Why Marilyn Monroe Is Still So Relevant

Why Marilyn Monroe is Still So Relevant

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re discussing Why Marilyn Monroe Is Still So Relevant.

For this list, we’ll be looking at what made the starlet remarkable and why she still dominates headlines today.

Do you have a favorite Marilyn moment? Let us know in the comments below!

Her Beauty & What It Symbolized

Marilyn Monroe could capture the gaze of an entire crowd of people in her lifetime. Nearly 60 years after her death, she has remained an absolute showstopper and there’s no wonder why. Yes, of course, she’s drop dead gorgeous, but she’s no longer solely recognized for her looks. While she faced a lot of backlash in her day, especially for her popularity as one of most famous sex symbols during a time of sexual liberation, her willingness to dismiss tabloids and gossip has kept her at the forefront of pop culture for over half a century. Truly an icon ahead of her time, Monroe has always been so much more than her beauty.

She Didn’t Always Have It Easy

Marilyn Monroe was born into the world on June 1st, 1926 as Norma Jeane Mortenson to her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, in Los Angeles, California. Unfortunately, Norma was just a young girl, her mother had a mental breakdown and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. This led to her being in and out of mental hospitals and minimal contact with her children. Norma spent a large majority of her childhood bouncing around various foster homes. She eventually married relatively young to escape the system. Once on the cusp of fame, Hollywood twisted her sad home life into a tragic backstory, one that, for better or worse, caught everyone’s attention.

Bimbo Culture Is In

In the prime of her fame, the actress was often typecast as a blonde bombshell without a single original thought in her head. Though this was a great way to draw in crowds of admirers, it gave her a bit of a negative reputation and kept a lot of the public eye from taking her seriously. In recent years, the rise of TikTok has created a cultural shift. The label “bimbo” is being reclaimed by those who had their femininity weaponized against them and has even garnered a masculine version: “himbo.” Monroe’s reputation, which once had her berated by peers, is exactly what makes her so celebrated today.

Her Iconic Fashion Sense

One of the most celebrated aspects of bimbo culture is is the fashion. Whether she was on set, doing an interview, or attending an event, Marilyn was always dressed to impress. She didn’t just wear clothes, she made them legendary and timeless. For example, let’s take the 1962 Jean Louis gown that she wore to perform “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy. Because it was made specifically for and worn only by Monroe, Kim Kardashian’s appearance in it at the Met Gala caused quite the bit of controversy. There’s a certain sacredness when it comes to Monroe and her legacy, one that is rather rightfully unique to her alone.

Her Relationships Were... Intriguing

Norma Jeane truly was born to be a star. The actress took on her alliterative moniker at just 20 years old. When the young girl first began modeling, she was already married to a soldier. But, with him being away at war, and new career as a model, their relationship ended just 4 years after their wedding. Her newfound singlehood combined with her newfound fame led to Monroe being a part of relationships that are still talked about to this day. Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller aren’t exactly small names, after all.

Her Association with the Kennedys

Being in the spotlight means your love life is also front and center for people to analyze. To some, the mention of Marilyn Monroe’s relationships immediately brings up President John F. Kennedy. The former president was already married to Jackie when rumors started flying about an affair with the actress. Of course, they were never confirmed, but Ms. Monroe’s sultry “Happy Birthday” performance certainly had crowds gossiping. After the end of the supposed affair, even more rumors popped up about Monroe and JFK’s brother, Bobby. Though there is yet to be solid evidence that either of these affairs actually happened, the buzz was enough to make a lasting impact in the public’s minds for years to come.

Her Death

The whole Kennedy debacle was also enough to breed endless conspiracies about her death. In August of 1962, Monroe was found dead in her home after overdosing on pills she had previously been prescribed. Authorities ruled it a suicide, but this has widely been debated. Conspiracy theories ranged from the actress having been murdered for knowing too much about the political doings of the Kennedys to the mere accidental overdose of her perscription. To this day, the details of her final moments are still unclear. It would seem a sense of mystery around Monroe remains, even in death.

She Suffered Mental Health Issues

Marilyn Monroe was predisposed to mental illness given her mother’s psychiatric conditions. But at the time of her death she was also recently divorced, dealing with endometriosis symptoms, and had been enduring mental illness for years, including anxiety, dyslexia, insomnia, and bipolar disorder. While she was still alive, her mental disorders were, unfortunately, often weaponized against her. Recently, the stigma around mental health has dwindled and people like Marilyn Monroe are celebrated for being so open about their mental health in a time when that was not seen as socially acceptable. As is typical, her foes have only made her even more relatable and more likeable to newer generations.

She Is Famously Misunderstood

When someone is in the limelight as much as Monroe was, people come to think they really know the person for who they are. She was many things in the eyes of the public, and judged every day she spent in front of the cameras. Even in death, her memory has been monetized, analyzed, and sanctified. Some would even say she is to the 1950’s what Britney Spears is to the 2000’s: A starlet whose looks and talents were taken advantage of because they came to fame at very young ages. Whether on set or at a party, Monroe knew how to be undeniably unforgettable. Luckily, her efforts didn’t go in vain.