A thousand "Marilyns" in California broke the Guinness World Record
In California, more than a thousand people dressed up as Marilyn Monroe at the same time and set a new Guinness World Record. The event was part of a major celebration marking the legendary actress’s anniversary and brought together participants from various U.S. states.
In Palm Springs, California, a massive Marilyn Monroe transformation took place, turning into a true mass spectacle, where hundreds of people in white dresses and blonde wigs simultaneously recreated the actress’s iconic look and officially made it into the Guinness World Records, gathering 1,037 participants in one place near the symbolic “Marilyn Forever” statue.
The event took place on May 30 and was part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of Hollywood’s most famous stars, and the organizers immediately emphasized that this was not just entertainment, but also a way to highlight Monroe’s cultural legacy, which remains an important part of the city’s history. Palm Springs was not chosen by chance, as this city played a significant role in the life and career of the actress, who began her journey in Hollywood under the name Norma Jeane Mortenson, and here her name is still actively used as part of the city’s tourism brand and urban legend.
People of all ages joined the event—from children to seniors, as well as tourists and fans of the actress who traveled from various U.S. states specifically to be part of an event that, for a few hours, transformed the city into a living stage of classic Hollywood. Organizers from Palm Springs Pride and local organizations provided participants with wigs, white dresses, photo zones, and themed installations, while stylists worked nonstop to help create identical yet unique looks designed to unite people into one big “Marilyn Army.”
Stylist Ted Gibson, whose team was responsible for hundreds of blonde wigs, summed up the event’s atmosphere with a simple phrase: “All the wigs here are the same, but every transformation reveals its own Marilyn”—and this sentiment effectively became the central theme of the entire event. Separate photo zones, exhibitions, and themed activities were set up for guests, and at the special Marilyn Boutique, visitors could purchase costumes and souvenirs, as well as recreate the famous scene from the film *The Seven Year Itch*, which has long been a symbol of the actress.
As a result, the organizers officially set a record—1,037 people simultaneously transformed into Marilyn Monroe—and this event became one of the largest in the world dedicated to the actress’s memory, once again confirming that her image remains recognizable decades after her death. This was reported by the NYT.
