“Beauty and femininity are ageless and can’t be contrived, and glamour, although the manufacturers won’t like this, cannot be manufactured. Not real glamour; it’s based on femininity.”
- June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962
- American
- Actress, Singer, Model, Pop Culture Icon
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Quote
“Beauty and femininity are ageless and can’t be contrived, and glamour, although the manufacturers won’t like this, cannot be manufactured. Not real glamour; it’s based on femininity.”
Explanation
This quote expresses Marilyn Monroe’s belief in the authenticity of beauty and glamour, distinguishing them from commercial imitations. She asserts that true beauty and femininity are timeless and innate, not something that can be artificially created or packaged. In critiquing the idea that glamour can be manufactured, she challenges the beauty and fashion industries that often rely on surface-level aesthetics, asserting instead that real glamour is a natural expression of a woman’s inner essence.
Monroe, often viewed as the epitome of glamour, understood better than most that what the world sees is not always what is real. Her statement pushes back against the commodification of beauty—the idea that products, advertising, or styling alone can fabricate allure. Instead, she ties glamour to femininity, not as a set of trends or techniques, but as an inner grace, confidence, and authenticity that transcends age and industry standards.
In today’s world, where digital filters, influencer marketing, and ever-changing beauty standards dominate, Monroe’s words remain strikingly relevant. They invite a reconsideration of what it means to be beautiful or glamorous, reminding us that the most lasting and compelling forms of allure come not from appearance alone, but from character, presence, and genuine self-expression. Her quote is a defense of the real over the artificial, and a call to value what cannot be mass-produced.
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