Preparations for a significant birthday celebration are underway. President Trump is organizing an event for America’s 250th year with a large metal structure on the South Lawn for U.F.C. cage fights. His rally has fewer celebrities, which he dismisses by claiming he’s more popular than Elvis.

Meanwhile, millions of dollars intended for a nonpartisan celebration have been redirected by Trump for his birthday, blending national celebration with personal glorification.

In contrast, Marilyn Monroe’s centennial is celebrated globally. This includes an exhibition in a Paris film museum titled ‘Cent Ans de Fascination,’ a display in the National Portrait Gallery in London, a concert in Japan, and a collection of costumes and artifacts in L.A.’s Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Palm Springs hosts a look-alike contest celebrating her iconic ‘Seven Year Itch’ dress.

Norma Jeane Mortenson, who faced multiple personal challenges, from a troubled upbringing to predatory encounters in Hollywood, is now receiving widespread admiration. Starting as the 1948 Artichoke Queen in Castroville, she transformed herself into Marilyn Monroe, creating a glamorous persona over deep-seated personal struggles. Monroe described her Marilyn persona as a protective cover over Norma Jeane. Her childhood escapes to movies offered dreams of acceptance and success.

Marilyn’s journey from her challenging youth to becoming a cultural icon mirrors her on-screen persona of Sugar ‘Kane’ Kowalczyk in ‘Some Like It Hot,’ often finding herself at a disadvantage.