9. Marilyn Monroe
Monroe dropped out of Van Nuys High School in L.A. after marrying her first husband, James Dougherty, in 1942. As a merchant marine, Dougherty was deployed for two years, during which she began modeling for photographer David Conover. In 1945, she landed a contract with the Blue Book Model Agency, and one year later scored acting gigs in Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! and Dangerous Years.
