Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is prolific in numerous ways: as an actress, beauty icon, woman, and philanthropist. She was the most famous face in the world during her time, and I would argue she has upheld that status to this day. People all over the world know her name, her face, her style, her work, and her life story. We all continue to resonate with Marilyn on any or all of these levels due to her long-lasting legacy, which is the focus of this article.

I believe three components of Marilyn’s legacy have allowed it to remain an everlasting source of inspiration for so many. These components are her iconic look, her pioneering perspective on female agency, and her passion for learning.

The first aspect to explore is the iconic blonde bombshell look that helped launch her into worldwide fame and adoration from both men and women alike. Despite being a natural auburn, Marilyn switched to her classic peroxide blonde style following her contract with MGM Studios, inspired by Jean Harlow, while also transitioning from Norma Jeane to Marilyn Monroe. After this, an icon was born.

Although there had been blonde bombshells before and after her, none have quite replicated the magnetic effect Marilyn had. Despite being a natural beauty, she had various tips and tricks she used to become Marilyn. One example is her red lip; another is the way she did her eyeliner (creating a peak where her pupils were) and her use of false eyelashes on the ends to accentuate her naturally gorgeous features even further. These clever tips make her look a timeless inspiration and the source of the magnetic energy that every photo or film of hers holds. Her look is classic—it could never go out of style because she used methods that suited and highlighted her features. Therefore, it will never be confined to that period and will instead continue to contribute to her strong legacy.

The strength of her legacy can be seen through the numerous imitations of her and her looks throughout time since her passing. From the likes of Jayne Mansfield—who was as popular at the time as Monroe and was sadly referred to as the "poor man’s Marilyn"—to more recent examples such as Madonna. She replicated Marilyn’s memorable musical sequence from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in the Material Girl video and also sported her iconic bleach-blonde hair for a while. Marilyn’s influence can also be seen in Sabrina Carpenter’s recent magazine cover and feature in Vogue.

Marilyn has been emulated in various other ways—by Margot Robbie in Birds of a Feather, Blake Lively in Gossip Girl, Michelle Williams in My Week With Marilyn, Ana de Armas in Blonde, and others, including in magazines by Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Rihanna, Renée Zellweger, Britney Spears, Anna Nicole Smith, and Lindsay Lohan—superstars in their own right.

However, Marilyn also used her body—and the focus on it—to her advantage. Her famous walk caused her to seemingly steal the spotlight in any situation or film she was a part of. This can be seen in the scene of her walking away in Niagara, which holds the record for the longest walking scene in film history.

What makes her success so impressive and inspiring is the period in which this was all happening, an especially difficult one for women. During WWII, women were recruited to take over men’s jobs in factories and other important aspects of society and the economy that could not be stopped. Marilyn herself worked in a factory during this time, which is actually where photographer David Conover first discovered her. So, moving into the 1950s after the war, attitudes in the US were that everything should return to ‘normal’, meaning traditional gender roles of the woman as housewife and nothing more.

However, a lot of women were dissatisfied with being told to return to this stereotype, despite having proved that women were just as capable as men in the working world. Therefore, the seeds for second-wave feminism were starting to be sown and appeared through this unhappiness in women being restricted in society. Marilyn personally felt this kind of strain in her first marriage to James Dougherty, which came about because the family she was looking after at the time wanted to move away and couldn’t bring Marilyn along, so she married Dougherty at 16.

Initially, she took on the role of a housewife, as was expected of her. However, she wasn’t fulfilled by this role and later stated she was bored. After being discovered, she joined the Blue Book Modeling Agency and divorced Dougherty. This was a very bold move for Marilyn to make at such a young age and during this time, when marriage was seen as the end goal for women. So, rejecting this safe pathway in favour of the rocky journey of fame was a very risky move, but one that shows Marilyn’s determination and use of female agency despite societal pressures. This acts as the key to what solidifies her legacy as a continuous source of inspiration.

The second aspect of her legacy that I believe makes her story one of complete inspiration to all is her passion for learning. Marilyn’s story and work ethic show that anyone can achieve their dreams if they work hard enough; nothing great comes easily, and Marilyn’s story exemplifies this. This is shown in her voracious reading habits, evidenced by her large collection of books, the acting training she pursued, and her choice to take on challenging roles. In her library, she had over 400 books covering topics such as politics, philosophy, history, and more, demonstrating her consistent dedication to widening her horizons.

Furthermore, she undertook acting lessons at the Actors Laboratory Theatre in Hollywood and also studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, showing that this dedication extended to her profession. She recognised there was always more to learn and ways to improve. Lastly, she always expressed a desire to move on to more challenging dramatic roles, as opposed to the comedic "dumb blonde" roles she was typecast into. Despite these limitations, her studying and reading allowed her to make the most of these roles, leaving a lasting impact on each one. For example, she studied The Thinking Body by Mabel Elsworth Todd to perfect her walk and other physical aspects of her performances.

The final aspect of her legacy is her progressive views on various issues, such as civil rights, equality, societal norms, and anti-nuclear stances. Her iconic look made her the focus of much attention, but she was able to transform this adoration into a deeper form of inspiration beyond the superficial. She helped others in various ways, giving a lot of money to charity, but also helping people personally, such as Ella Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald had been denied the opportunity to perform at LA’s Mocambo club due to racial discrimination, so Marilyn used her influence to negotiate a deal with the club owner on Fitzgerald’s behalf: if Fitzgerald was allowed to perform, Marilyn would attend every show and sit in the front row. The club accepted this offer. She often made charitable donations to various causes, including foster homes—a cause close to her heart, as she was a foster child herself. She also spoke out in favour of civil rights and against racial discrimination and segregation.

This was at a time when social attitudes regarding race were still very discriminatory, with racial segregation prevalent in schools and public transport throughout the US, and the right to vote for African Americans going unprotected until 1957. In the mid-50s, social changes were starting to be made, such as the Brown vs Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, the Civil Rights Act of 1957, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955-56. However, this was an ongoing struggle for social justice throughout the 1950s and 60s. So, against this context, Marilyn’s views were very progressive, and speaking out against these social issues shows her alignment with social justice—an admirable trait to adopt in her time and an approach we all still strive for now.

Overall, it is clear that Marilyn’s legacy remains as strong as ever, evidenced by the ongoing cultural references to her since her death and the constant interest in her story, whether it be how she achieved her look or her status as a great actress. It continues to be a source of inspiration in more ways than one, and I believe this will be the case for many decades to come.

©Vanity Fair