Palm Springs Celebrated Marilyn Monroe's 100th Birthday

Story and Photos by Pat Krause

Palm Springs celebrated Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday by trying to break a Guinness World Record. The previous record was only 234 Marilyn look-alikes. This event was hosted by Palm Springs Pride, and they decided to do it in a big way.

They offered a kit for $75 that included a pleated white halter dress and a platinum blonde wig. They wanted this world record attempt to look official, and Palm Springs always does things in a big way. The event itself was free so the public could take part, and hundreds came out to join the fun.

The city was overwhelmed with requests for the kits. More than 1,100 were sold. On Saturday, May 30, Palm Springs Park was filled with Marilyn Monroe look-alikes. Cameras and cell phones were everywhere, capturing photos and videos to commemorate the occasion. There were so many Marilyns that organizers had to divide them into eleven separate sections to be officially counted. This became the largest gathering of Marilyn Monroe look-alikes by a wide margin.

People started gathering early in the afternoon to greet fellow Marilyns. There were participants of all ages. I saw one young girl who was only 12 years old and others who arrived using walkers. Everyone wanted to be part of history.

A stage was set up at one end of the park, and Scott Nevins served as emcee. He instructed all the Marilyns to move to their assigned areas and remain there so the official count could be completed. This was necessary for Guinness World Records to verify the attempt.

There were Marilyns of every size and age. The LGBTQ+ community played a major role in helping make the event a success. Some Marilyns had long beards and mustaches. There were plenty of hairy-chested, tattooed Marilyns who became part of the fun and laughter of the day.

Palm Springs Park was transformed into a sea of white dresses and blonde wigs. Many participants went all out with their costumes. Some added oversized costume busts, large earrings, necklaces, feathered pink stoles, fur wraps, white gloves, and even martini glasses. A few wore sashes wishing Marilyn a happy birthday.

It was a very hot day, and emergency personnel from the police and fire services were on hand when one participant became ill from the heat.

Scott Nevins then announced a special surprise and introduced professional Marilyn Monroe tribute artist Alisha Soper. Dressed in a skin-tight red dress and blonde wig, she looked remarkably like Marilyn herself. Fans lined up for photos as she posed and greeted the crowd.

When Nevins invited her to sing, she performed two of Marilyn's most famous songs. She sang I Wanna Be Loved By You, followed by Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend. The crowd enthusiastically sang along.

What a way to celebrate Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday—by not just breaking a world record, but smashing it by a huge number while throwing one unforgettable Palm Springs party.