“ Cosmo is feminist in that we believe women are just as smart and capable as men are and can achieve anything men can. “
Quotes by Helen Gurley Brown
Introducing Helen Gurley Brown
Helen Gurley Brown (February 18, 1922 – August 13, 2012) was an American author, publisher, and businesswoman, renowned for her influential role in shaping modern women's media. Born Helen Marie Gurley in Green Forest, Arkansas, she was the daughter of Cleo Fred and Ira Marvin Gurley. Her father, a former commissioner of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, died in an elevator accident in 1932, prompting the family to relocate to Los Angeles, California, in 1937. There, Helen attended John H. Francis Polytechnic High School.
After graduating, she worked as a secretary at the Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency, where her exceptional writing skills led to a promotion to copywriter. By the early 1960s, she had become one of the nation's highest-paid ad copywriters. In 1959, she married David Brown, a film producer known for works like "Jaws" and "The Sting."
In 1962, at the age of 40, Brown published "Sex and the Single Girl," a book that challenged societal norms by advocating for women's independence and sexual freedom. The book's success led to her appointment as editor-in-chief of "Cosmopolitan" magazine in 1965. Under her leadership, the magazine transformed into a publication that openly discussed women's sexuality, careers, and lifestyles, playing a pivotal role in the sexual revolution and shaping the modern image of the independent "Cosmo girl."
After graduating, she worked as a secretary at the Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency, where her exceptional writing skills led to a promotion to copywriter. By the early 1960s, she had become one of the nation's highest-paid ad copywriters. In 1959, she married David Brown, a film producer known for works like "Jaws" and "The Sting."
In 1962, at the age of 40, Brown published "Sex and the Single Girl," a book that challenged societal norms by advocating for women's independence and sexual freedom. The book's success led to her appointment as editor-in-chief of "Cosmopolitan" magazine in 1965. Under her leadership, the magazine transformed into a publication that openly discussed women's sexuality, careers, and lifestyles, playing a pivotal role in the sexual revolution and shaping the modern image of the independent "Cosmo girl."