Celebrity myth-making: from Marilyn M. to Kim K

Abstract

ABSTRACT In May 2022, at the annual Met Gala, Kim Kardashian made an appearance in the iconic dress worn by Marilyn Monroe at President John F. Kennedy’s birthday celebration in 1962. Controversy ensued, relating both to the actual wearing of the dress and to the celebrity status of Kim vs. Marilyn and whether Kardashian had the moral and cultural right to wear the dress. In the aftermath of the Met Gala, debates about the ways in which the two stars are perceived emerged, particularly in media. The Kardashians have been a topic for the tabloids for around 15 years, with the initial rise to fame on Kim’s part taking place through a leaked sex tape. The popular image of Marilyn Monroe combined innocence and unattainability while being the ultimate sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s. This paper examines the construction of the celebrity myth in relation to Kim Kardashian and Marilyn Monroe as presented in media and research, with focus on the notion of the sex symbol. Kardashian’s recent Met Gala appearance along with subsequent media attention and controversy indicates that further analysis is warranted of the intricate connections between the two celebrities.