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Is Kim Kardashian The Next Marilyn Monroe?

Gabi Duncan |
February 25, 2014 | 10:39 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci believes Kim K. is the new Monroe (Twitter @Cosmopolitan).
Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci believes Kim K. is the new Monroe (Twitter @Cosmopolitan).
Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci certainly thinks so.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Tisci called Kim Kardashian the "Monroe of our age."

"I met her as a girlfriend of a good friend," he said. "I just wanted a moment with her to understand – and I fell in love. People think she's like a doll, but actually she's tough and clever."

He continued, "It's not so much the beauty of people, but the talent, the roots, the intelligence that concern me. I love people who are not scared to fight for their own rights and have their own point of view. The world is big: the music world is big, the art world is big and the fashion world is big, but I think you can recognize a tribe in the similarity of people."

It sounds like someone is enamored with the E! reality television star. And he isn't the only one. Tisci's comments sound very similar to those of Kardashian's outspoken fiancé Kanye West.

READ MORE: Marilyn Monroe: Her Legacy Endures Through Celebrity A-Listers

In November, West blasted Vanity Fair for featuring supermodel Kate Upton in its Marilyn Monroe-themed photo shoot for the magazine's 100th issue. Of course, he felt his baby mama would have been a better choice.

Marilyn Monroe is one of Hollywood's eternal movie stars (Twitter @RJMoncada).
Marilyn Monroe is one of Hollywood's eternal movie stars (Twitter @RJMoncada).
"I have a love-hate relationship with the paparazzi, but I actually love them because they are empowering us," West said during a radio interview with Power 105. "They are empowering us over Vanity Fair that wants to say that Kate Upton is Marilyn Monroe. Kate Upton ain't Marilyn Monroe. Kim is Marilyn Monroe."

Carine Roitfeld, editor of the CR Fashion Book, even jumped on the bandwagon saying, "First of all, she's beautiful – and in fashion, that is a talent you know. She's controversial, but so was Marilyn Monroe."

Kardashian is controversial, mainly because of her polarizing public persona. She has the unique ability to make you both love her and loathe her simultaneously. She is unapologetic about splashing her exorbitant lifestyle all over the tabloids, yet the world remains obsessed with her every move.  

But, does that make her the next Hollywood legend? Sure, she is attractive, famous, glamorous, rich and sexy, but is she an icon?

The only similarity between Kardashian and Monroe is their overpowering sexuality. Monroe was never shy about using her voluptuous curves to her advantage. She wielded her sex appeal to gain power within the industry and over men. Sound familiar? Kardashian's infamous sex tape with ex-boyfriend Ray J basically launched her career, and she used that notoriety to transform herself into a global brand.

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Nevertheless, it's almost impossible to compare anyone to the force of nature that was Marilyn Monroe. It ruins her legacy to even imply that she could be replaced in any way. The original blonde bombshell possessed an effortless charisma, beauty, grace and mystery that still goes unmatched.

Despite her faults – and she definitely had some – Monroe is celebrated in show business because of her talent as an actress and singer. Her physical attractiveness often overshadows the fact that she starred in almost 30 movies throughout her career and received numerous Golden Globe nominations for her work.

Although Kardashian is talented too, it’s in a completely different sense. Her talent comes from her ability to capitalize on her celebrity to market herself and make money. But in the end, her accomplishments, at least so far, simply cannot rival Monroe’s.

Reach Executive Producer Gabi Duncan here. Follow her on Twitter.



 

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