On June 1, the world celebrated what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 90th birthday. Social media was flooded with quotes, pictures, and tributes to the late Hollywood icon, who even got her own Snapchat filter for the day. While her classic look is often replicated by celebrities and fans alike, the anniversary of her birth spurred many women to put on red lipstick and white halter dresses in celebration.
Marilyn was born on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California as Norma Jeane Mortenson. As a June baby, her zodiac sign was a Gemini, appropriately fitting her flirty and boisterous personality. The dualistic nature of her astrological sign also mirrors how Marilyn was able to hide her dark struggles behind a fun, joyous, and witty persona. While many saw her as simply a ditzy blonde and a sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe's life story was much deeper than that.
Marilyn had a very difficult upbringing, spending most of her childhood in an orphanage and various foster homes. She later had many failed relationships, was married and divorced three times, and had multiple miscarriages. Marilyn’s troubled personal life also included various issues of mental illness, particularly addiction, depression, anxiety, and suicide.
Her mother was institutionalized for paranoid schizophrenia, her maternal grandmother committed suicide, and in addition to depression and anxiety, Marilyn is thought to have suffered from borderline personality disorder. The combination of her mental illness and addictions eventually led her to die of a drug overdose on August 5, 1962, at only 36-years-old. Her death was ruled as a probable suicide, due to the significantly high levels of barbiturates in her system. This tragic end to Marilyn's life only added to the public's profound fascination with her.
Aside from her personal struggles, Marilyn was able to become one of the most influential stars of the 1950s through her career as both a model and actress. Known for her comedic roles, Marilyn’s 29 films had grossed $200 million by the time of her death. In addition to her acting, Marilyn revolutionized female beauty with her curvy body type and overt expression of her sexuality. In fact, her image came to represent a new age in which female sexuality was more widely accepted.
However, Marilyn Monroe has proven that she is timeless. Her legacy continues to live on today, with great public interest in her life causing both documentaries and films to be made about her, and she remains one of the greatest pop culture icons in human history. Happy birthday, Marilyn!
