“When you speak of the American way of life, everybody thinks of chewing gum, coca-cola, and Marilyn Monroe.” Published from the Russian magazine, Nedvela. Marilyn Monroe is known all across the world as a beautiful inspiration. She is a role model to people of all ages and places. All of her actions followed by her stunning looks had people in awe from the day that stardom captured her. Marilyn showed that a poor girl from a deprived background could attain success through simply believing in herself. She became self-sufficient and carried herself through the years until she was happy with her career. Marilyn Monroe defined the word beautiful across the world, and changed the meaning forever. Marilyn Monroe has had a great impact of inspiration among the world.

Marilyn Monroe, formerly known as Norma Jeane Baker, convinced the world that the most deprived people could make changes throughout their life. Norma Jeane was born on June 1st, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Gladys Baker, was unaware of who her father was which left Norma without a father figure through her life. Gladys was committed into a mental institution forcing Norma to be on her own. Throughout her childhood, Norma was placed in foster homes and orphanages. When she was eleven years old a family friend, Grace Goddard, took Norma under her wing. Grace spoiled Norma and taught her how to apply herself both mentally and physically. Norma lived with Grace and her husband for five years until Grace’s husband was being relocated to the East Coast due to work. Norma had two choices when this problem aroused: return to the orphanage, or get married. Norma was currently seeing her twenty-one year old neighbor, Jimmy Dougherty, whom she wed in order to remain happy. “She was a sweet, generous, and religious girl,” (Dougherty in “Marilyn Monroe”). Jimmy said referring to Norma. They were a happy couple until Jimmy joined the Marines a few years later. Norma Jeane took on a job at an assembly line to keep herself occupied shortly after her husband’s departure. As Edward Wagenknecht, the author of Marilyn Monroe: A Composite View stated, “Marilyn played the best game with the worst hand of anybody I know.” (Wagenknecht).

David Conover came upon Norma at the factory, and he captured photos of her for women involved in the war. David described Norma as “a photographer’s dream.” And as the saying goes, the rest is history. This was the very moment that Marilyn Monroe’s career began. After signing her first contract with Twentieth Century Fox earning $125 a week, Norma transformed and legally changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. An example of her transformation was stated by Lawrence Miller, a photographer who used Marilyn as a model. He stated, “She comes out of the dressing room Norma Jeane. When she stepped in front of the camera she was Marilyn.” (Miller in “Marilyn Monroe Quotes”). Within the next two years, Marilyn became a reputable model with many popular magazines. She was absolutely fascinated with the work of actresses Jean Harlow and Lisa Turner so she began studying their work while enrolling into drama classes. Jimmy Dougherty returned home in 1946, and he was astounded by his wife’s change. Shortly after he arrived, Marilyn was forced to face her second tough decision: this time between her marriage and her career. She divorced Jimmy in June to continue on with what she loved. After the divorce, Marilyn’s career skyrocketed. Her first movie was a little role in 1947’s The Shocking Miss Pilgrim. She continued playing minor roles in films that inspired people all around. It wasn’t until 1953’s Niagara that delivered Marilyn to stardom. She played a beautiful young wife who plots to kill her older, jealous husband. Many believed that Marilyn fit the role a bit too well. She continued appearing in movies, and Photoplay magazine voted Marilyn the Best New Actress of 1953. Marilyn was only twenty-seven years old, and she was indefinitely the most loved bombshell in Hollywood. A famous quote by Marilyn stated, “Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.” (Monroe in “Marilyn Monroe Quotes”). Marilyn had her own insecurities, but the love she was given from around the world made her keep her head up. She ended up starring in thirty films throughout her life and given many awards. Marilyn’s career showed her partly as a sex symbol, but the world saw through it to realize that she was truly a beautiful person.

The absolute best thing about Marilyn Monroe is the fact that she defined the word beautiful for her time period. She wasn’t one of the skinniest actresses around, but the people still adored her for her talent. For example, Clark Gable starred with Marilyn in the movie Misfits, he stated, “Marilyn is kind of ultimate. She is uniquely feminine. Everything she does is different, strange, and exciting, from the way she talks to the way she uses that magnificent torso. She makes a man proud to be a man.” (Gable in “Marilyn Monroe: The Brightest Blonde Ever”). Even though she might have been classified as a sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe still had a classy look to her. She held herself as a woman who knew what she wanted, and went for it. Marilyn achieved beauty, and she inspired people to do the same. She made a living for herself and didn’t depend on other people to help her make it to the top. The public loved Marilyn Monroe because of her extraordinary talents that she possessed. For example, the producer of How to Marry a Millionaire, Nunnally Johnson commented on Marilyn's performance. He said, “Marilyn’s a phenomenon of nature, like Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. All you can do is stand back and be awed by it.” (Johnson in “Marilyn Monroe Collection”). Everyone admired Marilyn’s beauty, and her performance that went along with it.

All in all, Marilyn became an inspiration all across the world. She started off less than average yet crawled her way to the top. Marilyn has been an independent woman since eleven years of age, and she stayed that way for the majority of her life. Many admire Marilyn for what she has been through and the way she held her head up through it all. She showed the world that anybody can make it through if they allow themselves to make progress. She came from a deprived background but still believed in herself even at the hardest times. Marilyn’s career started early, and she was successful throughout her entire life. Also, she became an inspiration to the majority of the world. To this day, Marilyn is still known for her beauty and class. It’s likely that she will never be forgotten due to her fame.
















“Marilyn Monroe” Bedazzled Marilyn Monroe Star History. 28 Jan 2011.



<www.bewitchedbnb.com>
“Marilyn Monroe Quotes” Denamos Marilyn Monroe Pages. 28 Jan 2011.


<www.marilynmonroepages.com>
“Marilyn Monroe Quotes” Marilyn Monroe Quotes. 28 Jan 2011.




<www.womenhistory.about.com>
“Marilyn Monroe: The Brightest Blonde Ever” Marilyn Monroe: The Brightest Blonde

Ever. 28 Jan 2011. <www.amolife.com>
“Marilyn Monroe Collection” Marilyn Monroe Quotes. 28 Jan 2011.




<www.marilynmonroecollection.com>
Wagenknecht, Edward. Marilyn Monroe: A Composite View. Dallas: Chilton Book Co,

1969.