Jane magazine, launched with much fanfare in 1997, will cease publication, according to publisher Conde Nast.

The magazine's August issue will be its last, the company said Monday.

"We worked diligently to make Jane a success. However, we have come to believe that the magazine and website will not fulfil our long-term business expectations," Charles Townsend, chief executive of Conde Nast Publications, said in a statement.

Jane was founded by its titular editor, Jane Pratt, who pledged to create a different publication from the usual makeup and fashion articles in most women's magazines.

Originally targeted at women ages 19 to 34, the magazine's first cover girl was actress Drew Barrymore.

Pratt had been at the head of Sassy, a teen magazine with a cult following that covered topics that other glossies stayed away from, writing frankly on issues such as sex. When Sassy folded in 1994, many readers mourned its demise.

Pratt's answer was to bring Sassy back, for the teens who graduated into college and beyond. Jane was an older Sassy, but still smart and irreverent.

Eventually, Jane veered into celebrity territory, allowing some stars to become editors. Canadian Pam Anderson was among the first to sign up, and began writing a regular column in 2002.

Pratt left the magazine in 2005.

Conde Nast, which publishes Vogue and GQ, among other magazine, said Jane struggled with advertising.

It had a total average paid circulation of 706,561, according to the latest data on the company's website.

With files from the Associated Press