“She’s not really beautiful. Put her in a potato sack, and no one would look at her twice.”

American columnist
Edith Gwynn

June 1, 2025 — — Marilyn Monroe died of a barbiturate overdose late in the evening of Saturday, August 4, 1962, at her 12305 Fifth Helena Drive home in Los Angeles, California. Her body was discovered before dawn on Sunday, August 5. On the same day, Nelson Mandela was arrested in Durban, South Africa. Almost everyone has heard the conspiracy theory about Monroe being murdered by the CIA. Sadly, almost no one knows that the arrest of Nelson Mandela was made possible by a tip-off from the CIA. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
(July 18, 1918 – Dec. 5, 2013)

Marilyn Monroe was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, as Norma Jeane Mortenson. She later took the name Norma Jeane Baker and eventually became known worldwide as Marilyn Monroe. She died far too young, on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36.

In early 1952, Monroe attended a party at the Beverly Hills Hotel wearing a form-fitting red dress. Her choice drew criticism from some columnists. Notably, Edith Gwynn of the Los Angeles Mirror reportedly called her look “cheap and vulgar,” claiming her beauty was nothing more than styling, clothes, and makeup.

In response, Twentieth Century Fox staged a cheeky photo shoot in 1951. Marilyn was dressed in a burlap potato sack — custom-tailored to flatter her figure — and posed barefoot on a plain set. The message? Even wrapped in a potato sack, Marilyn’s radiance couldn’t be dimmed.

The photos were a sensation. An insult had been flipped into iconic publicity. More than just glamorous, Marilyn showed wit, confidence, and control over her own narrative — a masterclass in turning mockery into power.

To all the young girls out there: This is a timeless reminder. You don’t need designer clothes or expensive makeup to be beautiful or worthy of love. Be yourself — everybody else is already taken.

Did You Know?

Marilyn Monroe died of a barbiturate overdose late on the evening of Saturday, August 4, 1962, at her home on Fifth Helena Drive in Los Angeles. Her body was discovered before dawn the next day, Sunday, August 5.

On that same day, Nelson Mandela was arrested in Durban, South Africa — the beginning of 27 years in prison. The CIA has long been linked to his arrest, reportedly tipping off the apartheid regime.

While many have heard the baseless conspiracy theories surrounding Monroe’s death, few know the very real story of how American intelligence helped silence Mandela.

Mandela was released on February 11, 1990, and went on to lead South Africa out of apartheid, serving as president from 1994 to 1999. Ironically, he remained on the U.S. terror watch list until 2008.

He also never accepted the official story about the Lockerbie bombing — and history continues to prove he had good reason.

Once again…

REFERENCES

Nelson Mandela: CIA tip-off led to 1962 Durban arrest — BBC News

By the way, she would have been 99 years old today. In Japanese, the 99th year is called 白寿 (hakujū) — “the white year.” Why “white”? The kanji for 100 is 百 (hyaku). Remove the top stroke (which looks like “one” — 一), and you’re left with 白 (shiro), meaning “white.” So 99 becomes: 100 minus 1 = white. A beautiful symbol of longevity and quiet strength — just like her legend.

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Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken. [Marilyn Monroe & Nelson Mandela]

“It was pure expediency to call on democratic South Africa to turn its back on Libya and Qaddafi, who had assisted us in obtaining democracy at a time when those who now made that call were the friends of the enemies of democracy in South Africa.”

Nelson Mandela

Cape Town (June 13 1999)