What Is Marilyn Monroe Energy And How To Turn It On

When Norma Jeane Mortenson (Marilyn Monroe) strolled the streets of the Big Apple with Amy Greene – the wife of celebrity photographer Milton Greene – no one noticed her. Though she looked like the actress and was obviously her, she remained unrecognizable to the crowd. She melded with the sea of bodies in New York City, her presence nearly invisible. 

That was until the blonde bombshell turned to Amy and asked, “Do you want to see me become her?” Amy nodded. Then, Norma Jeane disappeared, and out came the Hollywood star. Like a sunrise breaking the horizon, her presence as Marilyn illuminated the streets. Everyone's attention was on her.

"I don't know how to explain what she did because it was so very subtle, but she turned something on within herself that was almost like magic," Amy recalled. "And suddenly cars were slowing and people were turning their heads and stopping to stare. They were recognizing that this was Marilyn Monroe as if she pulled off a mask or something, even though a second ago nobody noticed her. I had never seen anything like it before."

Despite her tragic story, Norma Jeane was a performer – on and off the screen. Even if she was secretly disheartened by the men who mistreated her or felt weighed down by the pelvic pain caused by her endometriosis, she could transform into Marilyn Monroe wherever, whenever.

The phenomenon has been dubbed the “Marilyn Monroe effect” or "Marilyn Monroe energy."

How to Shift Your Energy

When an angry person walks into a room, you feel it. When your coworker or classmate comes in in the morning and is more depressed than usual, you can sense that. You can call it a 6th sense, but psychology has another explanation: our bodies speak louder than words.

Body language – the science of displaying emotions through physical actions like facial expressions, posture, and gestures – is a powerful tool. The problem is that we don't know how to wield it. Imagine standing in a crowded room, feeling the weight of eyes upon you, or noticing someone’s subtle shift away when a topic becomes uncomfortable. These nonverbal cues reveal more than spoken words ever could.

Just as Norma Jeane could transform her presence at will, we can, too.

Confident Posture

A bowed head, crossed arms, lack of eye contact, or a frown signal shyness or insecurity. Marilyn always stood tall with her chin up and a big smile on her face. She moved slowly, as did her eyes. The first step in turning on the magnetic energy is to shift your body language.

Here's an easy step: Force yourself to smile. I know, I know – I get annoyed too when I hear, "You should smile more!" But studies show that when you smile, the feel-good neurotransmitters (dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin) get released, which lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. Smiling is also proven to be contagious and attractive, which helps you to attract more people.

Secondly, roll your shoulders back and open your chest more (not too much). Pretend there's a string attached at the top of your head, pulling you to stand up straight.

Make Eye Contact 

If you want to be a seductress, you cannot be scared to make eye contact. Acknowledge others' presence with a glance. One study found that attraction and arousal were significantly enhanced in the participants who made eye contact with other people. Eye contact also makes you look more confident and self-assured. If you can't stand it, here’s a tip: only stare at one eye or the forehead!

Play Pretend

Fake it 'til you make it, be a little bit delusional. Imagine that you're the only woman in the room; pretend that you're a big actress or successful model. What would that feel like? How would you walk, talk, and feel? This can take some practice and maybe some cognitive behavioral therapy, but an easy way to move away from an anxious or fearful energy state is to do something you love.

For me, that's working out. If I'm at the gym, I put on my baddie playlist and immediately feel an energy shift. I imagine myself as incredibly fit and happy, and I let those feelings stay with me.

Affirmations

It's hard to shift your energy when our insecurities and self-doubts get in the way. That's why it's important to cultivate confidence. I’m sure Marilyn had many people in her ear reminding her of who she was. We may not have a whole hype team or fanbase, but we do have tools to serve as our affirmative support system. I suggest journaling positive affirmations or listening to YouTube videos that have them.  Research shows that self-affirmation activates brain areas related to self-worth and value, helping us stay positive. 

Dress Your Best

I’m guilty of choosing comfort over style 99% of the time. My Pinterest board is full of cute skirts, dresses, and shoes, but my daily outfits give Adam Sandler vibes. The truth is, our clothing choices go beyond comfort, they can serve as a reflection of how we see ourselves and how we wish to be seen by others. If you haven’t already, I suggest finding your personal style. When we dress in a way that makes us feel confident (more importantly, authentic), we reinforce our self-worth.

A lot of us feel much better after we dress up, do our makeup, and hair. Put in a little more effort some days, and proudly show off your cute fits when you do!

Be Playful and Sensual 

It’s easy for our minds to get in the way, causing us to act and think very seriously. Our shoulders become tense, our brows furrow, and our bodies close off. These unconscious body movements signal to others that we are unapproachable, telling them to "stay away!" But we know that Marilyn was not like that; she was inviting and warm. She leaned into her sexual prowess and was also playful, effortlessly blending sensuality with a light-hearted demeanor. Marilyn’s willingness to embrace her sensual side drew people in rather than pushing them away.

Closing Thoughts

We may not be big movie stars, but the tools to enhance our presence and self-worth are within our reach. And, not only do we boost our confidence by turning on our Marilyn Monroe energy, but we also inspire others around us. Just as Marilyn transformed her environment with effortless grace, we, too, can do the same by harnessing our powerful feminine energy.

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