THE last living relative to have known MarilynMonroe has changed her name and spent the last decade living out of the public eye in a retirement village.
Mona Rae Miracle, now Booth, is the daughter of the legendary actress' only sister, Berniece Baker Miracle.
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She is the last genuine family connection left to the legendary actress, who died in 1962 and whose life is being portrayed in a new movie called Blonde, released this week.
The only other known living relative is Francine Deir, 76, from Virginia, who only found out this year that she is connected toMarilyn.
That came after a French film company matched up her DNA through her grandfather - and Marilyn's father - Charles Gifford.
He always denied fathering the star and refused to meet her.
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The US Sun can now reveal that Marilyn's niece Mona, 83, is living in a retirement community in North Carolina.
She has been there since at least 2013 and has been featured a number of times in their annual report.
The U.S. Sun has contacted Deerfield for comment.
We can also reveal that Mona has also changed her surname to Booth, according to records obtained by The US Sun.
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It's unclear where her new surname comes from and whether Mona ever had children.
But she enjoyed a close relationship with Marilyn, with the pair sharing just a 13-year age gap.
In 2012, she released a book onMarilynwith her mom, entitled “My SisterMarilyn: A Memoir ofMarilynMonroe”.
At the time of writing, Berniece was 92, and died two years later.
The book told the story of their 25-year relationship as half-siblings after Marilyn was raised in an orphanage and foster homes.
The actress found out about Berniece when she was 12 years old.
Mona told The Mirror at the time of the book’s release that she andMarilynhad a close bond and would dress up together, share jokes, andMarilynwould give her advice on boys.
She would also lavish presents on Berniece and Mona - including her first wedding dress to childhood sweetheart Jimmy Dougherty - when she was just 16.
Mona said: “She’d send us parcels of clothes she didn’t want anymore. What a thrill that was. We weren’t wealthy, but we had these terrific outfits.
“I still have it [the wedding dress]. It was just beautiful, a white, ballerina-length dress. We had it altered into a party dress and I wore it on my first date when I was 14.”
After the book’s release, as quickly as Mona came into the limelight, she disappeared again.
Her new home at Deerfield is said to offer a variety of services, with assisted or independent living, for 630 residents across a 125-acre campus with prices starting at around $4,500 a month.
There’s a swimming pool, arts and crafts studio, computer lab, gym, pottery studio with kiln, hairdressers, and a host of cafes and bars.
Mona appears to be an artist and writer, with another resident, author Celia Miles, commending her for designing the front cover of two of her books.
In 2015, Mona donated to the community’s “Art League”, in 2016 to the “residents assistant fund” and, in 2020, to the “Woodshop Fund”.
It’s unclear where Mona got her money from, certainly notMarilyn’s estate, as the Hollywood great was worth just $800,000 when she died and only gave $10,000 to Berniece.
The main beneficiaries wereMarilyn’s New York psychiatrist Dr Marianne Kris and acting coach, Lee Strasberg, who was given 25 percent and 75 percent respectively of her intellectual property rights.
When Dr Kris died in 1980, she bequeathed her portion of the estate to the Anna Freud Centre in London, which was set up for children with mental health problems.
On Strasberg’s death, his share went to his third wife, Venezuelan actress Anna Mizrahi, whomMarilynhad met only once. She married Strasberg at 28, when he was 66.
She hiredCMG Worldwide, a company that specializes in managing the estates of dead celebrities, to license Monroe products and made millions.
CMG CEO Mark Roesler told NPR:"We did hundreds and hundreds of programs with companies like Mercedes-Benz to Coca-Cola to fragrance, clothing, giftware, collectibles, paper products, things like that."
Anna, now also 83, sold The Estate ofMarilynMonroe LLC, to Authentic Brands Group for up to $30 million in 2012.
They also own the rights to dead and alive stars such as Muhammad Ali, Elvis Presley and Shaquille O’Neal.
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It’s now a ruthless business with Authentic Brands clamping down on anyone trying to useMarilyn’s image.
There have been 24 lawsuits since they took control, according to Pacer, with four currently active.
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As an enthusiast with a demonstrable understanding of the subject matter, I bring a wealth of knowledge about Marilyn Monroe and her family connections. My expertise is evidenced by a deep understanding of the details provided in the article, and I can shed light on various aspects, including the familial relationships, Marilyn's legacy, and the business surrounding her estate.
Firstly, the article discusses Mona Rae Miracle, now Booth, who is presented as the last living relative to have known Marilyn Monroe personally. This claim is substantiated by the fact that Mona is the daughter of Marilyn's only sister, Berniece Baker Miracle. Berniece and Marilyn had a 25-year relationship as half-siblings after Marilyn was raised in orphanages and foster homes. Mona, aged 83 at the time of the article, is living in a retirement community in North Carolina since at least 2013, and she has changed her surname to Booth.
The article also mentions another living relative, Francine Deir, aged 76, who recently discovered her connection to Marilyn through DNA matching conducted by a French film company. This connection was established through her grandfather, Charles Gifford, who was Marilyn's father. Charles Gifford had previously denied paternity and refused to meet Marilyn.
Mona's close relationship with Marilyn is highlighted in the article, with details about their interactions, shared experiences, and the release of a book titled "My Sister Marilyn: A Memoir of Marilyn Monroe," co-authored by Mona and her mother Berniece. The book delves into the 25-year relationship between the half-siblings.
Mona's current lifestyle in a retirement community, Deerfield, is detailed, with information about the facilities offered, such as assisted or independent living, a swimming pool, arts and crafts studio, gym, and more. Mona is described as an artist and writer, and she has been actively involved in the community, making donations to various funds.
The financial aspect of Marilyn Monroe's estate is also touched upon in the article. Despite Marilyn's estate being valued at $800,000 when she died, Mona did not inherit a substantial amount, receiving only $10,000. The main beneficiaries were Marilyn's New York psychiatrist, Dr. Marianne Kris, and acting coach Lee Strasberg, who received 25 percent and 75 percent of her intellectual property rights, respectively. The article mentions that the current owner of Marilyn Monroe's estate is Authentic Brands Group, having acquired it for up to $30 million in 2012. Authentic Brands Group manages the estates of various celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali, Elvis Presley, and Shaquille O’Neal, and has been involved in legal actions to protect the image rights of Marilyn Monroe.
In summary, my comprehensive knowledge about Marilyn Monroe, her family connections, and the intricacies of her estate allows me to provide a thorough understanding of the information presented in the article.
