Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
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Bessette-Kennedy at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, May 1999
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Carolyn Jeanne Bessette
January 7, 1966 White Plains, New York, U.S.
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| Died | July 16, 1999 (aged 33) |
| Cause of death | Plane crash |
| Alma mater | Boston University |
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Carolyn Jeanne Bessette-Kennedy (born January 7, 1966 – died July 16, 1999) was an American publicist who worked for the fashion company Calvin Klein. She became very well-known after she married John F. Kennedy Jr., who was the son of President John F. Kennedy. People often compared her style to that of her mother-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Sadly, Carolyn, her husband, and her older sister, Lauren, died in a plane crash on July 16, 1999. The accident happened off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.
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Early Life and School
Carolyn Bessette was born in White Plains, New York, in 1966. She was the youngest of three daughters. Her father, William J. Bessette, was an engineer, and her mother, Ann Messina, worked in the New York City school system. Carolyn had two older twin sisters, Lauren and Lisa.
When Carolyn was very young, her parents divorced. Her mother later married Richard Freeman, who was a surgeon. They moved to Old Greenwich, Connecticut. Carolyn's father stayed in White Plains.
Carolyn went to Juniper Hill Elementary School, where her mother sometimes worked as a substitute teacher. She later attended St. Mary's High School. At St. Mary's, her classmates voted her the "Ultimate Beautiful Person." She was known for being popular and attending many social events. She had started high school at Greenwich High School, but her parents moved her to St. Mary's because they wanted her to focus more on her studies.
After finishing high school in 1984, Carolyn went to Boston University. She studied elementary education and graduated in 1988. While in college, she dated John Cullen, a star player on the school's ice hockey team. He later played professional hockey.
For a short time, Carolyn tried to be a model. She even had professional photos taken for her portfolio. Although she didn't become a famous model, she did appear on the cover of Boston University's calendar, "The Girls of B.U."
Working at Calvin Klein
After college, Carolyn worked for the American fashion brand Calvin Klein. She started as a saleswoman in a store in Newton, Massachusetts. She then moved up to become the director of publicity for the company's main store in Manhattan.
A sales coordinator for Calvin Klein, Susan Sokol, noticed Carolyn's elegant style. Susan recommended her for a job working with important clients, like famous actress Annette Bening and newscaster Diane Sawyer. By the time she left Calvin Klein, Carolyn was in charge of organizing fashion shows and earned a good salary.
Meeting John F. Kennedy Jr.
Carolyn first met John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1992. At that time, he was dating actress Daryl Hannah. Carolyn and John started dating in 1994. They quickly became a favorite target for paparazzi, who are photographers who follow famous people. Gossip magazines wrote about where they ate and shopped. Paparazzi often waited outside their apartment in Tribeca, New York, to take pictures.
In 1994, Carolyn met John's uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy. After they got married, the senator told reporters that he could tell right away there was "something special" between them. Carolyn moved into John's apartment in the summer of 1995. They got engaged later that year. She left her job at Calvin Klein in the spring of 1996.
A Secret Wedding
John and Carolyn managed to keep their wedding a secret from the media. They got married on September 21, 1996. The ceremony was held by candlelight on a quiet island in Georgia called Cumberland. It took place in a small wooden church called the First African Baptist Church.
Carolyn chose a simple, elegant wedding dress made of pearl-white silk. It was designed by Narciso Rodriguez, who was not very well-known at the time. John's older sister, Caroline Kennedy, was the matron of honor. His cousin, Anthony Radziwill, was his best man. Caroline's daughters, Tatiana and Rose, were flower girls, and her son Jack was the ring bearer. After the wedding, the couple went to Turkey for their honeymoon.
Life as a Married Couple
After the wedding, the media paid even more attention to the couple. Carolyn found it hard to deal with the constant attention from the paparazzi. When they returned from their honeymoon, many reporters were waiting at their home.
John asked the public to give Carolyn privacy. He said, "Getting married is a big adjustment for us, and for a private citizen like Carolyn even more so. I ask you to give her all the privacy and room you can."
Carolyn felt overwhelmed by the paparazzi. She told a friend that the only way to avoid them was to leave her apartment very early in the morning. She also felt it was difficult to get a job without people thinking she was using her fame. Her simple, stylish fashion sense was often written about in fashion magazines. Many people compared her style to that of her mother-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Even though there was a lot of interest in them, Carolyn refused to give interviews. She also turned down offers to appear in fashion magazines. Later in her life, Carolyn became more involved in charity work. She often went with her husband to dinners at the White House. President Bill Clinton gave them a tour of the White House in March 1998. Carolyn also helped host parties for her husband's political magazine, George.
Like many couples, John and Carolyn faced challenges in their marriage. Despite some reports of difficulties, close friends said that the idea of them getting a divorce was not true. Robert Littell, a friend who spent time with them a week before they died, also said they were not living apart.
Plane Crash and Death
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy died on July 16, 1999. Her husband, John F. Kennedy Jr., was piloting a small plane that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. Carolyn's older sister, Lauren, was also on board and died in the crash. The accident happened off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the crash. They concluded that the pilot lost control of the plane while flying over water at night. This was likely due to something called "spatial disorientation," which means losing your sense of direction and position. Haze and the dark night were also factors in the accident.
After a five-day search, the plane's wreckage was found on July 21. The Kennedy and Bessette families then announced plans for memorial services to honor their loved ones.
See also
In Spanish: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy para niños
- Kennedy curse
