Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe. The name itself signifies eternal beauty. She captured the hearts of the world in the mid-20th century and defined femininity and exquisiteness like no other. Her charm and elegance have inspired people for generations, and this is unlikely to dissolve any time soon.

Marilyn Monroe was only 36 when she was found dead in her Los Angeles home on 5th August 1962. There have been numerous conspiracies regarding her death, such as probable suicide through medicine overdose and murder by the mafia due to her rumoured affairs with the Kennedy brothers. There has even been outlandish speculation that she was killed because she knew too much about aliens! It has been said that Marilyn’s door was locked on the day of her death, and her maid had to contact her psychiatrist, Ralph Greenson. Upon his arrival, he had to break the door down; evidence such as police reports and phone call recordings and her secretive little red book had been lost or stolen. but he was too late because when he got to Marilyn, she was dead. Evidence such as police reports and phone call recordings and her secretive little red book has been lost or stolen. Key forensic evidence even went missing shortly after she died, or shall I say assumed to have died? Isn’t that strange? Yet again, it’s another wild speculation that she didn’t even die on that date. It is alleged that Marilyn was taken into a mental institution in Canada and stayed there for 20 years without being recognised for who she really was! This was supposedly because her psychiatrist was compelled due to her mental health condition getting worse, but yet again, there is a lack of evidence to even support this possibility.

Did she commit suicide, or was there more to her death? The reality is that we will probably never know the true cause of her death. If anything, this just adds more curiosity to her mysterious personality; however, this isn’t how the world remembers Marilyn Monroe.

She has left behind a remarkable iconic legacy and is acknowledged as one of the sexiest women in the history of world cinema. Marilyn is remembered as a charming, bold, charismatic actress and a wonderful, determined, and strong human being.

So how is it possible that Marilyn has continued to hold onto this legacy regardless of the enormous talent the film industry has seen since her death? Of course, the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind when we think of Marilyn Monroe is her exquisite beauty and bold scenes, but there is much more to Marilyn than her glamorous appearance. She created inspirational and dignified quotes, had a positive outlook on life, and was continuously fighting for survival and respect personally and professionally as an actress.

Now I’m going to share with you how I was first drawn to Marilyn and how I was then inspired by her quotes and ultimately just fell in love with her brave persona and optimistic attitude towards life. This is how it all began.

I was very young and watching TV with my sisters surrounding me. ‘Material Girl’ by Madonna was playing on the screen, and I was amazed by the creative choreography of the video. Seeing Madonna in a lovely silky pink dress adorned with sparkling diamonds around her neck whilst being surrounded by men that all wanted to be chosen by her. I told my sisters what a great video it was, which you can view by clicking here. My oldest sister revealed to me that she was imitating Marilyn Monroe. At that time, I had no idea who Marilyn Monroe was, and my sister eagerly told me that she was a famous Hollywood star. Marilyn Monroe? Although I never heard of her, I instantly imagined her to be an attractive woman, and I was excited to get a glimpse of her! I wanted to understand what was so fascinating about her that made Madonna of all people want to be like somebody called Marilyn Monroe.

I then saw the original video of Marilyn Monroe in a similar pink dress dancing to the famous song ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’ which you can view by clicking here. She was exactly how I imagined her to be, if not better! I said to my sister, ‘That’s Marilyn Monroe, isn’t it?’ She replied, ‘Yes—isn’t she beautiful?’ She was by far one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen, and I couldn’t help myself from smiling when looking at her. She just looked exceptional! She didn’t look as though she was wearing much makeup as her natural beauty simply shined through, and I was taken aback by those big, gorgeous yet innocent eyes. She wasn’t too slim and was rather voluptuous and curvy and created an image of breathtaking feminine beauty. She carried herself with confidence and had a sexy style. Her blonde hair was perfectly curled, and she was wearing her usual shiny red-rose lipstick, which became almost a brand for her, and of course that distinct beauty spot on her face that made her even more unique. I knew from that moment that this was a face and name that I would never forget.

At first, I thought Marilyn Monroe was just an iconic celebrity, but then I came across some of her quotes and realised she was more than just a beautiful (not pretty) face. Here are some of the most inspirational and admirable quotes that made me admire her more than I thought I could:

Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.

Nothing lasts forever, live it up, drink it down, laugh it off, avoid the drama, take chances and never have regrets, because at one point, everything that you did was exactly what you wanted.

To all the girls that think you’re ugly because you’re not a size 0. You’re the beautiful one – its society who’s ugly.

The real love is the man who can thrill you just by kissing your forehead.

Your clothes should be tight enough to show you’re a woman, but lose enough to show you’re a lady.

I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes and I’m hard to handle at times. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.

A girl doesn’t need anyone who doesn’t need her.

Dog’s never bite me…….just humans.

Remember there is nothing you lack, nothing to be self conscious about.

Keep smiling because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.

Marilyn came from a very different era compared to today. With all these inspirational and positive quotes, I imagined her to have had the perfect lifestyle. I assumed she was brought up in a high-class family where her parents had supported her choice of becoming an actress. I thought the man of her dreams would have married her and even thought she’d be a mother. Little did I know that she actually didn’t experience any of these common life expectancies. It made me realise that Marilyn would have gone through some difficult times, which shaped her positive outlook on life. I started to admire her for more than just her looks due to her sophisticated outlook on life and attitude towards people. Her quotes are more or less indicating that kindness can become the most attractive thing about someone, and she empowered people to make their hearts the most beautiful thing about them.

Her original name was Norma Jeane, and she was born on 1st June 1926. She struggled to be accepted throughout her life. She had an absent father whom she didn’t even know, and her mother suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and had to be placed in a mental hospital. Norma was brought up in several foster homes. She spent time in an orphanage and was even sexually abused as a child. Just like every child, she wanted to have a happy and fulfilling upbringing, but instead, she faced adversity. As part of dealing with her issues, she dreamed of becoming an actress where she could put on a show and ‘pretend’ to be the happiest person, whereas in reality, the battles that she was fighting never really ended. It appears that she was constantly dealing with people that were setting limitations for her right from the beginnings of her childhood and even later on in her career.

The media was much gentler during Marilyn’s reign as an actress. It was unlikely that journalists would want to focus on a celebrity’s background due to the lack of sources and because it was so time-consuming. However, in today’s generation, with just a click of a button, you can find out about a celebrity’s shoe size, let alone their upbringing. It is clear that journalists go to extreme lengths to poke their noses into even the smallest and unnecessary details.

It’s unlikely that the audience was aware of all the difficulties that she had faced as a child, and they probably wouldn’t have been as concerned about her past because they adored Marilyn, not Norma. Although she was burdened with pain in her heart for not knowing her real last name (and therefore not being aware of her roots), Norma dazzled the world when she transformed herself into Marilyn Monroe. She focused on being a new woman in a new environment. She created the blonde bombshell image on camera, but inside she was an intelligent girl who actually liked to write poetry. She always dreamed of being a star, and I reckon the inspiration behind this wasn’t just the money or the luxurious lifestyle that comes along with fame, but it was more to do with her ‘putting on a show’ as she entertained the world. It had more to do with the fact that she did a makeover and transformed herself to be adored as a new person and wanted to leave her troubled past in the past with Norma. She was attempting to hide her troubled misfortunes and instead concentrated on trying to be happy by expressing her bold personality with the world.

Marilyn had even helped American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, who was denied performing in a club due to her black race. Marilyn was adamant to allow Ella to sing and convinced the management that if they allowed Ella to perform, she promised to sit in the front row for a week. Although Marilyn didn’t have the best education and had an uneasy upbringing, that didn’t change her display of kindness to others, even if they were black and pursuing a career in a slightly similar profession. Whereas some people with the best education and upbringing can find it difficult to be kind in today’s generation, whether they are celebrities or not. I think this is another technique that Marilyn portrayed, which makes her inspirational and compassionate for many of us. There is a saying that “beauty attracts the eye, but personality captures the heart,” and Marilyn certainly owned this quote, as proven by the support she gave to her fellow friend. This fact also shows that Marilyn was way ahead of the people of her time. In a society rampant with racial segregation and prejudice, she obviously had an open mind and wasn’t scared of embracing change, which was a major concern for some people.

It is clear that she lived in an era where things were extremely different from what they are now. Health issues such as depression and anxiety have become increasingly common in our times. Whereas the times in which Marilyn grew up, I don’t think mental health was acknowledged or understood very well at that time. Several countries now have access to a wider range of health facilities, such as counselling, rehab, and better use of medicine compared to the era that Marilyn lived in.

Due to a lack of facilities and acceptance of mental health issues, I believe people like Norma, who were suffering a wide range of difficulties, had no choice but to deal with life the best way they could. I am assuming that she blocked out all of the confusion, loneliness, and darkness and would rather concentrate on moving forward with her life and her ultimate dream of becoming an actress. I am assuming that this would not have been easy for her in any way, but at one point what probably seemed a distant and impossible dream actually became reality for her when she became Marilyn. This shows that whatever difficulties we may be facing, factors such as optimism and positivity can determine you to fight for your dreams as though nothing else matters.

One of Marilyn’s last public appearances was on 19th May 1962, when she went to a function in New York to wish American President John. F. Kennedy a happy birthday, as he had just turned 45. She was wearing a sheer flesh-colour design that featured more than 2,500 hand-stitched crystals. Although she passed away 3 months later, the dress was auctioned in 2016 for a record-breaking £3.87 million ($4.8 million) as the most expensive piece of clothing to have ever been sold!

I honestly feel as though there is a bit of Marilyn Monroe in all of us. Just like one of her other quotes: ‘We are all stars, and we all deserve to twinkle,’ but we don’t all need to go into the film industry to twinkle. Whether it’s starting up a new business, writing a book, sharing your artwork, or something as simple as entering a cooking competition, we all deserve a shot to express ourselves and be praised for our unique virtues. You may win or you may not, but sometimes it’s not even about winning. Just because you don’t pick up the trophy at the end doesn’t mean you haven’t won. It’s more about the fact of going out there and showing the world what you’re really capable of. You’re already winning by being brave enough to take this step and sharing your magic with the world.

Norma pretended to be Marilyn because she wanted to be an actress and forget her misfortunes, but in reality, the film industry didn’t really make her life any easier. She had 3 failed marriages and 3 miscarriages. She even fought with the film industry for better roles and respect. She was given the reputation of the sexy and dumb blonde character, but Marilyn wanted much more than that. She wanted to be acknowledged as a better actress who was genuinely talented and wanted to feel appreciated at the same time.

She took a risk and broke her contract with Fox. Although they sued her, she was adamant and remained in charge of exactly what she wanted. They later came to a deal where she gained control over her movies, a pay raise, and a share of the profits. She had even set up her own production company that allowed her to take control of her scripts, roles, and choice of directors. Although she was battling with her own demons, she had won her war with Hollywood. She had taken on the system independently even during that era where equal opportunity for women was obviously still a big issue, but she had the guts to fight and stand up for what she knew she truly deserved.

It is clear that she is and will forever remain a big inspiration. She portrays confidence, beauty, and kindness and shines as a role model for countless women, both with her displays on stage and in her personal life. She took control over her career and her image and made an impact the world would never forget. She had fought her way from an unloved child to become the most adored film star of her generation. After everything that she went through and achieved through her representation, it’s no wonder that the world still impersonates Marilyn Monroe, let alone just Madonna! Her image remains even more alive today, and our love continues to grow for her as we are forever fascinated by Marilyn Monroe.

I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Norma got the right help. Before she became an actress, I imagine her going into a medical centre for counselling/psychiatrist, and she bumps into a man who is also getting help. They first create a friendship and then actually end up married together. She could have possibly had a few children and built a bond with someone who had experienced similar difficulties but, at the same time, was under no competition with one another and just concentrated on being happy with one another and had a simple yet fulfilling life.

There could also be another situation where she actually decides that she doesn’t want to or can’t commit to anyone due to her horrific childhood experiences. She is finding it too difficult to open up to anyone and can’t trust anyone, as she fears that she may be frowned upon if people discover that she was seeking help for her illness. Maybe she decides to be more independent and becomes self-employed where she owns a bakery shop. She can see families and friends coming into her shop and witness them being happy. This is more self-satisfying and fulfilling for her than being with a man who she fears would never understand her. She doesn’t have anyone to answer to and is happy in her own little world.

Although the death of Marilyn has created several speculations and people have even wondered what her real body measurements were, in the end, I don’t think any of this really matters. Marilyn’s appeal and lifestyle are so much more pleasing and interesting. She wanted nothing more than to be loved, and when we honour all her qualities and willpower, it is the best form of showing our love for Marilyn Monroe. It makes you realise her importance and the shock that the world faced when an ultimately inspiring woman was taken away from us. I find it extremely ironic that she was actually planning to remarry her ex-husband on Joe DiMaggio on 8th August 1962, but instead of her wedding day, it turned out to be her funeral instead.

While researching Marilyn for this article, I have realised that her fame is a major cause of her death. Just like many other celebrities that have made an everlasting impact in the world, the true cause of their deaths hasn’t been discovered. With all the benefits of being a celebrity, such as money, loyal fans, and record-breaking facts, along with all of this can sometimes include an unknown cause of death, and that’s a price that celebrities such as Marilyn have had to pay for due to her fame.

I hope after getting to know more about Marilyn’s journey that you also feel inspired to become a confident and kind person regardless of your troubles, just like the well-known quote, ‘Be kind to one another as we are all fighting a battle that no one knows about’.

On writing this article about Marilyn, one thing is for sure about this woman. Whether it was Norma or Marilyn, and regardless of how much money she had earned, her act of kindness never changed. She empowered women to be confident with her unique sense of elegance and poise. Let’s cherish the spirit of femininity and glamour that she created and shared with the world. Not only women, but let us all become confident and start to recognise our qualities and start admiring them.

Oh, and for the record… SHE WAS NO DUMB BLONDE!