Introduction

For years, misinformation has been spread about Marilyn Monroe height and size. One persistent myth clouds our collective understanding of her body: that she was a size 16.

It’s a boast echoed in scores of articles, documentaries, and hashtags, often cited as evidence she was “plus-size.”

But is it true? This post will put an end to the discussion once and for all by revealing the undeniable, evidence-based reality about her actual height, weight, and measurements, so we can distinguish the renowned urban legend from the charlatans.

Key Facts

Marilyn Monroe Height & Weight

But before we talk dress sizes, let’s take a look at the numbers themselves. Marilyn Monroe height is one of the most frequently asked questions.

Her official height is 5 feet 5 1/2 inches (166 cm), according to her 1945 model agency contract. This measurement was, in fact, a little above average, even for a woman of her time.

Her weight would fluctuate, as it does in anyone. The official record and memories of those around her cover a spectrum. In her heyday in the mid-1950s, she weighed between 118 and 120 pounds (53.5–54.4 kg).

But as she struggled with health issues in later life, her weight fluctuated. At times, she weighed as much as 140 pounds. This is typical, and it didn’t cause her to become “plus-sized.” Marilyn Monroe height and weight portray a fit and slim body in her time.

Busting the Biggest Myth: What Was Marilyn Monroe’s Real Dress Size?

The myth that Marilyn Monroe was a size 16 is an outright lie. This point is frequently employed to imply that Hollywood’s most legendary sex symbol would be considered plus-sized by today’s standards.

This is simply not true. A woman with a 35-inch bust, 22-inch waist, and 35-inch hips would likely wear a size 8-12.

That’s because modern sizing is quite different. Today’s sizes are simply smaller, in part due to what’s known as “vanity sizing.” So, for a size comparison, I’ll use her to explain it to you better.

• Official Measurements: 35-22-35 (bust-waist-hips).
• Gown size by 1950s standards: Size 8 to 12.
• Modern US Equivalent: 0 to 6.

Her dressmaker, Billy Travilla, made her measurements in famously blunt fashion. Other sources from later in her career also mention slightly higher figures.

For one, some purport she measured 37-23-37 inches. Either way, none of her official records or clothes would fit her as a size 16.

She was, in fact, a solid size 8 or 10 in her prime. This answers the question: What size was Marilyn Monroe? with a factual response.

A Closer Look at Her Body: Beyond the Numbers

Marilyn Monroe’s star wasn’t all in the numbers. It was about her incredible body. She was a classic hourglass.

The waist of this body type is significantly smaller than the hips and bust. She was considerably more curvaceous than her casual body weight suggested.

We can also consider other factors that round out the picture. Her shoe size was generally a 7 or 7.5 US. She accentuated her celebrity silhouette with her characteristic gait and self-assured stance.

At first glance, it might appear that her measurements are small by contemporary comparison: 36-24-35, but her proportions read much larger, more solid, and unquestionably curvy.

A Glimpse into Her Personal Life and Struggles

It’s easy to pay attention to Marilyn Monroe, the sex symbol, but in private, her life was one of extreme joy and agony. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, she grew up abused.

After her mother was institutionalized, she spent years in orphanages and foster homes. She married three times in her youth, to James Dougherty, the baseball star Joe DiMaggio, and the playwright Arthur Miller.

Her marriages were frequently stormy and brief, each one a public and private showdown. Monroe also famously grappled with health issues and an addiction to medication.

These private wars were repeatedly fought in the media, and the story presented to the world was of a deeply troubled, if endlessly fascinating woman. And her private life was even more fraught with drama than the silken image she presented onscreen.

Marilyn Monroe Net Worth, and Lasting Legacy

As a world-famous figure, there’s a misconception that Marilyn Monroe was wealthy when she died. But that’s not quite the way it is.

Although her films had grossed over $200 million by 1962, her personal financial situation fell short of Hollywood standards. At her death, she was estimated to be worth approximately $800,000 in today’s dollars.

Her spending habits were extravagant, and she was generous with her family and friends. She left a substantial part of her estate to her acting instructor, Lee Strasberg.

But in the decades since her death, Marilyn Monroe’s estate has grown into one of great value. Her image and name appear on products around the world, making her one of the wealthiest dead celebrities.

This seems to only confirm her iconic status, as it has become a brand that has stood the test of time, not to mention its financial success.

A Glimpse into Her Personal Life and Legacy

Although we spend a lot of time thinking of Marilyn Monroe in the public eye, her private life was filled with an enormous amount of happiness and hardship.

Her early life was plagued by instability, and after her mother was institutionalized, she had spells in orphanages and foster homes.

As an adult, she married three times: first, James Dougherty, then baseball great Joe DiMaggio, and finally playwright Arthur Miller. Each marriage proved ill-fated and stormy, marked by both public and private difficulties.

As a result of her international stardom, many people believe that Marilyn Monroe was wealthy at the time of her unexpected death. But her own net worth had been relatively modest by the standards of a celebrity.

Experts estimated her net worth to be approximately $800,000 at the time of her death in 1962, equivalent to roughly $7 million today.

She spent her money lavishly, sharing it with her family and friends. She left most of her estate to her acting instructor, Lee Strasberg.

However, over the decades since her death, companies have used her image and name on products worldwide, partly because she ranks among the highest-earning deceased celebrities.

This is evidence that her iconic status has grown even stronger over time, making her a long-term and lucrative brand.

Conclusion:

The next time you hear the tall tale about Marilyn Monroe height, you’ll know the real story. She was a lovely, medium-height woman with an hourglass figure.

She’d be considered thin by today’s standards, and by eponge she was thin. The persistence of that myth, therefore, says far more about us than it does about her.

Her real legacy is in her confidence and charisma, not her size. Do you have a friend who can handle the reality? Share this post to help us promote facts and dispel the rumors about Marilyn Monroe’s body.

FAQs

What was Marilyn Monroe’s height?

Marilyn Monroe’s specified height was 5 feet 5.5 inches.

What was Marilyn Monroe’s weight?

Marilyn Monroe’s weight fluctuated, but in her prime, she weighed 118–120 pounds (53.5–54.4 kg).

What was Marilyn Monroe’s size?

If you wear a modern size 0–6, congratulations, you match Marilyn Monroe’s size, since 1950s sizes ran higher at 8–12, and today’s vanity sizing would make her even larger than a size 0–6.

Were Marilyn Monroe’s measurements real?

Marilyn Monroe’s modelling agency and dressmakers confirmed her legendary ‘curvaceousness’ with measurements of 35-22-35.

Was Marilyn Monroe a plus-size model?

No, Marilyn Monroe was not a plus-size model; she would be presumably considered a curvy hourglass shape, with vibrant, of course, but way smaller measurements than what plus-size models are today.