Marilyn Monroe

Hollywood never saw it coming, at least all wrapped up in one. Every girl had a dream, Marilyn just turned hers into reality. “I don’t want to make money, I just want to be wonderful,” she once said. That platinum blonde hair and blue eyes might have made every jaw drop across the nation, but her essence and talent are what kept the fans screaming, and the cameras rolling. Like watching the stars in the midnight sky, there was something about Marilyn’s persona that just kept glowing.

Norma Jeane Mortenson was the name she was given at birth, but Marilyn Monroe was her signature. “They’ve tried to manufacture other Marilyn Monroe’s and they will undoubtedly keep trying. But it won’t work. She was an original,” said Billy Wilder. Today, there is a bit of Marilyn walking around in every woman and even blown up on a man’s bedroom wall. Celebrities from Christina Aguilera, to Lindsay Lohan, and Anna Nicole Smith have impersonated a bit of her image throughout their careers. Even Barbie wanted to be like Marilyn! In 2002 Mattel released its line of “Barbie as Marilyn” dolls. From those signature poses down to her red lipstick, Marilyn was re-created for Barbie collectors of all ages.

“How to Marry a Millionaire” and “Gentleman Prefer Blondes,” were just a few of the many roles Marilyn made her debut in. But, it took a brave woman like her to put glamour, confidence and nudity out into the public. Posing for Hugh Heffner’s first edition of Playboy Magazine, Marilyn was labeled the “Sweetheart of the Month.” Today, that named has changed to “Playboy of the Month” and many platinum blondes still desire to fill those shoes.

Some call her a goddess and few label her as a sex symbol. But forever she will be the most famous woman of the 20th century. August 5, 1962 was the day Marilyn Monroe left the face of the earth and her spirit behind.