Marilyn Monroe, the top sex symbol of the twentieth century, gained fame through her stunning looks, film roles, and iconic photographs. However, many are unaware of the journey she took to achieve this recognition and her success as an entrepreneur. Despite facing challenges like everyone else, Monroe consistently overcame them. In her teenage years, Monroe’s beauty caught the attention of suitors and she married Jim Dougherty at sixteen. Although arranged, their marriage brought happiness and sexual compatibility according to Dougherty himself (Wayne 14). Two years into their union, Jim was stationed in Australia which made them realize their deep need for each other. During his absence, Marilyn worked in a defense plant in the Pacific where she diligently packed and inspected parachutes for the war effort.
Married to Jim, Marilyn experienced a heightened sexuality and developed a desire for attention, leading her to frequent bars and engage in the profession commonly known as “call girl”. This allowed her to fulfill her need for attention and earn additional income.
Marilyn was unsure of her future and lacked the necessary skills to support herself in case something happened to her marriage. She anticipated the end of her marriage due to their growing apart, partly influenced by the war. Despite these challenges, Marilyn continued working at the defense plant. This decision had a profound impact on her life.
In her town, there was a company called Yank magazine, and they decided to feature a column on women working in defense plants. The photographer assigned to this task was David Conover. When he first saw Marilyn working in the plant, he instantly knew she was the one. Conover requested the foreman if she could be his model for three days and was highly impressed with the resulting pictures. He even offered her additional modeling opportunities in the future (Wayne 32). This experience exhilarated Marilyn, and she became infatuated with modeling. She found it to be thrilling and glamorous, solidifying her decision to pursue modeling as her career. Soon after, everything started falling into place for her. Blue Book Model Agency, upon seeing her pictures, approached her with modeling opportunities.
More modeling jobs were what clinched and launched Marilyn’s new career as a model. She continued working at the defense plant to supplement her income.
Despite holding a job at a defense plant and attending charm school in the evenings, Marilyn frequently prioritized modeling gigs over her obligations. This caused strain in her relationship with her husband as she neglected to correspond with him, ultimately resulting in their divorce. Jim received the official legal separation documents in the spring of 1946 after being married for four years. Nevertheless, Marilyn had no regrets and directed all her attention towards her burgeoning fame in Hollywood, where she pursued an acting career.
Marilyn Monroe, though not the first blonde to gain fame in Hollywood, became renowned for her physical appearance rather than her acting talents. Despite the existence of more skilled actresses prior to her, Marilyn’s unique charm and vibrancy surpassed all others. Her voluptuous figure and genuine laughter overshadowed any other qualities she possessed. Consequently, audiences were primarily captivated by her allure rather than her ability as an actress. Thus, Marilyn Monroe emerged as one of the most iconic sex symbols of the 20th century.
Marilyn Monroe’s modeling career played a significant role in securing the movie roles she desired. Her beauty attracted people to movie theaters, and she was often described as “Dazzling, Seductive, Extraordinary.” Marilyn captivated the world with her youthful allure and remains an iconic sex symbol. Both men and Hollywood found her irresistible, with some even offering money to see her nude or be intimate with her. Despite the attention, Marilyn knew how to keep her fans interested in her life. In 1962, she caused a sensation by performing a nude scene during one of her movies—an unprecedented move at that time. This created such an uproar that magazines like Life, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan arranged interviews with Marilyn. Playboy even paid a record-breaking $25,000 for her most revealing nudes and continued their association with Marilyn as she became their centerfold in subsequent years.
One of Playboy’s most famous issues was about to be released. Marilyn had become renowned solely for her looks and was branded with the stereotype of being a “blonde”.
During her career, Hollywood portrayed Marilyn with the stereotype of a beautiful but unintelligent blonde, which ultimately became her lasting image. Looking back at her accomplishments, Marilyn realized she would never be able to shake off this perception. Every noteworthy event in her life that contributed to her fame was somehow associated with her being a ditzy blonde. For instance, her Monroe Nude calendar only reinforced the idea of her as an unintelligent blonde with a nice figure. This stereotype continued to be perpetuated in her movies as well, such as her portrayal of a typical dumb blonde waitress in her first film. Not helping matters, Marilyn also engaged in actions that furthered this stereotype, like serving her husband only peas and carrots because she liked their colors or mistakenly putting salt in his coffee. The label of being a “blonde” that followed her throughout her career brought fame but ultimately led to her downfall, as she acquired the tragic public image of a sensitive and insecure woman destroyed by the pressures of Hollywood (Britannica 1).career, the manipulated image created by Hollywood had detrimental effects, not only on her professional life but also on her personal life.
Most people tend to focus on Marilyn Monroe’s career when thinking about her, but what is less known or discussed are the men and affairs in her life.
Marilyn Monroe had a multitude of men in her life, often due to her growing tired of them or them discovering her infidelity. Her early sexual activity contributed to her craving for attention and experimentation. Many of the men in her life were either famous or held important positions in Hollywood. Marilyn would engage in relationships with directors and other influential figures to secure roles in movies, although not all of her films were obtained this way. She also pursued these connections for financial gain, emotional attachment, or to fulfill her desires. Notable individuals she was involved with include Joe DiMaggio, Charlie Chaplin, and the Kennedy brothers. Joe DiMaggio notably expressed his care for her by filling her apartment with flowers and writing love letters. Following Marilyn’s death, he continued to honor her by having a pair of red roses delivered to her crypt three times a week. Most of the other men in Marilyn’s life primarily served as tools to advance her career and garner publicity. Despite having numerous partners, Marilyn knew what actions she needed to take to propel her career forward, ultimately becoming one of the most renowned figures in history.
Marilyn Monroe was a prominent sex symbol during her time, captivating fans throughout her career. This propelled her to fame faster than anyone else in the twentieth century. While Hollywood played a part in establishing her career, it ultimately contributed to its downfall. The pressure she faced also played a role in ending her career and eventually led to her overdose and death. Even today, Marilyn Monroe continues to be recognized as a sex symbol, with references to her found in various forms such as pictures, movies, and clothing. Playboy even dubbed her “the best playmate of the century” (Wider 107). Marilyn Monroe will always be remembered as a stunning and alluring blonde whose charm remains unforgettable.
n/a
