How a struggling freelance journalist turned her dating life into a global cultural phenomenon
In short: Candace Bushnell arrived in New York City at nineteen, spending years struggling to make ends meet before her New York Observer column, Sex and the City, launched her to international stardom. Her observations on dating and lifestyle became a defining cultural touchstone, spawning hit television series, films, and bestselling novels.
Born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, in 1958, Candace Bushnell moved to New York in the late 1970s. Her early career was defined by freelance journalism and the pursuit of creative success, including an unpublished children's book sold to Simon & Schuster at nineteen. It was not until 1994 that she began the column for The New York Observer that would change her life. By documenting her own dating experiences and those of her social circle, she created the character Carrie Bradshaw—an alter ego who became the face of a generation of urban, career-focused women.
The success of the Sex and the City anthology led to the iconic HBO series, which aired from 1998 to 2004. Bushnell’s influence expanded through a series of international bestsellers, including 4 Blondes, Lipstick Jungle, and The Carrie Diaries. Her work often explored the complexities of modern womanhood, moving from the high-stakes dating scene of Manhattan to the specific challenges faced by women over forty in the workplace, as seen in her web series, The Broadroom.
Beyond her writing, Bushnell’s life has been marked by unique intersections of high culture and personal legal battles. She was married to New York City Ballet principal dancer Charles Askegard from 2002 to 2011, an experience she later described as disorienting, particularly regarding the societal shifts that accompany divorce. Her professional life also faced friction, including a 2012 federal lawsuit from former manager Clifford Streit over earnings from the Sex and the City franchise, and a refusal to accept a pay cut during her tenure at Sirius Satellite Radio in 2008.
Today, Bushnell remains a significant figure in popular culture, continuing to write about the evolving nature of relationships and identity. Her journey from a struggling writer frequenting Studio 54 to a globally recognized author highlights the power of transforming personal observation into a broader cultural narrative, even as she navigates the complexities of fame, financial disputes, and the shifting landscape of the media industry.
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