Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan, abbreviated as Cosmo, is a monthly women's magazine published in over 50 countries. The magazine, which is mostly ad-supported, contains short fictions and advice-oriented pieces on marriages, sex, clothing, entertainment, and jobs. The Cosmopolitan was founded in 1886 by Schlicht & Field Corporation as a family magazine devoted to fashion, home décor, cookery, and other household interests.

.

In 1889, John Brisben Walker acquired the journal and increased its distribution from 20000 to 400000 copies. Walker's Cosmopolitan developed into a prominent literary journal in the United States, publishing poems, travel columns, and short story collections with a heavy emphasis on community and educational change. By 1905, the journal had risen to a readership of two million and included literary stories as well as columns about celebrities and national issues.

.

When Helen Brown was appointed Cosmopolitan's first woman editor in 1964, the floundering magazine underwent a remarkable transformation. It started solely focusing on the preferences of young women under a new motto—"fun, brave, feminine." Its depiction of promiscuity, fertility control, and corporate professions created controversy in the 1960s. Yet, Brown's unflinching, candid treatment of the "Cosmo girl" lifestyle led to the slow shift of societal standards.

.

Founded in: 1886

Country: United States

Estimated annual revenue: $50M

Website: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/