THE LOVE LIST

Share this post
Confessions of a Thirty-Something Cosmogirl
www.thelovelist.wtf

Confessions of a Thirty-Something Cosmogirl

Jess Graves
Sep 26, 2021
Comment1
Share
Atoosa Rubenstein’s famous Cosmogirl! editor’s letters. Me now, and at an awkward age 14. (Thank God my eyebrows grew back.)

Hi. So this is a fun story. When I was around 14, I (like many of you) worshipped at the altar of Cosmogirl! magazine — and by extension, their enigmatic Editor-in-Chief, Atoosa Rubenstein.

Atoosa was a venerable (and quite famous) force in the magazine industry. Back then, I wrote her a letter to tell her that one day, I wanted to be a writer and work in magazines like her. 

Atoosa penned a monthly Editor’s letter where she dispensed friendly, zero-BS advice. She didn’t pander to us. Instead, she spoke to teenage girls like the capable women they were about to become. Looking back, I realize how formative her work was to my own.  

Slate recently published a feature by Heather Schwedel on Atoosa’s return to the public eye. In the interview, she mentioned launching a Substack newsletter, encouraging reader submissions. On a lark, I sent her an essay drafted in 2020. 

20 years later, I got a reply from Atoosa.

She gave me encouragement, her phone number, and — over many emails — some very profound edits to my essay. Then, she published it.

I haven’t had anyone believe in me that way in a long time.

So today, instead of a normal newsletter, I’m writing you this. It’s a very moving full-circle moment.

Read the Essay Here

If there are any other grown-up Cosmogirls out there, hi — I see you. This one is especially for you.

(And thank you, Atoosa 🤍)

Comment1
ShareShare

Create your profile

0 subscriptions will be displayed on your profile (edit)

Skip for now

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.

Atoosa Rubenstein
Writes Atoosa Unedited ·Sep 26, 2021

😭this is the second time you made me cry in one week! 😭

Expand full comment
ReplyGive gift
TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2022 Jess Graves
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Publish on Substack Get the app
Substack is the home for great writing