Marilyn Monroe´s true size

Myth: Marilyn Monroe was a size 16-18.

This myth has been going around for years and as much as 85% people believe that Marilyn´s dress size was 16-18. This is not true. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth, at least by today´s sizing systems. She would have been a size 0-4 today.

  

These pictures is often used as "evidence" showing that Marilyn was "plus sized". They were taken by Sam Shaw in the summer of 1957. Believe it or not, but Marilyn was actually pregnant here. She wasn´t that far along the pregnancy, but you could still see a little bump. She suffered from an ectopic pregnancy later that summer. Even though she was pregnant, this white bathngsuit was still very small. A woman who is a modern size 6 tried this on and it was too small for her. 

Marilyn´s weight and measurements

Here are some documents showing Marilyn´s weight and measurements from 1945-1962;

August 2, 1945

Blue Book Modeling Agency
5’ 6”, 120lbs
36-24-34
“Size 12”

February 8,1954

DOD ID Card

5’ 5 1/2”,118lbs

August 5, 1962

LA Coroner Medical Report

5’ 5 1/25”, 117lbs

Marilyn´s clothing

Marilyn´s measurements were 36-24-34 and the manequins below are sizes 2-4. 

                   

As you can see, her clothes are very small and it´s pretty obvious that she´s not a size 16. Even during the late 1950´s when she was at her heaviest, she wore custom made dresses with the waist measuremnets of 28.5 inches.

While many believe that Marilyn was a "plus sized" woman, that´s just not true. She was indeed curvy, but still very small and petite, because of her extreme hourglass figure. 

The purpose of this post was to show the truth about Marilyn´s body and size, not to body shame or say that one figure is more beautiful than the other. You should feel beautiful regardless what size you have in clothes or what numbers that shows on the scale. You should be able to wear whatever you want and look however you want. You should embrace and love yourself for who you are. You are unique and beautiful, just the way you are. No matter what anyone says.

xoxo