More than 30 years ago, Monica Lewinsky, a 22-year-old White House intern, became the center of a national scandal that forever changed her life. Instead of starting her career, she was turned into a figure of ridicule and public humiliation.

The media obsessed over her story, making her the subject of endless jokes and tabloid scrutiny, reducing her to a caricature without control over her own narrative. Today, at 51, Lewinsky has reclaimed her voice as a survivor and advocate.

Reflecting on her experience, she recognizes the relationship with President Clinton was an abuse of power, something she didn’t understand as a young intern.

When the scandal broke in 1998, the media painted her as a manipulative villain, ignoring the vast power imbalance. She lost her job, faced isolation, and struggled for years to find work, haunted by the stigma. Lewinsky calls herself “patient zero” of online shaming, describing the relentless cruelty and public insults that deepened her private battles with depression and anxiety.

Despite this, she transformed her pain into purpose, becoming a powerful advocate against bullying and public shaming, sharing her story openly through essays and TED Talks. Her work highlights the harmful effects of online humiliation, offering comfort to others facing shame. Lewinsky now embraces her past and scars with self-love and forgiveness, seeking not pity but understanding and empathy. Her story challenges society to reconsider how we judge and treat those caught in scandal, reminding us of the human behind every headline. Her journey from vilified intern to respected advocate is a testament to resilience, the dangers of mob mentality, and the power of compassion.