she finds solace in laughter, friends, family, and helpers. "My connections to friends and family are what's most important to me. People who can make me laugh are golden," Lewinsky divulged.

Her mother, especially, has been a significant source of support and optimism. Straus told her daughter that things would eventually become better and that one day, she would courageously walk down the street without feeling shame. Lewinsky said her mom was right about that.

Now, over two decades since the scandal, Lewinsky views her past with a sense of acceptance and gratitude for the strength and resilience she has cultivated. She still has a lot of things in her life that make her smile.

Moreover, Lewinsky has hinted at future projects aimed at sharing stories of women who have faced global scrutiny, continuing her journey of empowerment and advocacy.