Palm Springs just turned itself into a sea of platinum blondes and white halter dresses, and it made history doing it. Two days before what would've been Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday, 1,037 people gathered on Saturday beneath the California city's towering "Forever Marilyn" statue and dressed as the screen icon, earning honors from Guinness World Records in the process, reports the New York Times. Australia's Today reports that organizers had originally hoped for at least 500 participants. The Desert Sun notes the previous record of 254, which was achieved in Australia in 2020.
Organizers for the event, which was put together by Palm Springs Pride, handed out identical wigs and dresses to a strikingly mixed crowd, per the Times: members of the LGBTQ+ community, straight couples, retirees, teens, locals, and travelers who drove or flew in for the occasion. Many arrived already draped in Marilyn merch, sporting handbags and umbrellas, with plenty of red lipstick supplied by a longtime Monroe impersonator.
For some, the connection was professional, like the drag performer who plays Marilyn weekly. "I always felt like I was her reincarnation," that entertainer notes. For others, it was deeply personal, with fans describing the star as a source of comfort through difficult times. Even as the outfits and hairstyles matched, participants said they were each honoring a different version of Monroe: movie legend, fashion influence, vulnerable introvert, or symbol of resilience. Monroe died in 1962, at the age of 36.
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