The momentKim Kardashianfit into Marilyn Monroe’s famed “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress was caught on camera.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in Orlando, Florida, shared a video of Kardashian, 41, trying on the iconicJean Louisgown that she ultimately wore to the 2022 Met Gala on Monday. Ripley’s owns the nearly $5 million dress, which Monroe had to be sewn into it prior to her very sexy performance for President John F. Kennedy on May 19, 1962, at a Madison Square Garden fundraiser, just three months before she died.
“An emotional moment for@KimKardashianas she tried on the Marilyn Monroe ‘Happy Birthday’ dress for only the second time in history,” wrote Ripley’s on Instagram. “Great care was taken to preserve this piece of pop culture history. With input from garment conservationists, appraisers, and archivists, the garment’s condition was top priority. Believe It or Not! no alterations were to be made to the dress and Kim even changed into a replica after the red carpet!”
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In the clip, Kardashian says, “I’m just so grateful, even for the opportunity.”
The big moment came after Kardashian said she, at first,did not fit in the dress, according to aVogueinterview that went live after she walked the Met steps Monday. She said originally she tried on a replica for size, which fit perfectly. Then, the real thing was flown via private plane from Ripley’s to Kardashian’s California home.
John Shearer/Getty; KENA BETANCUR/getty
She then underwent a crash diet, insisting toVogue, “I didn’t starve myself, but I was so strict.” (Kardashiansaid on the Met Gala red carpetthat she lost 16 lbs in three weeks to fit into the gown.)
By the final fitting — which was seemingly last Saturday, when Kardashian and boyfriendPete Davidsonwere spotted visiting Ripley’s in Florida — the dress fit. In fact,Davidson’s arm, clad in red flannel, could be seen moving in and out of the shot in the museum’s new video.
John Shearer/Getty
Ripley’s encouraged fans of Monroe to visit the museum in the rest of their Instagram caption, saying, “Excited to see the Marilyn gown for yourself? It will be on display for a limited time at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood beginning Memorial Day weekend! Visitors will be able to get an up-close look at this stunning garment and other memorabilia from Marilyn, JFK, and even Kim! Link in bio for tickets!”
“I’m extremely respectful to the dress and what it means to American history. I would never want to sit in it or eat in it or have any risk of any damage to it and I won’t be wearing the kind of body makeup I usually do,” Kardashian toldVogue. “Everything had to be specifically timed and I had to practice walking up the stairs.”
source: people.com
