Date of Birth: February 18, 1922
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: August 13, 2012
Biography
Helen Gurley Brown was an influential American author, publisher, and businesswoman who made a significant impact on modern media and feminist movements. Born in Green Forest, Arkansas, she rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful women in publishing. Brown is best known for her long tenure as the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, where she transformed the publication into a leading voice for women’s liberation, sexual freedom, and empowerment. Helen began her career in the advertising industry, where she quickly made a name for herself with her creativity and determination. In 1962, she published her groundbreaking book “Sex and the Single Girl,” which became an international bestseller and challenged societal norms about single women and their sexuality. Her success with the book led to her appointment as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan in 1965. Under her leadership, the magazine’s circulation soared as it began to cover bold and taboo subjects that resonated with modern women. Brown’s editorial style was characterized by a combination of glamour, wit, and candidness, which helped to create a new narrative around women’s roles in society. She remained at the helm of Cosmopolitan until 1997 and continued to be an influential figure in the media world until her death in 2012.
5 Interesting Facts about Helen Gurley Brown
1. Helen Gurley Brown was named after her mother, Cleo Fred Gurley, and her father, Ira Marvin Gurley, who tragically died in an elevator accident when she was just ten years old.
2. She married David Brown, a successful film producer known for movies like “Jaws” and “The Sting,” in 1959.
3. Brown authored several books, including “Having It All,” which further cemented her reputation as a feminist icon.
4. She was awarded the Matrix Award for Women in Communications in 1973.
5. Despite her public persona, Helen was known for her frugality, famously reusing tea bags and preferring to walk rather than take cabs.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Helen Gurley Brown
1. “Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.”
2. “Cosmo is feminist in that we believe women are just as smart and capable as men are and can achieve anything men can.”
3. “Never fail to know that if you are doing all the talking, you are boring somebody.”
4. “My success was not based so much on any great intelligence but on great common sense.”
5. “Money, if it does not bring you happiness, will at least help you be miserable in comfort.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of her career, Helen Gurley Brown had an estimated net worth of $32 million.
Children
Helen Gurley Brown did not have any children.
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