Carolyn Bessette is Gen Z’s newest cool girl obsession after Love Story

The 'cool girl' reinvented

And honestly, can we blame them? The man knew how to dress, something the new FX/Hulu series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette by Ryan Murphy makes very clear.

While the men are busy gushing over their rediscovery of ’90s fashion, the girls are captivated by Carolyn Bessette. And rightfully so.

Her portrayal in the nine-part series, which traces her romantic yet doomed love story with JFK Jr., gives the 2026 cool girl archetype a serious run for her money.

We’ve all heard it before: “Just play it cool. Be nonchalant. Don’t show how much you care.” The promise is that if you act aloof, men will magically come running.

I’ve always thought the cool girl persona was a little outdated, rooted in internalised misogyny, and frankly... borderline boring.

Coming from someone who will cry through any rom-com and turn bright red if a man even glances my way, I’ve always been more of a “what you see is what you get” kind of girl. But after watching the first few episodes of Love Story, the idea of the ‘cool girl’ takes on a whole new meaning.

The series shows just how unbothered Carolyn was when NYC’s arguably most eligible bachelor came calling. From refusing to give him her number to not agreeing to a second date, Carolyn could teach us all a masterclass in decentering men.

And here’s the thing, for Carolyn, it’s not a performance. 

It’s not a calculated move to 'get the man'. Carolyn really is that unbothered. She’s rising through the ranks at Calvin Klein, surrounded by her girlfriends, and let’s be honest, male attention has never been in short supply. She seemingly has it all.

So, when the pair meet at a Calvin Klein party, Carolyn is her witty, borderline rude, and effortlessly charming self, and just like that, JFK Jr. is hooked.

“You could be a serial killer for all I know,” she says coolly after he asks for her number. Instead of walking away, John offers her his, to which she replies, “I don’t want to get your hopes up.”

Now that is playing it cool at a whole new level.

From the start, it's clear the ball is in Carolyn’s court. And as Vogue Writer Olivia Peter points out, what makes their relationship so compelling is how it quietly flips the expected power dynamic.

John F. Kennedy Jr. may have lived in a world that indulged his every whim, but between the two of them, it’s Bessette who sets the tone and calls the shots.

Murphy’s Love Story is based on Elizabeth Beller’s Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, which mirrors the couple’s real-life dynamic, making Carolyn’s portrayal even more magnetic.

It’s no wonder the internet is obsessed. Her cool girl persona isn’t performative; it’s grounded in self-respect, values, and ambition. 

It’s almost refreshing to see a love story where the woman stays true to herself while still opening her heart to the one man whose title could change everything.

And yet, despite his notoriety and fame, Carolyn never loses herself. She is witty, sharp, and unapologetically present in her own life, proving that love doesn’t have to dilute independence, and that’s pretty damn cool.