Remembering Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926. After a rather tumultuous childhood spent in foster homes and orphanages, and scarred with memories of her mother’s mental episodes and abuse by distant family members, Monroe shot to fame at a young age after a few minor film appearances. The enigma of Marilyn and her oozing sensuousness make her the quintessential American sex symbol. Despite the hype and fame, there are many truths of her life that are little known. We spill the beans on the phenomenon that was Marilyn Monroe:

1. Monroe was naturally a brunette, but bleached her hair golden blonde after learning that modelling agencies were more interested in blonde models. And blonde hair is not all that created the identity of Monroe. Ben Lyon, a film studio executive and Hollywood actor, and his wife, Bebe Daniels, personally created Monroe’s stage name after trying various combinations. They didn’t like her original name Norma Jean and decided they needed an uncommon and ‘sexy ‘name for the soon to be launched Hollywood bombshell.

2. Marilyn married thrice. Her first marriage was to her neighbour, James Dougherty, when she was only 16 years old. Dougherty was enlisted in the US merchant marines in 1943 during the Second World War, and so Monroe moved in with Dougherty’s mother. It was during this separation that Monroe was spotted by a photographer working on a military weekly magazine’s assignment and was encouraged to apply to the Blue Book Modelling Agency. After their divorce, it is said that Dougherty’s second wife forbade him from watching any films starring Marilyn Monroe.

3. Marilyn’s second marriage was to the famous baseball player Joe DiMaggio in January 1954, and ended shortly after in November 1954. The two had a highly glamorous and publicized relationship which ended rather abruptly. Despite that the two stayed in touch, and when Monroe was suffering from poor health and was admitted in a rehab facility, DiMaggio flew down to see her. He also organized her funeral and it is said that for 20 years post her death, DiMaggio had roses sent to her crypt thrice a week.

4. Marilyn’s third marriage to Arthur Miller lasted the longest, from 1956 to 1961. She met the playwright in Hollywood in 1955, after her divorce to Joe DiMaggio. Before her divorce to Miller, Monroe’s health had taken a bad turn and her addiction to alcohol and prescription medications was beginning to consume her. Just before her death on August 5, 1962, Monroe’s professional persona had suffered greatly too, as she was becoming increasingly infamous for skipping shoots and showing up late to work. Her death was first said to be a suicide caused by an overdose of prescription medicines; however there have been several speculations about her being a victim of a planned murder. 50 years since her passing away, the cause of her death continues to remain a mystery.

5. Monroe was famous of her high profile relationships, whether it was Joe DiMaggio or Arthur Miller, both of whom she married and later divorced, or Marlon Brando or the Kennedy brothers, John and Robert, with whom she allegedly had affairs. Her performance of Happy Birthday at former President John F. Kennedy’s birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden was controversial and her most high profile public performance. Controversy never left Monroe’s side; she was the first woman to pose for the Playboy cover and had even posed nude for the first Playboy issue. She won the honour of the first Playboy sweetheart. Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, has previously said that the initial success of his magazine can be attributed to Monroe. He wanted his lucky charm to be by his side even after death, that he booked the crypt next to hers at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery for himself. A little known fact is that Hugh Hefner never actually met his first Playmate.

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Best Looks Of Marilyn Monroe