The 48-year-old model's return to the runway

Sophie Dahl, the former runway model turned best-selling author, has resurfaced on the covers of fashion magazines to mark the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth.

The 48-year-old, long celebrated for her striking blonde curls, pin-up curves and baby-blue eyes, posed for a dedicated Harper's Bazaar UK feature that re-creates the iconic 1957 beach phtoographs taken by Sam Shaw in Amagansett, Long Island.

A personal essay on Marilyn Monroe's lasting impact

Beyond the visual homage, Dahl contributed a deeply personal essay that explores the lasting impact of Monroe on her own life.

She recounts the moment she first saw the Hollywood star as a child while staying with her father, the late Carry-On actor Julian Holloway.

"I was seven years old on the morning I saw her, a hazy princess on the cover of a book called The Last Sitting," she writes, recalling how the image of Monroe's platinum-blonde hair and smiling face became the most beautiful sight she had ever known.

From model to author: Sophie Dahl's creative journey

The Harper's Bazaar spread marks Dahl's first modelling work since she stepped away from the catwalk in 2007 to focus on writing, following in the literary footsteps of her grandfather, the celebrated author Roald Dahl.

Her modelling career, launched at age 18 when she was discovered by legendary fashion editor Isabella Blow, included high-profile campaigns for Versace and Alexander McQueen and appearances on countless international magazine covers.

The tribute to Marilyn Monroe: a celebration of pop-culture icons

The tribute to Monroe not only celebrates the legendary actress's centenary but also underscores the enduring influence of pop-culture icons on successive generations of artists and storytellers.

Sophie Dahl's essay serves as a testament to the lasting impact of Monroe's legacy,highlighting the ways in which the actress continues to inspire and influence new generations of artists and creatives.

Open questions

As the fashion industry continues to grapple with issues of representation and diversity, the question remains: how will the legacy of Marilyn Monroe be reinterpreted and reimagined in the years to come?

Will future generations of artists and creatives continue to draw inspiration from Monroe's iconic style and persona, or will they seek to create something entirely new and original?