62 years after her death, Marilyn Monroe remains the most recognizable face in pop culture history. Her seductively placed mole, signature red lips and bombshell blonde locks are seen on all ends of the art and fashion spectrum from Andy Warhol’s pop art paintings to the tattooed, overly busty iterations of her plastered across souvenir shop T-shirts.

Although many only know her for her undoubtable beauty, her influence is a result of much more. 

Actress, model, singer and fashionista; Monroe was a master of all her crafts and a fearless rebel for women’s liberation. Seduction oozed from her mannerisms and voice on and off screen, which at the time, was considered obscene. Nonetheless, Monroe stayed authentically herself through public appearances such as her sensual “Happy Birthday” performance for President John F. Kennedy and her films like the showgirl comedy “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” where she delivers an infamous line to her skeptical future father-in-law that compares beautiful women to men with money; “You wouldn’t marry a girl because she’s pretty but my goodness doesn’t it help?” 

Monroe consistently defended women for embracing their sexuality and voluptuousness, creating space in pop culture for bold, unapologetic women. Her ability to be effortlessly captivating came not just from her looks but also through her comedic personality, which demonstrated the depth that beautiful women can have. 

Monroe’s short but incredibly influential career laid the foundation for countless mainstream female celebrities by making it okay to be confidently sexy. For that reason, Marilyn Monroe will always be iconic.