Today of all days, I want to celebrate the life of Norma Jeane Baker aka Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was an incredibly strong woman who overcame great odds to achieve wonderful things.
For almost 20 years I’ve been trying to uncover the truth about her life and I believe true Marilyn fans already know she was an intelligent , hard working woman with a very big heart. It’s important to know that Marilyn was Norma Jeane’s alter ego. Marilyn was an image, a part she played on screen and she played the part so well- that people thought that’s who she really was. Those close to Norma Jean have said she could switch Marilyn on and off like a light and often referred to Marilyn in the third person.
With so much focus on her death, her incredible achievements are often overlooked. During my search to uncover the truth about Marilyn, I discovered she was a humanitarian. She loved animals and people of all walks of life. She was passionate about Civil Rights and even participated in Freedom Rides protesting the loss of minority rights. Marilyn also donated her time, money and fame to charitable foundations such as St. Jude’s , Toys for Tots and the March of Dimes.
More than anything Marilyn wanted to be taken seriously as an actress. She was serious about her craft and worked hard to perfect it. She was known for taking acting, dance, elocution and voice lessons -sometimes all in the same day. Marilyn never stopped bettering herself artistically and intellectually. She dedicated her life to working hard without lowering her principles.
When asked about Marilyn’s present day popularity on Good Night Marilyn Radio, Dr. Joe Dispenza, expert on change, the brain, mind & human potential said “Marilyn’s legacy says a lot about energy because energy in the universe never dies.”
We’re all drawn to Marilyn for different reasons but there isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not inspired by her grace and resilience. Even this week with the passing of my fur baby, I thought about Marilyn smiling through so much pain and it gave me strength. Today, on what would have been Marilyn’s 93rd birthday, let’s celebrate the truth not the conspiracies.
Happy Birthday, Marilyn.
Photography by Emily Petri Photography