The rise of the best-selling author Helen Gurley Brown

Helen Gurley Brown made a name for herself as one of the most prominent authors since the ’60s. She gained popularity when she released the revolutionary write-up, “S*x and the Single Girl,” in 1962. The book reached 28 countries and dominated the best-seller lists for more than a year. In just three weeks, it sold two million copies. In 1964, it inspired a movie of the same title.

Brown’s career furthered when she became the editor-in-chief of “Cosmopolitan” magazine, a role she filled in for 32 years. She was known for her outspoken stance on women’s empowerment. “Slate” ranked her as the 13th most powerful American over the age of 80.