Marilyn Monroe took the sex-symbol ideal to a level during her short, and tragic life. She always be remembered as America's first, bona-fide sex having starred in numerous Hollywood movies and posing for national men's magazines. She may not have the first actress or entertainer to use her to make a name for herself, but she the first to do it in the modern age, where she was visible to most of country.

Born on June 1, 1926 in Los , California, Monroe had natural beauty and talent from beginning although her childhood was marked by tragedy. was born to an unwed mother who was to care for her child because of her and financial instability. Monroe was placed in foster , where she lived with different families throughout most her childhood. She never knew who her biological was. She even thought for a time that father was the famous Hollywood actor Clark Gable. was reunited with her mother as a teenager, was soon taken away from her because of issues. She spent the rest of her youth with her mother's best friend, Grace.

It was her time with Grace that Monroe developed her for the cinema. The two would often go see movies together, and Monroe became fascinated by Hollywood lifestyle. She began her career in small in "B" movies, but was soon noticed by producers. Her first starring role came in 1952's 't Bother to Knock. Her acting career took off that.

Monroe parlayed her popularity into a relationship President John F. Kennedy after performing at one his birthday parties. Tragically, Monroe died in what ruled as "probable suicide" by the L.A. County 's Office after a long battle with drug, and abuse, and mental issues. She was just 36 old.