A return to grace

By Vanessa Grigoriadis

Monica may still be Monica, just like it says on her apartment door, but today she runs her own handbag company, The Real Monica Inc. She's also a sought-after guest at fashion shows, trendy restaurants, club openings, and VIP-list-only events.

After spending so long as a virtual pariah, Lewinsky pretty much goes where she's asked, from a "100 Hottest Bachelors" party to Vanity Fair's A-list Oscar party (where she sat at the same table as Kevin Spacey and DreamWorks partner Jeffrey Katzenberg, both, ironically, big Clinton supporters).

Last month, Lewinsky signed up to appear in a TV documentary that will chronicle her role in the Clinton scandal. Now that she's no longer bound by her immunity agreement, Lewinsky says, she will finally set the record straight about the year leading to the impeachment of the president - a series of events she refers to as "that whole thing".

The other night, I was thinking about that whole thing," says Lewinsky, now 27. "I couldn't leave my house. Outside were reporters and camera vans. I was like this prisoner. Then, my mother let me go out on the balcony. I started crying. She said, 'Don't you see, Monica, this is a big victory! Today you're on the balcony, in a month you might walk to the corner, and someday, in a couple of years, your life will almost be normal'."

Her life may not exactly be normal, but she loves New York. "Sometimes," Lewinsky says, her famous mouth curling into a toothy grin, "I feel like the whole city is giving me a big hug."

People stop to introduce her to their dogs, she gets extra whipped cream on her hot chocolate, maitre d' s kiss her on both cheeks and give her the best table, customers often send over a piece of pie ("Well, if I have to ...." she jokes, digging in).

She hangs out with a group that includes Victoria Leacock, best known as the author of a book of drawings by celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. 

Lewinsky's past, however, still lives on in kneeling-Monica mousepads, Monica cigars, Monica stain remover, Monica's Guide to Dating, and even an internet guide to the "Top 100 Monica Sites". In February, David Letterman's Top 10 on "How boring was George W. Bush's speech?" had as its No. 1 answer: "It was so boring, Monica got up from under the podium and left."

But being Lewinsky has its benefits, among them her new range of eponymous bags. The business is based in her one-bedroom apartment in Greenwich Village. In a corner is a treadmill which she says she uses three times a week. There are roses everywhere. About two dozen paintings of roses hang on her walls, she's got rose tea sets, rose mugs, rose doormats. "I love roses...." says Monica. "I always have, the way they smell ...."

There is something in Lewinsky that seems younger than her 27 years - "Maybe it's because I was a 21-year-old intern for five years," she says. She no longer drinks during her troubles, she had a tendency to overdo it.

What's difficult for me is that people have formed opinions of me based on a year during which I wasn't able to define myself," she says, perched stiffly on her sofa. "And that's not a true reflection of who I am."

What becomes clear after the tour of her apartment, however, is her passion for projects. She seems to have a new one each day, like sewing cloth roses onto a top, or seeing what she can do with a staple gun that attaches rhinestones to jean jackets. 

While Lewinsky has friends in New York, it hasn't always been easy to find a boyfriend. She's had one serious relationship since she's been in the city, with filmmaker Mick Reed, but right now, she's available - "very available," she says, laughing.

She's very much aware of the things she is called: liar, stalker. Because of her past, many of the plans she had made for her future are no longer viable. At one point, she had planned to go to graduate school to study psychology; more recently, she's pondered trekking in Nepal.

But right now there are few options for her other than being Lewinsky. "It's not like I can just go and get a job somewhere," she explains. "People aren't jumping to hire me." One failed business plan was the much-publicised $1 million endorsement deal with a diet company, which required her to lose 40lbs in six months. Lewinsky lost 31lbs, received negative press about her as a role model, and ended up with only $300,000. She says she's now considering legal action. "I have to be careful though. They could come after me, and God knows I can't afford that."

(Evening Standard)

Look your best

By Nedra Wickremesinghe

A: Why should anyone hire a clever but sloppily attired and ill-groomed candidate - when there are dozens of others with equally good track records, who have taken the trouble to look presentable. Careless appearance may indicate an indifferent attitude to work.

Appearance or image is the first non-verbal message that you convey. Here you are trying to make a statement of some kind. It is about how well you package yourself to reflect favourable impressions like how professional, smart and successful you are. More often than not, we form opinions of others, to a large extent, on what we see. Therefore, your appearance must project the best about you. 

Q: After the interview, if I don't hear from the prospective employer, is it alright to phone and inquire as to what has happened?

A: No harm done in inquiring from the personnel manager, but don't expect a detailed evaluation of your performance. Most companies respond after a period of time. Another approach would be to send a 'thank you' note soon after your interview. It is better to make the follow-up call after the thank you note reaches the interviewer. Chances are that you may be remembered better. 

Q: I have intentions of applying for another job and this particular position seems like the break I have been waiting for. The interview may be over lunch. Please tell me how best I should prepare myself. 

A: Set out with a positive mind-set. Tell yourself that you have been selected for the interview as you possess the necessary qualifications, experience and skills and that the organization is looking for someone like you. You must also know that you will be evaluated on their idea of standards - yet they need you, and it is for you to convince them that you are the best suited for the job.

As for the interview over lunch; Treat it as a test and not as an afternoon treat because you are hungry. You are being observed for your sociability, refinement, competence and your ability to handle tricky situations with ease. You must be immaculate. Choose your ensemble with care so that it complements you. Make sure your outfit is clean, smart and well-pressed. Pay attention to the close-ups like hair, nails, make-up and the smell-good factor. Be charming and exhibit good manners and table etiquette. Be compliant with the host with regard to ordering the meal etc. 

Appear to enjoy the interview more than the food. Answer questions positively and enthusiastically and sound sincere. Thank the host for his time and the meal. 
If you have any questions on etiquette, write in to: 'Small Talk' C/o The Sunday Times 8, Hunipitiya Cross Road, Colombo 2

or, e-mail: nedra@eureka.lk

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