Modern-day Marilyns
Marilyn Monroe's iconic beauty legacy continues to inspire today's A-list aesthetic - click through our gallery to see how.
Rex FeaturesMarilyn Monroe
The original blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe – pictured here in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – has left quite the beauty legacy: her iconic platinum blonde hair and devastating lipstick-laden pout were much copied in her day and continue to inspire today, too.
Rex FeaturesGwen Stefani
Could we love Gwen's retro fabulous Marilyn-esque beauty look anymore? No, we could not. From the signature red lip to the pinned back curls, it's all kinds of awesome. Marilyn would be proud.
Rex FeaturesPaloma Faith
Switching her retro-inspired locks to cool ice blonde, Paloma Faith looked liked a veritable Marilyn with her shorter style and 50s sunnies.
Rex FeaturesAmber Heard
Amber Heard’s head of tumbling blonde locks mean that comparisons to the inimitable Miss Monroe have been plenty, over the years. Favouring retro sleek styles, Amber has the Marilyn look down pat, often stepping out on the red carpet with glossy, perfect curls and a bold red lip.
Rex FeaturesChristina Aguilera
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and in 2005 Christina Aguilera copies everything from Marilyn’s feline strokes of liquid liner and the hot red pout, right through to the Happy Birthday Mr President-style air kiss.
PA PhotosParis Hilton
However, it is Paris Hilton who has probably pulled the best Marilyn-alike we’ve ever seen. At her 2010 fragrance launch, Paris keeps the look authentic, opting for ruby red lips, flawless skin and tight blonde curls complete with diamond earrings – well, they are a girl’s best friend, after all.
Rex FeaturesDrew Barrymore
Proving you don’t have to be blonde to “do a Marilyn”, Drew Barrymore works the look to perfection in a 1990 photo shoot, even teaming the classic red lip with 90s staple – blue eyeshadow. Ride on!
PA PhotosHayden Panettiere
Nothing says superstar like a head full of blond curls but to ensure she keeps her look fresh and fabulous Hayden tucks them behind her ear, making the side-swept fringe a focal point.
Rex FeaturesPixie Geldof
Pixie Geldof is a fashion maverick, which is why her Marilyn Monroe incarnation still takes us by surprise. Keeping it classic with retro-height at the roots, Pixie proves it’s a look for even the most unconventional of fashionistas.
PA PhotosSheridan Smith
Hello, Marilyn! Taking undeniable hair-spiration from the golden Hollywood era, Sheridan Smith rocks a glamorous curly hairstyle on the TV BAFTAs red carpet in 2011.
Rex FeaturesDita von Teese
Dita von Teese rarely puts a foot wrong in the beauty and fashion stakes. Indeed, when it comes to replicating one of her idols, Dita is right on the money, whipping her jet black locks into a quintessentially Marilyn Monroe ‘do, which she tops off nicely with statement red lips and a diamond hair slide. Who says Old School Hollywood glamour is dead?
Milla Jovovich
Rich, matte lips are text book Marilyn Monroe and Milla Jovovic nails the look at the 2012 Oscars.
Rex FeaturesMiley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus proves her she’s all grown up at the 2012 Oscars after party, upping her style-ante with a statement Hollywood hairstyle in a rich golden hue. Harkening back to a bygone era, that rich red lip colour just oozes glamour.
Rex FeaturesGwen Stefani
Ska-punk’s answer to Marilyn? From the moment Gwen Stefani burst onto the scene in the 90s, she’s been a bona fide modern-day Marilyn. Never seen without her red lipstick, this pic from 2005 is one of our favourites. A shamelessly copy-cat nod to MM, Gwen even rocks a punky Seven Year Itch-inspired frock, to boot.
Rex FeaturesVanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens opts for old-school Hollywood glamour for her Oscars after-party hairstyle. Teasing her raven locks into a Marilyn-esque curly ‘do, Vanessa keeps the look young with smoky eyes, full lashes and a nude lip.
Rex FeaturesJanuary Jones
Her retro-fabulous role as Betty Draper in Mad Men has seen her compared to everyone from Grace Kelly to Veronica Lake. However, we think that Jan-Jo can often be seen taking inspiration from Miss Monroe, too. Like right here. Whilst the curls are more subtle, there’s an undeniable hint of everyone’s favourite starlet, thanks to the bold lip and feline eyeliner flicks.
Rex FeaturesMarilyn Monroe
Marilyn herself, switched from brunette to platinum blonde early on in her modelling and acting career: and never looked back.
PA PhotosAshley Greene
At the MTV Movie Awards in 2009, Twilight beauty Ashley Greene blew the red carpet competition out of the water, arriving a bona fide retro beauty with a Marilyn-inspired curly bob and popping red lips.
PA PhotosFergie
It’s not just cutesy curly bobs that maketh a Marilyn Monroe, though. Oh no, no, no, no. Enter Black Eyed Peas frontwoman Fergie, who shows us exactly how to work the look with longer hair, with this on-trend and oh-so-fabulous, side-swept hairstyle.
PA PhotosJessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain gives us a serious case of hair envy at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, when she teases her red carpet-worthy hair into a Monroe-style. Especially gorgeous when teamed with Marilyn’s favourite, bold red lips, I think you’ll agree?
Rex FeaturesKelly Osbourne
While Kelly arguably takes the 'Marilyn' thing a tad too far, (she was only out shopping, after all) we are still massive fans of her authentic and bouncy retro curls. Plus, she keeps the look youthful and modern by changing up the red lips for sugar pink ones.
Rex FeaturesJennifer Lopez
Another year, another stunning Oscars hair and beauty look for J-Lo at the 2012 ceremony. She might get it wrong off the red carpet sometimes, but she pulls it out the bag for the big nights year after year, thanks to a little bit of Marilyn-inspired styling. The soft, curly bob and feline eyeliner flicks are gorgeous.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comKaty Perry
At the 2009 GLAMOUR Woman Of The Year Awards, there was no doubting from whom Katy had taken inspiration for her red carpet look. The raven-haired hitmaker’s curled bob is reminiscent of silver-screen goddesses of the golden era. Classic, chic and oh-so Marilyn.
PA PhotosMadonna
She’s long been influenced by Marilyn, even citing her in the classic 90s hit Vogue but proving that adoration lasts a lifetime, Madonna once again channels the Hollywood icon at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party with killer Monroe curls, teamed with a bang-on-trend lashes/liner combo.
Rex FeaturesScarlett Johansson
Modern-day sex bomb Scarlett Johansson is often referred to as a modern-day Marilyn thanks to her unwavering sex-bomb status and quite rightly, Scarlett can often be seen doing a Marilyn on the red carpet, working big, bouncy curls – whatever the hue – feline liquid liner flicks and the most enviable pout in the land.
Rex FeaturesReese Witherspoon
Welcome to Hollywood Reese! At the 2001 Golden Globes Reese Witherspoon’s transformation to Hollywood heavyweight is cemented, mainly thanks to a seriously high-glamour side-swept blow-dry, that positively smacks of another screen goddess. Keeping the look her own though, Reese opts for a glossy pink lip colour, instead of textbook Marilyn red.
Getty ImagesLindsay Lohan
Li-Lo’s been known to imitate Marilyn Monroe many-a-time, even recreating one of her most famous shoots.
Rex FeaturesRita Ora
Keeping the look funky fresh, Rita Ora is one of favourite modern-day Marilyn’s. With her eclectic style to off-set too much girliness, Rita always looks picture-perfect with that head of blonde corkscrew curls and artful slick of red lipstick.
PA PhotosKatherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl knows that when she wants to make a splash on the red carpet, some like it hot. Never one to stray too far from the look, Katharine regularly channels her inner Marilyn – making sure she’s stays true with red lips and fully-loaded curls.
Rex FeaturesMarilyn Monroe (1 June 1926 – 5 August 1962)
And finally, the lady herself. Despite passing away at only 36, Marilyn Monroe’s legacy lives on through her films, music, fashion and beauty. While she’s forever replicated, this screen icon is never surpassed.
