How it Ended

Monroe and Dougherty’s relationship ended in 1946 when they divorced. As outlined in the contract she signed with 20th Century Fox, she needed to be unmarried. By this time, Norma Jeane had fully embraced her new identity as Marilyn Monroe and was pursuing a career in Hollywood with fervor. On the other hand, Dougherty sought a quieter, more conventional life.

Monroe’s ambition and newfound independence clashed with Dougherty’s desire for a traditional marriage. The divorce was amicable, but it marked the definitive end of a chapter in both their lives, paving the way for Monroe’s ascent to stardom and Dougherty’s retreat from the public eye.