Marilyn Monroe's iconic look came from a combination of meticulous skincare (using Vaseline, Nivea, Erno Laszlo), a signature platinum blonde hairstyle, dramatic makeup (five shades of red lipstick for plumpness, strong brows, false lashes), and a focus on pale skin, all creating a bombshell glamour that enhanced her natural features. Her beauty was a constructed, glamorous ideal, achieved through strict routines and expert techniques.
At Columbia, Monroe's look was modeled after Rita Hayworth and her hair was bleached platinum blonde. She began working with the studio's head drama coach, Natasha Lytess, who would remain her mentor until 1955.
The blonde bombshell, who has been revered for her curves for decades, apparently had plastic surgery in her pre-fame days to correct a nose imperfection as well as underwent chin augmentation.
Marilyn Monroe likely suffered from complex mental health issues, with modern analysis pointing towards Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), alongside historical diagnoses of Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive Illness), anxiety, depression, and addiction, stemming from severe childhood trauma and abandonment. Her struggles included emotional instability, identity issues, impulsivity, intense mood swings, emptiness, and substance abuse, all consistent with BPD and ASD traits, though she was treated with medications for mood disorders during her life.
Her evening skin-care routine began with an oil cleanse, using the Erno Laszlo Active Phelityl Oil, then she applied the Active Phelityl Cream and washed it off. She finished with the Controlling Lotion. All of these products are still available today.
Turns out Monroe might have made dying her pubic hair part of her regular beauty routine, too.
✨ Did you know Marilyn Monroe used Vaseline as a makeup primer for that iconic glow? While it worked for her, let's be real—Vaseline can clog your pores and is far from a healthy choice! 🚫 Introducing a modern twist on an ancient skincare secret: Tallow Cream!
Depending upon my activities, I sleep between five and ten hours every night. I sleep in an extra-wide single bed, and I use only one heavy down comforter over me, summer or winter. I have never been able to wear pajamas or creepy nightgowns; they disturb my sleep.”
Marilyn Monroe was more than a glamorous icon—she was deeply intelligent and loved literature and philosophy. She reportedly had an IQ of 168, even higher than einstein's estimated 160.
The late stage of Marilyn's disease, aggravated by alcohol and barbiturate abuse, was characterized by an alternation of extreme excitement, irritability, insomnia, rumination, dysphoria and and self-injury, and severe psychomotor retardation, suggesting a BD, with unspecified catatonia.
Marilyn Monroe's Clothing Tells the Truth
Below are several examples of Marilyn's clothing worn at varying times in her life, displayed on a size 6-8 dress form, with measurements of 33.5″ (bust), 24.5″ (waist), and 34.5″ (hip).
Dental and Smile Enhancements
Marilyn Monroe's radiant smile was a significant part of her charm. Some sources suggest she underwent dental enhancements, such as veneers or teeth straightening, to perfect her smile. Although not a surgical procedure, it played a crucial role in her Hollywood transformation.
Cosmetic plastic surgery is done to change your appearance. For some, it may mean redesigning the body's contour and shape, smoothing wrinkles, or eliminating balding areas. Others may choose varicose vein treatment or breast augmentation.
The 3-3-3 clothing rule is a simple styling method for creating many outfits from few items: choose 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes, which allows for 27 potential combinations (3x3x3) and reduces decision fatigue, often used for travel or building a minimalist capsule wardrobe. It's a versatile concept, sometimes expanded to include 3 layers (like jackets or cardigans) for even more looks, making dressing easier by focusing on mix-and-match versatility with core pieces.
Aside from a brief period late in her career, Marilyn's weight was always between 117 - 120 lbs and her waist measurements pretty much never changed.
Monroe was wearing hair extensions before you were.
Apparently uninterested in harvesting her own hair (we really don't blame her), Monroe opted for a hair extension extension instead. That's what we call working smart, not hard.
The Illness Trajectory in Marilyn Monroe's Psychological Autopsy: From Autism Spectrum Disorder to Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder with Catatonia.
Lady Gaga's IQ is widely rumored to be around 166, placing her in the "exceptionally gifted" or genius category, though this is an estimation often cited in celebrity lists, not a officially verified number from a public test. This high estimate is supported by her early academic achievements, like attending a summer program for the top 1% of students, and her demonstrated creative and musical genius as a composer and performer, notes Us Weekly and Brainmanager.io.
If we measure smarts by IQ alone, Marilyn edges out with a score reportedly five points higher than the famed physicist. Yes, that's right—Marilyn Monroe, often pigeonholed as the quintessential blonde bombshell, had an IQ of 165, surpassing Einstein's by a small but significant margin.
During this period, Monroe suffered from several mental health problems, including substance abuse, depression, and, most likely, bipolar disorder, along with physical ailments such as endometriosis and gall bladder disease.
No raw juice diets or special meals delivered. Marilyn ate plenty of meat and vegetables and was fond of raw eggs. In an interview with Pageant magazine in September, 1952, Marilyn Monroe revealed some of her self-described ''bizarre'' eating habits.
Other films which Marilyn refused to make for Fox were "Can Can", "Size 12", and "The Stripper". The latter was based on a play by William Inge, who wrote "Bus Stop" and tells the story of a small town girl who wins a beauty contest and leaves home for a Hollywood screen test.
Murray telephoned Greenson, on whose advice she looked in through a window, and saw Monroe lying facedown on her bed, nude and covered by a sheet and clutching a telephone receiver. Greenson arrived shortly thereafter. He entered the room by breaking a window and found Monroe dead.
According to a number of Monroe's former lovers and several of her maids, Monroe's personal cleanliness, unlike her, left a lot to be desired. In fact, Monroe was apparently so lackadaisical about her personal hygiene that several of her maids just up and quit because they were so sick of cleaning up after her.