The title track of the popular girl group '(Girls) Generation', 'Nxde', pays homage to the sex icon Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe was named one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century by Time magazine. 

Did you know that she performed in South Korea during the Korean War? Or that her hair wasn't actually blonde?
 

Today's story is about 'Marilyn Monroe'. 

Chapter 1

The world's favorite sexy icon 

 

 

"God gave her everything." (Billy Wilder)

Marilyn Monroe was known for her sensual body, sex icon, and as the muse of Chanel No. 5. 

Despite a relatively short 10-year career, Monroe earned a staggering $200 million; her appearance fee for starring in a movie was $200,000, about 1,000 times more than the average person earned at the time. 

 

While people may think that Marilyn Monroe was a natural born glamorous person, her life was actually quite the opposite. 

Born out of wedlock to a mother who suffered from schizophrenia, Monroe grew up in an orphanage and had an unhappy childhood, being adopted and dissolved several times. One day in 1944, while working in a munitions factory, Monroe was discovered as a model for soldiers and was introduced to the entertainment industry. She appeared in a total of 12 films. 

In her movie "The Seven Year Itch" (1955), the "subway grate scene" that everyone still remembers became a sensation. With this one scene, Monroe became the most famous "the sex symbol" in the world. 

 

Chapter 2

Myths and Truths  

 

"She paved the way for women in Hollywood, and whether you agree with her image or not, any woman definitely owes her something." - Mariah Carey, interviewed by The Guardian 

It's a common misconception that Monroe, who played the character of the "blonde dumbass" in movies, had a low IQ. In fact, her IQ was 168, higher than Einstein's. Monroe was also an avid reader and had over 400 books in her personal collection. Despite this, many people dismissed her intelligence because of her persona as a bubbly blonde bombshell in movies like "Some Like It Hot". 

Monroe once expressed an interest in starring in a movie adaptation of Dostoevsky's novel "The Brothers Karamazov." When a reporter laughed and mockingly asked if she knew how to spell the author's name, Monroe calmly responded by asking the reporter if he had read the book. She said she would be a good fit for the role of Grushenka, a charming character in the novel. 

 

 

 

Marilyn Monroe's hair color is also a common misconception. Her natural hair color was actually brown; she was encouraged to dye it by a photographer when she first entered the entertainment industry as a model.

In addition, Marilyn Monroe's real name was Norma Jean Baker. When she was 20, she signed a contract with 20th Century Fox and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, a combination of Marilyn, the name of a famous Broadway actress in the 1920s, and her mother's surname, Monroe.  

Chapter 3

Monroe in Korea 

 

Monroe worked not only as a model and actress, but also as a singer. In 1954, shortly after the Korean War, she traveled to Korea to perform for the American troops stationed there. After her performance, she said.  

" The visit to Korea was the moment that made me realize that I had become a world star."  
 

Chapter 4

The Monroe Walk 

 

 

The term "Monroe Walk" was coined after Marilyn Monroe's sexy, hip-swaying walk in high heels in the 1955 movie Niagara became a hot topic. 

The "Monroe Walk" is not just a term, as the actress purposely cut the heels of her shoes by 0.6 centimeters to create her signature sexy gait. The "Bags & Shoes Loved by Celebrities" exhibition at the Sejong Center showcases five items from her collection, along with the shoes she wore during the Monroe Walk. 

 

 

"When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them."

((Marilyn Monroe), 1926~1962)

This is a famous quote from Marilyn Monroe, who was often portrayed as a silly, blonde woman, but was actually confident and cool. She faced many rumors as a celebrity throughout her life, but remained unscathed and overcame them with confidence.
 

"Bag & Shoes Loved by Celebs" exhibition

Experience the allure of the iconic actress, Monroe.

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