Marilyn Monroe: The Rise of an Icon

The brighter the star, the darker the truth.

In 1954, Marilyn Monroe—a 28-year-old actress who was not yet a star—traveled to Korea, in the midst of the war, to perform on stage and boost the morale of American troops. She undertook a four-day tour in the dead of winter, immortalized by unforgettable photographs: Marilyn in a sheer, form-fitting dress, in the freezing cold, facing more than 100,000 GIs. This trip was a turning point in her life. Thanks to this unprecedented success, she would reveal herself to herself and to others. Marilyn discovered herself as a radiant, free, sexy, and admired woman. She entered into legend, as well as into every American household of the 1950s.