We all recognize the style icon - Marilyn Monroe. However, I'm sure there are some things you didn't know about Miss Monroe. After doing a little reading about this lovely lady, I have gained a different kind of respect for her based upon her life before stardom.
Marilyn was born as Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1st, 1926 in Los Angeles. Marilyn got a rough start at life. She definitely was not born into a high class family, in fact Marilyn didn't really even have a family. She grew up in foster homes. Her birth certificate lists her father's name but with his residence stated as "unknown". Her mom was mentally unstable and financially unable to care for her so she was placed into foster care. Marilyn's mother eventually suffered a mental breakdown. In My Story, Monroe recalls her mother "screaming and laughing" as she was taken into an institution. In 1942, at the age of only 16, Marilyn was pressured to marry the fellow she was dating at the time because the foster home she was in could no longer care for her. That relationship lasted about four years. Marilyn then pursued her dreams and found her way to Hollywood! Marilyn was captivated by Jean Harlow and decided to bleach her hair blonde and take her own lead based off things she loved about Jean Harlow. Jean Harlow was an American film actress and sex symbol of the 1930s, known as the "Platinum Blonde".
In 1951, Joe DiMaggio saw a picture of Monroe with some Chicago White Sox players and was later set up on a date with her in 1952. Monroe said she did not want to meet him, fearing that he was going to be a stereotypical jock. They eloped on January 14th, 1954 (she was 28 years old). The two separated and were divorced later that same year. Marilyn eventually remarried yet again, this next time to Arthur Miller in 1956. Her love life, shall we say, was a bit complicated! ;)
Marilyn passed away August 5th, 1962, at the age of 36 (only the good die young). She is in a crypt space in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
The crypt space immediately to the left of Monroe's was bought and reserved by Hugh Hefner in 1992. In August 2009, the crypt space directly above that of Monroe was placed for auction and sold for $4.6 million.
Marilyn's Favorites:
Colors: Beige, Black, White, Red
Artists: Goya, Picasso, El Greco, Michelangelo, Botticelli
Beverage: Dom Perignon 1953
Book: How Stanislavsky Directs by Michael Gorchakov
Singers: Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra
Poets: John Keats, Walt Whitman
Restaurant: Romanoff's (in Hollywood)
Store: Bloomingdale's
Perfume: Chanel No. 5
Interesting Stuff:
Height: 5 ft 5 1/2 inches
Weight: 115-120 lbs
Measurements: 37-23-36 (Studio's Claim); 35-22-35 (Dressmaker's Claim)
This girl amazes me with what she accomplished while having nothing handed to her in her childhood. It's amazing the things she overcame when she was a little girl. It definitely goes to show you if you have enough passion and just never give up, you can make your dreams happen! Go Marilyn!!! You rock girl! We love you!
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