The wild, joyful, passionate world of Marilyn Monroe's superfans

National Geographic

4 days ago

The actress's greatest legacy might be the happiness she still inspires in so many people. More than 60 years after her death, photographer Amy Gaskin documented Monroe's international legions of admirers. Marilyn gives strength and hope to people worldwide. Through her remarkable rags to riches story, she inspires many to persevere against the odds. In Australia, Marilyn is the motivation for those whose lives are touched by cancer. They raise money for cancer research, support and prevention by swimming in the ocean dressed as Marilyn. Swimmer Belinda explains, 'My mum died of bowel cancer when she was 58, and I had a good friend whose son died at 32 of cancer. It seems everyone has a connection to cancer. This is our ninth year doing the swim.' Back left to right: Petal (Belinda's granddaughter, 6 years old). Mark, Monique Front left to right: Belinda, Wisha, Jacqui Brighton, South Australia
August 4th marks 63 years since actress Marilyn Monroe died at her Los Angeles home in 1962 (her housekeeper discovered Monroe in the early morning of August 5th). Her tragic death at age 36 has undoubtedly fueled the world's enduring fascination with the actress and, more than half a century after her passing, she remains one the most recognizable faces in the world. Best known for her roles in the movies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), The Seven Year Itch (1955), and Some Like It Hot (1959), Monroe established herself as the archetypal blonde bombshell, marrying sex appeal with uncanny comedic timing.
But her legacy is more complicated than the nearly 30 films she appeared in: she is simultaneously an actress, an American icon, and a woman whose life was mired in sadness. Monroe's multifaceted appeal continues to fascinate fans across the world, documented here by photographer Amy Gaskin. Over 500 people have gathered, dressed as Marilyn, on the morning of the swim. The Marilyn Jetty Swim began in 2014 with just a small group. Founded by Sarah in honor of her mother, Esther, who died from uterine cancer, the crowd grows every year and has now raised over a million dollars.'As a breast cancer survivor, I am inspired by Marilyn for her ability to overcome adversity and to be resilient when faced with difficult situations. Whilst I was undergoing treatment, her story inspired me to remain strong and accept the many physical changes that I have had to go through,' explains Katrina.'Marilyn Monroe has inspired a generation of people like me to never give up, believe in ourselves, and always put our best foot forward, no matter how unattractive or depressed we feel,' says Cate. Cate lost both of her parents to cancer and had a scare herself.
Brighton, South Australia
Gaskin discovered this ardent fandom during the early days of the pandemic when she visited Monroe's crypt in Los Angeles's Westwood Memorial Park, a cemetery that is the final resting place for numerous celebrities. The photographer was intrigued by the 'wet lipstick marks decorating [Marilyn's] resting place,' present even while much of the world was social distancing. It piqued Gaskin's curiosity, and she began photographing visitors at the grave. They shared with her stories of why Monroe was important to them.
In these photographs, Gaskin captures the undying dedication of the many superfans who visit Monroe's grave and demonstrate their devotion to the icon across the world. These fans don her iconic look because they find commonalities with the woman she was, not the woman they imagine she might have been. They find consistent, real joy in Monroe.
For the superfans documented in Gaskin's images, Monroe is everything from a source of inspiration to an icon of resilience, a role model of body positivity, and a shared source of community. A mother hopes Monroe inspires her daughter; fans find community with one another and dress up in Monroe's iconic outfits, wearing the white halter dress with the pleated skirt from The Seven Year Itch or the platinum blonde wig cut to mimic Monroe's stylish bob.
'If you love Marilyn, I know you are a kind person,' a member of the Marilyn Remembered Fan Club told Gaskin. Established in 1982, the fan club, an international group of devotees, gathers online to post photographs of Monroe and raise money to place flowers at her grave. (To mark her 92nd birthday in 2018, the group placed flowers from Parisian Florist, the Los Angeles-based florist that Monroe's ex-husband Joe DiMaggio used, on her grave.) In Palm Springs, CA, Marilyn is a symbol of hope. The 26-foot-tall sculpture "Forever Marilyn" is being installed to revive the city's tourist economy decimated during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'We are hoping she'll be a magnet and the 800-plus businesses downtown that have suffered will get some relief,' says Aftab Dada, Chairman of PS Resorts, the tourism group that brought the sculpture to Palm Springs.
The sculpture was created by Seward Johnson and is based on a photo by Bernard of Hollywood. During installation, Karina R., of the Seward Johnson Atelier, carries supplies in the early morning during a record heatwave.
That kind of devotion to the star isn't unusual. As these photographs make clear, Monroe's superfans continue to find their own sense of belonging in her life and work. Greg, the president of a fan club dedicated to Monroe and photographed here, collects the actress's personal items. He told Gaskin that his collection began as a way to 'get to know her better.' Surrounded by Monroe-inspired dolls and photographs of the actress, his attachment to her is clear.
Undoubtedly, Monroe's biography inspires them as much—if not more—than her work. Born to a single mother in 1926, Monroe's childhood was unstable, spent moving between different households after her mother was institutionalized. Each turn of her story is marked by tragedy: sexual abuse, failed high-profile marriages, and an early death. Melissa in Dubuque, Iowa, shares a sense of intimacy with Monroe, relating to her 'hardships and traumas,' she told Gaskin. 'Marilyn taught me a lot of things without saying a word to me.' In Monroe's story, fans find a woman who persevered through hardship. She is a quintessential American success story: overcoming the odds to find fame and fortune.
Though it's impossible to know what Monroe would have wanted her legacy to be, perhaps it's the legions of admirers who see hope and inspiration in her life. As Gaskin's photographs make clear, Monroe's appeal shows no signs of diminishing. With arms in the air, Kelly, left, from Los Angeles, and Haley, right, from Indiana, visit Marilyn's crypt. 'I've always felt connected to Marilyn. She was more than just a symbol of fame and beauty—she longed to be truly loved and accepted. She grew up feeling unwanted, searching for a sense of belonging, and that deeply resonates with me. I didn't grow up feeling good enough either, and knowing that someone as iconic as Marilyn felt those same emotions reminds me that vulnerability doesn't make us weak—it makes us human. Her story encourages me to embrace who I am, even when I feel like I'm not enough,' explains Haley.
Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, CA Donna, from the UK, plans to be buried near Marilyn. She recently purchased a crypt near Marilyn's, even though she and her family live in England. 'I was the black sheep of the family. I felt different, but I didn't know why until I got older. When I first came out, my mom didn't speak to me for a year. She was born the same year as Marilyn, but they were very different in their views.' Donna said. 'Marilyn is very relatable, with what she went through and what she achieved. She stuck up for human rights and didn't like racism. She wasn't afraid to say what she felt. I wanted to be like that. Through her actions and acceptance of all types of people, she was trying to say 'love is love.' It doesn't matter your color, sexuality, or anything like that. She was very much ahead of her time. I feel close to her when I visit LA. I get so emotional. I just cannot imagine my life without her in it.'
Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, CA The Marilyn Remembered Fan Club hosts the annual memorial service for Marilyn Monroe in the same chapel where Joe DiMaggio (Monroe's ex-husband) held her funeral more than 60 years ago. The club was formed four decades ago by a group of people who met by chance on the anniversary of Monroe's passing.Brian, a Club member, says, 'Marilyn brings us all together. If you love Marilyn, I know you are a kind person.'Another Club member, Jeanne W., says, 'Marilyn's story of coming from a background of having no real stability inspires me. I love her resilience and determination to create a beautiful life for herself.'
Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, CA Greg is president of the original Marilyn fan club. He has a vast collection of personal items that belonged to Monroe. 'I wish that I had known her, and that's why I started collecting— so I could get to know her better. She started from nothing and rose to being one of the greatest movie stars of all time.I didn't know her of course, but I've met dozens of people that did know her. They said that she had a very warm, giving, loving personality. She was the kind of person you'd want to hang around. She overcame so much, and that inspires many people. She fought the studio system and got her own production company. She had no major education yet she kept studying and learning on her own to become the accomplished person that she was. As a child, she was shuffled to several foster homes and lived in an orphanage. She never had a stable home. Her mother was alive, yet was unable to take care of her. This must have been very difficult for Marilyn to deal with. Her story is inspirational.'
Los Angeles, CA Swim founder Sarah helps her daughter, Isla, 11, dress as Marilyn to help raise money for Cancer Council SA. Sarah believes that participating helps her daughter learn body positivity, while honoring her grandmother, who died from cancer.'I want my daughter to have these values about her body and to help others. I want her to feel good about herself in the world,' Sarah says."I hope my kids never get cancer. But if they do, I hope treatment can be easier, more effective, smarter. Somebody has to do something to get us there, and it might as well be all of us. I like to think, 'Just give us the right bathing suit, a blonde wig and a touch of red lippy and we can conquer the world!''
Brighton, South Australia Melissa always travels with her suitcase full of Marilyn photos. She has come to Los Angeles from Dubuque, Iowa, for the anniversary of Monroe's death and has decorated her hotel room with all things Marilyn.'I'm not alone. I have Marilyn all around me. I talk to her every day. Marilyn taught me a lot of things without saying a word to me. I relate to her hardships and traumas growing up.'
'Marilyn brought us all together. There's something inside each one of us that she loves about each of us,' Melissa said. "You'll be surprised how many Black women love Marilyn. Marilyn was one of the first people to help Ella Fitzgerald get a performing job. Marilyn gives me the strength to be who I am. She has given me strength at my lowest points. Be true to yourself. Don't fake it. Do it for yourself, not anybody else. She really loved African Americans and didn't discriminate at all. I love that she used her privilege for something good. It makes her human.My goals board is on my wall. It has motivational quotes and pictures of Marilyn which inspire me to chase my dreams.' Saviyance
Detroit, MI 'Marilyn brought us all together. There's something inside each one of us that she loves about each of us.' Dolls in a collection. The doll on the left holds a bottle of Chanel No. 5. perfume, which Marilyn had a passion for. She was famously said to wear only this perfume to bed and was rumored to have 26 bottles. Simon, center, gets ready for the big swim with help from friends Kaerena, left and Cate, right.'I lost my mother to cancer, and I started taking part in cancer fundraising walks. Sarah came to our office looking to recruit people for the swim. It sounded like a bit of fun to raise funds for cancer research, so I joined up and have taken part now for many years,' Simon explains.
Hallett Cove, South Australia Marilyn parties attract a range of enthusiasts. Monica enjoys dressing like Marilyn for special occasions and is bringing a dish to the party. 'My Marilyn friends are like my second family. They watched me grow. I can't imagine my life without Marilyn. I find peace and solace whenever I think of her. Her vulnerability and the things she has conquered and accomplished are both inspiring and relatable. She means everything to me,' says Monica.
Los Angeles, CA This is a long-term project by award-winning photographer Amy Gaskin, who lives in Los Angeles, and who has been studying the Marilyn phenomenon for years. What began with noticing fresh lipstick on Marilyn's crypt has now taken Amy on a worldwide journey. 'I didn't realize Marilyn inspires so many people,' Amy said. 'The more I researched, the more facets of Marilyn I uncovered. I discovered that people relate to Marilyn on many different planes. They relate to the person and her life experiences, rather than the film star. Her influence and inspiration has spread like ripples in a pond throughout the world."
Amy's research has involved interviewing and photographing hundreds of Marilyn admirers from many continents over many years.