Candace Bushnell is a celebrated American author, journalist, and television producer best known for creating Sex and the City, the cultural phenomenon that reshaped how modern relationships, friendships, and female independence are portrayed in media. Through her sharp wit and honest storytelling, Bushnell has left a lasting mark on literature, television, and pop culture.
Early Life and Education
Candace Bushnell was born on December 1, 1958, in Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA. She grew up in a family that valued creativity—her father was a magazine publisher, which exposed her to writing and storytelling at an early age. Bushnell later attended Rice University and eventually moved to New York City, a place that would become central to both her life and her writing.
Career Beginnings in Journalism
Bushnell began her career as a freelance journalist in New York City. She wrote for several publications, including Mademoiselle and The New York Observer. Her real breakthrough came in the mid-1990s when she began writing a weekly column titled “Sex and the City” for The New York Observer. The column, which chronicled the dating lives of single women in Manhattan, was based loosely on her own experiences and observations.
The Birth of Sex and the City
In 1996, Bushnell’s columns were published as a book titled Sex and the City. The book caught the attention of television producers and was later adapted into the HBO series Sex and the City, which premiered in 1998.
The show starred Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, a fictionalized version of Bushnell herself. The series became a global sensation, running for six seasons and later spawning two feature films and a reboot series. It broke barriers by openly discussing female sexuality, career ambition, and the complexities of modern relationships.
Other Notable Books by Candace Bushnell
While Sex and the City remains her most famous work, Candace Bushnell has written several other successful novels, many of which were also adapted for television:
- Four Blondes (2000)
- Trading Up (2003)
- Lipstick Jungle (2005) – adapted into an NBC television series
- The Carrie Diaries (2010) – later adapted into a TV series on The CW
- Is There Still Sex in the City? (2019)
Her writing often explores themes of love, ambition, wealth, aging, and identity, particularly through the lens of independent women navigating urban life.
Personal Life
Candace Bushnell has been open about her personal experiences, including relationships and marriage. She married ballet dancer Charles Askegard in 2002, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2012. Many of her later works reflect her insights on love, marriage, and life after divorce, offering a more mature perspective on relationships.
Influence on Pop Culture
Bushnell’s impact on pop culture is immense. Sex and the City not only influenced television storytelling but also fashion trends, lifestyle conversations, and the portrayal of women in media. The show’s emphasis on friendship, independence, and self-expression resonated with audiences worldwide and continues to attract new fans decades later.
She is often credited with helping normalize candid discussions about dating, sex, and emotional vulnerability among women, making her a pioneering voice in modern feminist storytelling.
Where Is Candace Bushnell Now?
Today, Candace Bushnell continues to write, speak, and create. She has toured internationally with her one-woman stage show based on Is There Still Sex in the City?, blending storytelling, humor, and social commentary. She remains an influential figure, frequently reflecting on how relationships and gender roles have evolved over time.
Final Thoughts
Candace Bushnell is more than the creator of Sex and the City—she is a cultural trailblazer who changed how women’s stories are told. Through her fearless honesty and sharp observations, she has given voice to generations of women navigating love, career, and identity in an ever-changing world. Whether through books, television, or live performances, her work continues to inspire and entertain audiences around the globe.
(FAQs) About Candace Bushnell
1. Who is Candace Bushnell?
Candace Bushnell is an American author, journalist, and television producer best known for creating Sex and the City, which began as a newspaper column and later became a globally successful TV series and film franchise.
2. What is Candace Bushnell famous for?
She is most famous for Sex and the City, a cultural phenomenon that transformed modern television by openly exploring women’s friendships, dating, sexuality, and career ambitions.
3. Is Sex and the City based on Candace Bushnell’s real life?
Yes, the series is loosely based on Bushnell’s real-life experiences and observations as a single woman living in New York City. The character Carrie Bradshaw is widely considered a fictionalized version of Bushnell.
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4. What books has Candace Bushnell written?
Some of her most popular books include:
- Sex and the City
- Four Blondes
- Trading Up
- Lipstick Jungle
- The Carrie Diaries
- Is There Still Sex in the City?
5. Did Candace Bushnell work in journalism?
Yes, she started her career as a journalist and wrote for publications such as The New York Observer and Mademoiselle. Her famous Sex and the City column was published in The New York Observer.
6. Was Candace Bushnell married?
Yes, Candace Bushnell married ballet dancer Charles Askegard in 2002. The couple later divorced in 2012, an experience that influenced her later writing.
7. Has Candace Bushnell’s work been adapted for television?
Yes, several of her books have been adapted for TV, including Sex and the City, Lipstick Jungle, and The Carrie Diaries.
8. Is Candace Bushnell involved in And Just Like That…?
While And Just Like That… is inspired by the Sex and the City universe she created, Bushnell is not a regular writer on the series. However, the show is based on characters and concepts she originally developed.
9. What themes does Candace Bushnell explore in her writing?
Her work often focuses on love, relationships, female friendship, independence, ambition, aging, and life in urban settings, especially New York City.
10. Is Candace Bushnell still active today?
Yes, Candace Bushnell remains active as a writer and performer. She continues to publish books and tour with her one-woman stage show, sharing insights on modern relationships and women’s lives.
