Kim Kardashian Is ‘Marilyn Monroe Of Our Age,’ Says Designer — Wait, What?
Kim Kardsahian — the new Marilyn Monroe?
That’s the opinion of Riccardo Tisci, creative director of the venerable French fashion house Givenchy, expressed in a recent interview. Other than that he’s a fashion designer and therefore perhaps given to superficial analysis, what could lead Tisci to make such a seemingly head-spinning comparison?
It should be noted that this is not the first time the most famous Kardashian has been compared to Marilyn Monroe. Kanye West made the analogy during a radio interview last year. But perhaps that’s understandable given that Kim is his fiancé and the mother of his child — whom he also compared to “royalty like the prince and princess in London,” but that’s another story.
In a a recent interview with Britian’s Sunday Times, Tisci described Kim Kardashian thusly:
“I met her as the girlfriend of a good friend. I just wanted a moment with her to understand— and I fell in love. She’s the Monroe of our age. People think she’s like a doll, but actually she’s tough and clever.”
So let’s investigate shall we. Is there anything to this comparison between Kim Kardsahian and one of the most iconic movie stars in Hollywood history?
They have both appeared nude in Playboy Magazine. Marilyn Monroe was the centerfold in the first issue of the once-powerful men’s magazine, in December 1953. But she did not actually pose for a Playboy photographer. Her historic centerfold was actually taken during a photo session for a pin-up calendar.
Kim Kardashian posed for the December 2007 issue of Playboy. Four years later, the magazine released even more nude photographs of Kim Kardashian, taken from the original photo session.
Marilyn Monroe grew up Norma Jean Baker, the daughter of a mentally disturbed single mother. She lived in foster care until she was seven and was later declared a ward of the state.
Kim Kardashian grew up Kim Kardashian, the daughter of a wealthy Los Angeles lawyer who represented O.J. Simpson. She attended an exclusive Catholic girl’s high school.
Marilyn Monroe made Monkey Business with Cary Grant.
Kim Kardashian made a sex tape with Ray J.
Marilyn Monroe was catapulted to stardom in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a musical co-starring Jane Russell.
Kim Kardashian was catapulted to stardom in Keeping Up With The Kardashians, a reality TV show co-starring her mom.
Marilyn Monroe studied acting with Lee Strasberg at the Actor’s Studio.
Kim Kardashian hung out with Paris Hilton.
Marilyn Monroe married playwright Arthur Miller, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Death of a Salesman, and baseball legend Joe Dimaggio.
Kim Kardashian married music producer Damon Thomas, co-writer of “I Like Them Girls,” and basketball journeyman Kris Humphries.
We will say this for Kim Kardashian. At least she didn’t compare herself to Marilyn Monroe. This sets her apart from, for example, Harry Styles who recently compared One Direction to The Beatles, or James Franco who compared his acting in Spring Breakers to Robert DeNiro’s performance in Taxi Driver.
But if Kim Kardashian is indeed the “Marilyn Monroe of our age,” perhaps that says more about our age than about Kim Kardashian.
