A new nine-part drama from Ryan Murphy, creator of American Horror Story and American Crime Story, is set to explore the life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the wife of John F Kennedy Jr. The first season of Murphy's latest franchise Love Story focuses on the courtship and marriage of the couple, who were one of America's most famous golden couples in the 1990s before their untimely deaths in 1999.
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, a Calvin Klein executive, has been compared to Princess Diana for her struggles in the spotlight. She never gave an official interview, and only two recordings of her voice exist, amounting to less than half a minute of audio. Despite being in the public eye for just five years, she remains a style icon, known for her 'quiet luxury' aesthetic of neutral tones and understated elegance.
The show has already sparked controversy. Jack Schlossberg, nephew of the late JFK Jr, criticised Murphy for 'profiting off' his uncle's story. Fans also objected to test shots of actress Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn, claiming the hair colour, accessories, and footwear were inaccurate. However, author Sunita Kumar Nair notes that Carolyn's style evolved, and she did occasionally wear Converse sneakers and track pants before her public life.
Born in 1966 in White Plains, New York, and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Carolyn was voted 'Ultimate Beautiful Person' in her high-school yearbook. She worked as a sales assistant at Calvin Klein in Boston before becoming the brand's chief publicist in New York. Friends describe her as funny and quirky, and she dated several notable figures before meeting John F Kennedy Jr in early 1994.
