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Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern who had an affair with former President Bill Clinton, has been chosen as the face of a major fashion brand.
Lewinsky, an anti-bullying activist and author, has been chosen by women's fashion company Reformation to lead its latest voting campaign.
The “You've Got the Power” workwear campaign launched Monday in partnership with Vote.org.
The campaign aims to “remind” people of the “power” of voting.
Lewinsky was quoted as saying on the company's website: “Voting is the most defining aspect of our democracy because it's what we use to make our voices heard.”
“If you want to complain for the next four years, you have to vote.”
When Lewinsky was 22, she became romantically involved with the then-president, who was 27 years her senior. News of their relationship dominated U.S. news stories in 1998 and 1999 after the president admitted to having “inappropriate intimate physical contact” with a White House intern, although he initially denied it.
In 2018, Ms. Lewinksy said their relationship amounted to a “gross abuse of power” on Mr. Clinton's part, saying that Mr. I have it,” he pointed out.
Since reemerging into public life in 2014, she has regularly spoken out publicly against cyberbullying, calling herself “Patient Zero” of internet trends.
The Reformation campaign features Ms. Lewinsky modeling a leather trench coat, a bright red two-piece, a sweater and other workplace attire.
“This is a pivotal election year, and trust in major institutions is quite low,” the Reformation says on its website.
“We get that. We don't want to be a brand that just tells people to vote, so we partnered with the experts at Vote.org.”
As part of the campaign, the Reformation website includes information about registering to vote. The company also donated $25,000 (£20,000) to Vote.org, the country's largest non-partisan organization that encourages people to participate in the voting process.
In an interview published Monday in Elle Magazine, Lewinsky said the partnership was in response to growing voter dissatisfaction and apathy in the lead-up to November's presidential election.
“We all have to remind each other that we shouldn't get in the way of what we need to vote, and that's how we use our voices. That's where our power lies. “, she told the magazine.
Reform hired an athletic coach to work with Lewinsky for a photo shoot with photographer Zoe Grossman.
Speaking about her decision to become a fashion model, Lewinsky said: “I don't know if it sounds corny, but the way women can feel more empowered is by recognizing where they need more help and asking for that help.'' I think so,” he said. .
Lewinsky also told Elle that turning 50 this summer was “a real gift.”
“It's been a year of acceptance. I've come to terms with a lot of things about myself, my life, and where I'm at. So it's great to be turning 50.” she said.
“I'm excited and hopeful for this new decade. For someone who has gone through so much trauma, it feels scary to even say that.”
