The Marilyn Monroe Effect: Activate Your Inner “Star Power” Instantly - Episode 015

Unlocking the Marilyn Monroe Effect: How to Instantly Step Into Your Most Magnetic Self

What do Marilyn Monroe, Superman, and Beyoncé all have in common?

They each mastered the art of stepping into a powerful persona on command, one that radiates confidence, shifts energy in a room, and leaves people captivated.

I discuss what’s called The Marilyn Monroe Effect—a phenomenon rooted in mindset, presence, and the belief that you can embody the version of yourself you most want to become.

Here’s what you’ll learn (and how you can use it to level up in your personal and professional life):

Presence is a mindset, not a personality

One of the most powerful takeaways from Marilyn Monroe’s story is that she didn’t become iconic because of her looks—she became iconic because of her energy.

Her friend Amy Greene once described how Marilyn could be completely unnoticeable walking down a New York sidewalk. Then, with a simple question—“Do you want to see me become her?”—she’d flip an internal switch. And suddenly, everyone noticed.

This wasn’t magic. It was intention. Marilyn understood that how you carry yourself begins with what you believe about yourself. If you walk into a room thinking “I don’t belong,” your body and energy will follow that narrative. If you choose to believe you do? You show up differently—and people feel it.

“Acting as if”

Psychologists refer to this as the “act as if” principle: adopting the thoughts, feelings, and posture of the person you want to be, until your reality catches up.

This doesn’t mean pretending to be someone you’re not. It means embodying a version of yourself that already exists within you—the version that’s confident, present, and bold. Whether it’s a big meeting, a first date, or stepping into a leadership role, you can choose to channel that energy on purpose.

Even brands can do this, and thrive

The Marilyn Monroe Effect doesn’t just apply to people. It applies to brands, too. Just look at Old Spice. Once considered your grandpa’s aftershave, the brand didn’t change its product—it changed its persona.

With bold, humorous, over-the-top campaigns like “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,” Old Spice went from stale to culturally iconic almost overnight. The lesson? Sometimes it’s not about changing what you do, but how you show up.

The Law of Assumption makes this even more powerful

Melody also weaves in the Law of Assumption—the belief that what you assume to be true becomes true in your lived experience. Marilyn didn’t just hope to be a star. She assumed the identity of one long before the world caught on.

If you can assume the mindset, posture, and energy of the person you want to become, you begin to create conditions for that identity to emerge in your reality.

Ready to step into your Marilyn moment?
Whether you're a creator, a leader, or someone trying to break free from self-doubt, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable steps to help you own the room and own your story.