Marilyn Monroe, the Hollywood icon and sex symbol, may have appeared less glamorous in death than in life, according to Allan Abbott, the head of a funeral service that helped prepare her body for burial.

Abbott, who reportedly ran a popular funeral service for celebrities in the 1960s, said that Monroe’s body was “almost unrecognisable” when they uncovered it.

“She looked like a very average, ageing woman who had not been taking very good care of herself”, he said in a “tell-all book about his graphic work for the stars”.

Abbott described several physical attributes that may have contributed to Monroe’s less-than-stellar appearance, including hair that had not been bleached “for some time” and had grown out by “about half an inch”.

Monroe’s natural hair colour was “a light brown, not blonde”, he said. Abbott also observed that Monroe’s legs “hadn’t been shaved for at least a week, and her lips were badly chapped.

She was also in need of a manicure and pedicure.”

Abbott’s book also revealed that Monroe was laid to rest without any underwear because she “never wore panties” during her life.

The Daily Star, which first reported Abbott’s claims, noted that this detail was likely to add to Monroe’s mystique, as she had a reputation for being a provocative and seductive figure.

Despite her less-than-ideal appearance in death, Abbott acknowledged Monroe’s status as a Hollywood legend.

“I never looked at Marilyn Monroe as a movie star or an icon or anything like that. She was just another human being that had passed on”, he said.

Abbott’s funeral service reportedly handled the arrangements for several other famous people, including Greta Garbo and James Dean.

Abbott’s book, which is entitled “The Funniest Man in the World”, also includes details about his encounters with other celebrities, such as Frank Sinatra and Marlene Dietrich.

The revelations about Monroe’s appearance in death are likely to fuel ongoing interest in the star, who died at the age of 36 in 1962.

Monroe’s life and career have been the subject of numerous biographies, documentaries, and films, and she remains a cultural icon more than six decades after her death.

Abbott’s book provides a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of funeral services for celebrities, including the often-grim realities of preparing bodies for burial.

While his account may be unsettling for some readers, it sheds light on the less-glamorous aspects of show business and reminds us that even the most famous and glamorous individuals are ultimately mortal.

Despite the revelations about her appearance, Marilyn Monroe’s legacy as a cultural icon and sex symbol is likely to endure for years to come.

As Abbott observed in his book, “Marilyn Monroe will always be remembered as the quintessential movie star, the symbol of glamour and beauty in Hollywood.”