That kind of devotion to the star isn’t unusual. As these photographs make clear, Monroe’s superfans continue to find their own sense of belonging in her life and work. Greg, the president of a fan club dedicated to Monroe and photographed here, collects the actress’s personal items. He told Gaskin that his collection began as a way to “get to know her better.” Surrounded by Monroe-inspired dolls and photographs of the actress, his attachment to her is clear.
Undoubtedly, Monroe’s biography inspires them as much—if not more—than her work. Born to a single mother in 1926, Monroe’s childhood was unstable, spent moving between different households after her mother was institutionalized. Each turn of her story is marked by tragedy: sexual abuse, failed high-profile marriages, and an early death. Melissa in Dubuque, Iowa, shares a sense of intimacy with Monroe, relating to her “hardships and traumas,” she told Gaskin. “Marilyn taught me a lot of things without saying a word to me.” In Monroe’s story, fans find a woman who persevered through hardship. She is a quintessential American success story: overcoming the odds to find fame and fortune.
Though it’s impossible to know what Monroe would have wanted her legacy to be, perhaps it’s the legions of admirers who see hope and inspiration in her life. As Gaskin’s photographs make clear, Monroe’s appeal shows no signs of diminishing.