OK so I know millions of people say that Marilyn Monroe is their icon for various different reasons - she was the epitome of Hollywood glamour, she said that quote (you know, the one every girl in the world uses for her Tinder profile... "if you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best")
I've been a huge fan for a while now, originally because I too think she is one of the most beautiful women ever! But as I've learnt more about her as a person, I've come to love and respect her even more. Here's why I'm such a huge Marilyn Monroe fan: 1. She's beautiful. Like, SERIOUSLY drop dead gorgeous! She was always stunning even as a young woman, but she managed to manufacture an image (and a persona) that was so revolutionary to the female look, it's still replicated today! With her blonde bombshell hair, pale skin, breathy voice and feminine walk, it's still talked about today over 50 years since her death. Whether or not she knew how it would stand the test of time is up for question, but one thing is for sure - she was a bloody genius for creating it.
2. She's a clever woman. They say she owned more books than shoes - and considering she was known mostly for her glamorous appearance, that's saying something! She was known for playing "dumb blondes" but she's said to have hated the roles. She wanted to be taken seriously as an actress and learnt as much as she could about the art by reading and attending lectures/lessons. One of her favourite books was "Ulysses" by James Joyce - a book famous for being a very difficult read.
3. Marilyn Monroe was a character. Norma Jean (her real name) created Marilyn Monroe - she's not a real person. The REAL Marilyn was clever, shy, and extremely complicated - she had a history of depression. They say she could slip the Marilyn persona on and off as if it were an item of clothing.
4. She was a great comedic actress. They say if you can act in comedy, you can do anything, as comedy is one of the hardest art forms to perfect.
5. Her beauty routine was fascinating. Obviously as a girl who works in beauty, I find it really interesting to see how Marilyn maintained and created her incredible look. She used to dip her face in warm water before bed, and she used to wash her face up to 15 times a day to prevent spots. It's said she covered her face in olive oil to protect it on days off, and wore Vaseline under makeup to give skin a youthful, dewy appearance. Her lips were carefully contoured (a skill that was relatively unheard of at the time), and her make-up artist, Whitey, used numerous different eye pencils to create her famous, wide-eyed appearance. She also loved Chanel No 5 - a personal fave!
5. No one knows how she died. The mystery surrounding her death is still palpable, even today. Was it a (probable) suicide as was stated on her death certificate? Murder for having apparent affairs with the Kennedy brothers? An accident? So many questions were left unanswered surrounding her death - it's frustrating to think the truth may never come to light!
6. She didn't care about money. Marilyn was famously underpaid compared to her famous counterparts. She grew up poor and lived in many different foster homes. Her Mum was ill, and she never knew her Dad - what she did know was poverty. Even at the time of her death, her house and personal items were modest. She didn't care about being rich - she just wanted to be adored.
