Marilyn Monroe: the legend lives on
She is a style icon and a legend, the woman who men wanted to be with and women aspired to be like, of course we're talking about Marilyn Monroe. Her infamous beauty look, wich was defined by her blonde hair, red lips and legendary beauty spot have lived on, despite the fact she died 50 years ago this month.
Tough start
Marilyn was born Norma Jeane Mortenson. She had a troubled childhood and spent a lot of time in foster care. However, after her marine husband was sent to serve abroad, she began to follow her childhood dreams of stardom.
The future icon started her career as a model after a photographer, sent to take moral boosting pictures for American soldiers at the factory where she worked, encouraged her to apply to an agency. The agency took her on but advised her that light-haired models did better than the rest. From then on, Marilyn bleached her hair and began modelling her look on the blonde bombshell actress Jean Harlow, a woman she had idolised since childhood.
Cover Girl
She appeared on the cover of numerous magazines before being spotted by film executive Ben Lyon and changing her name to Marilyn Monroe. After several years doing small parts Marilyn finally hit the big time and the rest, as they say, is history.
Her most memorable films include "Some Like it Hot", "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". This year, Marilyn Monroe was the face of the Cannes Film Festival, as she remains Hollywood's most iconic actress.
In her early films, she used to cover her legendary beauty spot with make-up, however, as her career progressed, it became her trademark; it has even been said that she used to darken it with a pencil. Marilyn's most enduring feature may well be her bright red lips, even in her early years as a model, she knew how to make an impact with her sultry pout!
Inspirational
Countless women still model their image around Marilyn Monroe. Madonna built a career around a similar persona and even perked her lips in the same way, but no one pulls off the look quite like Marilyn.
Red lips and heavy eye-makeup have been red carpet favourites this season, a real testament to Marilyn's legacy. She made this type of look representative of feminine prowess and confidence. She knew how to pose, and how to act, in a seductive and sensuous manner, even the way she swung her hips was part of her persona.
Marilyn may have projected a girly image but she was no dumb blonde. Many of her quotations are both inspiring and profound. As the great woman herself said:
"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."
Marilyn was anything but boring and we have no doubt that her legend will live forever!
