Being John F. Kennedy Jr.’s girlfriend was no easy feat for Carolyn Bessette. The public scrutiny and constant attention from the paparazzi made her life incredibly stressful. Fans and fashion magazines dissected every aspect of her wardrobe whenever she stepped out of her apartment. In a new biography by Elizabeth Beller titled Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the author reveals just how consumed Bessette was with transforming herself into the perfect companion for the Kennedy heir.
Bessette felt the weight of living up to the iconic Jackie Kennedy, despite never having the opportunity to meet her future husband’s mother before her death in 1994. Jackie’s timeless fashion sense became a significant influence on Bessette’s own style. Her transformation began in February 1996 when celebrity colorist Brad Johns turned her light brown hair into a stunning shade of golden blonde. Bessette also embraced the trend of pencil-thin eyebrows and felt the pressure to maintain a thinner physique, even though she was already in great shape. However, her friends were not particularly fond of this transformation.
According to Beller’s book, Bessette’s friend MJ Bettenhausen believed that the makeover did not reflect Bessette’s authentic self. Bettenhausen stated, “She was always fit and had a beautiful figure, but she became so thin and pale…I think she felt she had to fit in, to be what she thought people expected a Kennedy to be.” Bettenhausen believed that given time, Bessette would have discovered her own unique fashion voice. The public persona she presented, however, was merely a facade.
Another friend of Bessette’s, Michelle Kessler, found it amusing to think of Bessette as a fashion icon. Kessler revealed, “She was trying to be nothing of the sort. Carolyn was trying to have an interesting life and go about her day without interruption.” Little did anyone know the tragedy that awaited Bessette, JFK Jr., and her sister Lauren Bessette in 1999. Nevertheless, Bessette’s chic style, characterized by her love for neutral colors, almost feels like a precursor to Meghan Markle’s post-royal wardrobe.
Bessette also had to follow in the footsteps of JFK Jr.’s previous girlfriend, Daryl Hannah, who was not favored by Jackie due to her acting career. It is likely that Jackie would have adored her future daughter-in-law if they had the chance to meet. Perhaps then Bessette would have found her own unique fashion voice, one that truly reflected her authentic self behind closed doors.
Before you leave, click here to see photos of JFK and Jackie O.’s grown-up grandkids.
