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From Norma Jean to Icon: The Making of Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is one of the most famous women in the world, even 60 years after her death. People still wear t-shirts with her picture, and everyone knows who she is. But she didn’t start as Marilyn Monroe. When she was born in 1926, her name was Norma Jeane Mortenson. She went through many hard times as a kid before becoming an actress and model.

This article tells how Norma Jean went from being born into a troubled home to becoming Marilyn Monroe, the huge star. As a fan of her movies like Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, I鈥檝e always admired Monroe鈥檚 glamour and talent for comedy. She made dozens of films that helped make her an unforgettable icon. From getting her start modelling to landing movie star roles that made her internationally famous, it鈥檚 amazing to see her journey. She spent over 30 years in the spotlight before sadly dying from a drug overdose in 1962 at just 36 years old. But Monroe left behind a strong legacy as one of classic Hollywood鈥檚 biggest sensations that still inspires pop culture today in so many ways. 

1. Humble Beginnings (1926-1944)

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Marilyn Monroe came into the world as Norma Jeane Mortenson in 1926 in Los Angeles. She never knew her father, and her mother struggled with mental illness, leaving little Norma Jeane in and out of foster care and orphanages as a young child. She lived briefly with family friend Grace Goddard, whom she considered a mother figure, but after Grace’s divorce, Norma Jeane ended up back at the orphanage.

At age 16, she married the boy next door, 21-year-old James Dougherty, in order to avoid returning to the orphanage. Though she was just a teenager, she took on the responsibilities of a housewife for Dougherty before he enlisted in the Merchant Marines in WWII. These early challenging and unstable years of Monroe鈥檚 youth shaped the shy yet tenacious spirit that would propel her to seek stability, belonging, and independence through performing and modelling work later on. Though merely ordinary survival at the time, these humble beginnings birthed the ambition of an icon-to-be.

2. Modelling breakthrough (1945鈥�1946)

When her first husband, James, went off to serve in World War II, Marilyn started working in a factory building planes for the war. A photographer snapped pictures of her at work and saw her beauty. He helped her begin modelling in 1945, which kicked off her career. Marilyn started posing for magazine photo shoots, showcasing her glossy blonde curls and impressive hourglass figure.

Though quite shy still, the camera loved the 19-year-old Norma Jeane. Her fresh-faced photos graced the covers of over 30 magazines over the next year! This first taste of modelling fame lit up something in Marilyn, and she began to gain confidence. When James returned from war, her days of merely being a housewife were over; she now saw herself on an exciting path towards finally getting noticed through this glamorous new modelling work she felt surprisingly comfortable doing in front of the cameras.

3. Finding Her Stage Name (1946-1947)

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In 1946, Norma Jeane caught the eye of a big movie company called Columbia Pictures. They signed her to her first movie contract and decided she needed a name that popped more than Norma Jeane if she was going to be a star. An executive suggested 鈥淢arilyn鈥� after actress Marilyn Miller. Norma Jeane liked the glamorous sound of it. She then tacked on her grandmother鈥檚 last name, 鈥淢onroe鈥� to round out the flashy celebrity name, 鈥淢arilyn Monroe.鈥�

It worked perfectly; this new stage name helped her stand out from the pack as she started landing small movie roles. Though the parts were minor at first, the newly christened Marilyn Monroe could now build her persona as she dreamed of one day hearing her name in lights. And Marilyn had far more sparkle to it than the shyer Norma Jeane she still felt inside. Over time, her stage name became indistinguishable from her rising star identity. So while it took years to hone her acting craft, choosing the memorable moniker Marilyn Monroe marked a key step toward icon status for the starlet soon to take Hollywood by storm.

4. Small Parts to Leading Lady (1948-1952)

Marilyn spent the late 1940s taking minor film roles and going largely unnoticed. But in 1952 she started landing much bigger parts, like starring with top leading men in Clash by Night and Don鈥檛 Bother to Knock.

After over 15 small roles, these breakout performances finally made Hollywood take notice of her serious talent. 20th Century Fox Studios signed Marilyn to a long-term movie contract. By 1952, she went from fledgling starlet to bonafide movie star nearly overnight thanks to these star-making turns proving her acting chops.

5. Becoming a Global Sensation (1953)

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1953 was the year Marilyn Monroe went from a famous actress to a worldwide celebrity. She starred in the smash hits Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire. Marilyn鈥檚 glitzy look, memorable performances, and much-publicized personal life made her Hollywood鈥檚 hottest property.

Crowds mobbed her, the press couldn鈥檛 get enough gossip, and her iconic white dress scene in The Seven Year Itch etched her star power. In just a year, Marilyn skyrocketed from a rising star to possibly the planet鈥檚 most identifiable symbol of fame and beauty itself.

6. Hollywood Icon (1954-1959)

From 1954 to 1959, Marilyn was pop culture鈥檚 most luminous star. She starred in an incredible string of acclaimed hits cementing her as Hollywood royalty and the era鈥檚 quintessential blonde bombshell.

Films like River of No Return, There’s No Business Like Show Business and her comedic triumph Some Like it Hot captivated fans globally. But Monroe was equally known for high-profile relationships and a mystique capturing imaginations beyond fame alone. By now a household name indistinguishable from notions of celebrity, Marilyn became the personification of Hollywood golden age stardom.

7. Golden Globe Winner (1960)

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In 1960, Marilyn showed her serious acting abilities playing a dramatic role in The Misfits opposite Clark Gable. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe Award – confirming to critics Monroe was far more than just a comedy starlet. The prize validated she could stretch into grim drama unlike the breezy blondes she typically played.

8. Establishing a Legacy (1962)

When Monroe shockingly died in 1962 at just 36 years old from an accidental drug overdose, her status as a legend was cemented. Though her life was cut tragically short, the 30+ films she left behind over a 16-year career sealed her legacy as an unforgettable entertainment figure. Monroe showed resilience rising to stardom and enduring as a referenced icon today.

9. Posthumous Brand Power (1962 Onward)

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Even over 60 years after her death, Marilyn Monroe鈥檚 influence and commercial brand still reigns, from mass merchandising to pop culture homages. Warhol’s paintings to big screen portrayals reference her ongoing mystique.

By embodying beauty, glamour and tragedy, Monroe forever remains an intriguing icon. Her estate continues generating wealth fueling this perpetual pop culture fascination.

10. Inspiring Generations

With an indelible screen charm and lore-inspiring performers from Madonna and Gwen Stefani to Kim Kardashian, Marilyn Monroe still captivates artists and audiences globally. Her glamorous yet vulnerable spirit lives on through new mediums and stars embracing her allure so many generations later. Truly setting the blueprint for booming multi-faceted celebrity fascination, Monroe鈥檚 glow remains golden.

The story of Marilyn Monroe shows how an unstable upbringing couldn鈥檛 stop Norma Jeane from seeking fame and ultimately realizing her talents before the world. After years of honing her acting and modeling, her magnetic charm and beauty propelled her into a 1950s Hollywood staple starring in numerous hit films that still entertain today.

Though her life met a tragic premature end in 1962 at just 36, Monroe set a template for celebrity influence. Her legend only continues burning brightly decades later through the constant use of her image and remembrance of her glamorous yet vulnerable spirit. Despite humble beginnings, Marilyn Monroe skyrocketed to grades of superstardom few reached even briefly. And after all these years, her recognizable face and name maintain ranking among the supreme icons of Hollywood鈥檚 golden age. Norma Jeane dared to dream big.