Monica Lewinsky may never be able to escape the fall-out from her affair with former US president Bill Clinton – however she proved on Sunday night that she is more than capable of rising above the gossip and controversy when she hit the red carpet at an Oscars viewing party.
The 44-year-old made a stunning appearance at the Vanity Fair event, wearing a figure-hugging teal blue silk dress that featured a funky asymmetrical neckline, leaving one shoulder bare.
Monica’s choice of dress color could be seen by some as a strong statement, particularly as her appearance at the red carpet event came just a few days after she spoke out again about her affair, labeling her relationship with Bill Clinton as a ‘gross abuse of power’.
Happy as can be: Monica Lewinsky attended Vanity Fair’s Oscars party on Sunday evening in a form-fitting blue silk dress
Dazzling: The 44-year-old’s gown featured an asymmetrical neckline that left one of her shoulders bare
Beaming: Monica appeared delighted to be at the event, smiling for the cameras, just days after speaking out about her affair with former president Bill Clinton
In an opinion piece written for Vanity Fair, Monica noted that, although the affair that led to impeachment proceedings against the former president was not sexual assault, she believes that it certainly ‘constituted a gross abuse of power’.
Speaking out about the Time’s Up and #MeToo movements, Monica added in her piece that she is ‘in awe of the sheer courage’ of women who have been confronting ‘entrenched beliefs and institutions’ in recent months.
Thoughtful: Her choice to wear a blue dress seems like provocative one, given how famous this blue dress became as a form of evidence to prove her affair with Clinton
She also admitted that she was recently moved to tears when a leader of the #MeToo movement told her: ‘I’m so sorry you were so alone.’
The former White House intern lauded the #MeToo movement for providing ‘the safety that comes from solidarity’ as she revealed that she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress from being ‘publicly outed and ostracized’ in the weeks, months, and years following her affair with Clinton.
President Clinton initially denied the affair before admitting to it in 1998; the Democrat was acquitted by the US senate.
Following the publication of her opinion piece, Monica’s choice of dress design at Sunday evening’s star-studded occasion was certainly a provocative one because it was a blue dress that first sparked the investigation into her relationship with Clinton back in November 1997.
At the time, Monica is said to have admitted to a close friend and confidant that she was still in possession of a Gap dress that was stained with semen from when she had performed oral sex on Clinton earlier that same year.
This dress was eventually used as a pivotal piece of evidence to tie Clinton to the affair, after he initially denied all involvement.
In recent years, Monica has been outspoken about the toll that the public scrutiny and criticism had on her, revealing that she suffered from a great deal of personal distress and trauma.
Now, however, she explained in Vanity Fair that she sees the affair in a new light – thanks in large part to the #MeToo movement.
Speaking out: In an opinion piece for Vanity Fair, Monica noted that, although her affair with Clinton was not a form of sexual assault, it was a ‘gross abuse of power’
A change: ‘Now, at 44, I’m beginning to consider the implications of the power differentials that were so vast between a president and a White House intern,’ she wrote
Praise: She also took the chance to celebrate the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements
‘There are many more women and men whose voices and stories need to be heard before mine,’ she wrote.
‘There are even some people who feel my White House experiences don’t have a place in this movement, as what transpired between Bill Clinton and myself was not sexual assault, although we now recognize that it constituted a gross abuse of power.
‘Now, at 44, I’m beginning to consider the implications of the power differentials that were so vast between a president and a White House intern.
‘I’m beginning to entertain the notion that in such a circumstance the idea of consent might well be rendered moot. Although power imbalances — and the ability to abuse them — do exist even when the sex has been consensual.’
She added: ‘[Bill Clinton] was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior, with enough life experience to know better. He was, at the time, at the pinnacle of his career, while I was in my first job out of college.’
Despite the piece putting her affair back at the top of the news agenda in recent days, Monica appeared determined not to let any controversy take a toll on her, smiling happily as she made her way into the Oscars event, happily smiling and posing for the waiting photographers.
Putting on a very glamorous display for the event, Monica accessorized her dress with a pair of gold heels, and wore her long brown hair in loose waves around her shoulders.
She finished off the look with a pair of large dangly earrings and a silver box clutch.