Marilyn Monroe is one of the most adored icons of the 20th century. Like no other Hollywood star, she won the hearts of millions around the world, but her journey to become Hollywood's most glamorous and beautiful star stemmed from a lifetime of neglect. Born Norma Jean Baker, she endured a childhood of poverty, misery and abuse and married at the age of sixteen to escape that life. The marriage soon dissolved, and Norma Jean headed to Hollywood where she won a one-year contract with 20th-Century Fox and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. Struggling to get parts, and broke, she agreed to pose nude in Playboy magazine for $50, and these photographs catapulted Marilyn to superstardom. Despite her beautiful and relaxed public persona, Marilyn suffered from great insecurities about her acting abilities and often held up film shoots, which many considered unprofessional. Embroiled in a battle with Fox Studios, she left Hollywood for New York, but Fox met Marilyn's demands. Her victory became a landmark case and showed her power as an actress. In high spirits, she returned to Hollywood, but again fell into a pattern of chronic insomnia and instability. On August 4th, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead at just 36 years of age from a probable suicide, but the world's fascination with Marilyn Monroe lives on to this day.