Marilyn Monroe Posed Nude As A Struggling Actress, Said, 'I'm Not Ashamed Of It, Done Nothing Wrong'

Marilyn Monroe was one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Even today, years after her death, the legendary actress is hailed for her beauty and for carving out an identity for herself as a ‘sex symbol.’ For those unaware, her career had begun as a model before she decided to become an actress, as she had always dreamed of. However, did you know that Marilyn was almost caught up in a major nude photo scandal at the beginning of her career? If you are interested in knowing more about the same, we have got you covered. 

Marilyn Monroe posed nude for a calendar as a struggling actress

It was back in 1949, when Marilyn Monroe was still struggling to make it as an actress, that she decided to pose nude for a calendar. While she probably did not think much of it at the time, several years later, when she had transformed into America's most iconic starlets, that same photo threatened to end her career. Now that fans are celebrating Marilyn's 100th birthday, the details about how she had avoided what was about to become a major scandal have emerged. 

David Wills, a photography historian, who had provided expert commentary for Marilyn Monroe 100:The Official Centenary Publication, told People that one of the reasons that the actress was so successful at the time was owing to her close connection with the media. He said:

“In her ‘starlet’ days, she achieved most of her publicity herself – casually courting reporters and press photographers, becoming friendly with them over time.” 

Before Marilyn shot to fame, however, at the age of 22, she was paid only USD 50 by photographer, Tom Kelley, to pose on a red velvet background. This photo is now famously called the “Golden Dreams” photo. Once the rumours about this photo came to haunt her later in her career, Marilyn decided to take matters into her own hands. David Wills explained:

"During 1952’s 'Nude Calendar Scandal' — which sent Twentieth Century-Fox executives into a panic and threatened to end her career just as it was about to skyrocket — Marilyn used strategic honesty and light manipulation to defuse the situation. Instead of hiding or denying it, as studio bosses insisted she do, Marilyn collaborated with journalist Aline Mosby and essentially broke the story herself."

Marilyn Monroe said she did not do “nothing wrong” by posing nude

David Wills revealed that at the time Marilyn had explained that she was broke and hungry, which is why she decided to pose nude for the calendar photo. However, she boldly declared that she was neither ashamed of it nor had she done anything wrong. In this way, the actress took control of the narrative before it became a huge scandal. David was quoted as saying:

"She explained that she was broke and hungry when she posed for the calendar photo in 1949 and declared, 'I’m not ashamed of it. I’ve done nothing wrong.' This masterful move allowed Marilyn to control the narrative, and she won the PR battle before it had a chance to take hold."

According to David, it was Marilyn Monroe's “bold honesty” that helped to humanise her image and garner “public sympathy.” In fact, in doing so, it made Marilyn more popular than she previously was. Marilyn's granddaughter, Melissa Stevens, also seemed to mirror David's thoughts in her conversation with People. According to her, Marilyn knew how to keep her name in the press by giving wonderful interviews, which sometimes even included one-liners. She claimed that Marilyn did it on her own, and it was not something that was manufactured by the Hollywood studio. 

What are your thoughts on Marilyn Monroe having said that she did “nothing wrong” by posing nude for a photo? Let us know. 

Also read: Marilyn Monroe Was Beaten By Second Husband After She Filmed The Iconic White Dress Blow Up Scene

Photos Credit: Marilyn Monroe/IG, Marilyn Monroe Fan Page/IG

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