Jayne Mansfield was the rival of Marilyn Monroe, a 1950s and ‘60s sex symbol, and one of the first actresses to challenge Hollywood’s censorship.
But behind the glamour was a life filled with scandal, chaos, and a gruesome death. Here are 15 shocking facts about Jayne Mansfield.
1. She was marketed as “the new Marilyn Monroe”
When Marilyn Monroe became the biggest star in the world during the 1950s, Hollywood went looking for a second version of her.
Jayne Mansfield was discovered and immediately dubbed “the bargain-basement Marilyn.” She had the same blonde hair, curves, and flirtatious look—but was far more provocative and shameless.
2. She was smarter than Hollywood wanted to admit
Jayne was always portrayed as a dumb blonde, but in reality, she was gifted and intelligent.
Her IQ was estimated at 163—higher than Albert Einstein—and she spoke five languages fluently. But Hollywood didn’t want a smart blonde, so she played along.
3. She was the first American actress to go topless in a major film
In 1963, Jayne starred in Promises! Promises!, where she appeared fully nude—something unheard of in Hollywood at the time.
The film was banned in several states, but it only made Jayne more notorious and in demand.
4. She was banned from Hollywood for being too sexual
Where Marilyn Monroe was subtle and mysterious, Jayne went all-in on provocation. She wore dresses that barely held together, showed up half-naked at parties, and dared the press to photograph her.
Eventually, Hollywood couldn’t take it anymore, and she stopped getting major roles because she had become too controversial.
5. Her most famous photo was an accident
In 1957, Jayne Mansfield was photographed next to Sophia Loren, who was clearly eyeing her over-the-top cleavage with disapproval.
The photo went viral around the world and became one of the most famous paparazzi shots ever.
Sophia Loren later said, “I couldn’t look anywhere else. I was afraid her dress would split at any moment.”
6. She had five children, including actress Mariska Hargitay
Jayne was the mother of five children. Her daughter Mariska Hargitay, best known from Law & Order: SVU, was only three years old when her mother died.
Mariska still bears a scar from the car crash that killed her mother.
7. She had an affair with John F. Kennedy
Like Marilyn Monroe, Jayne also allegedly had an affair with President John F. Kennedy.
But unlike Marilyn, Jayne didn’t care if people knew. She even had photos taken on purpose to spark gossip.
Kennedy’s family wanted nothing to do with her and cut ties quickly.
8. She had a bizarre friendship with Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan
Jayne had a short but infamous friendship with Anton LaVey, the man who founded the Church of Satan.
LaVey claimed Jayne was a satanic priestess and that he had protected her with dark forces.
Some even believe a curse was placed on her that foretold her death.
9. She made more money from nightclub gigs than films
When Hollywood dropped her, Jayne Mansfield started doing nightclub performances.
She appeared in sexually charged shows where she sang in bikinis and seduced men on stage. Scandalous for the time—but more lucrative than movies.
10. She was the queen of PR stunts
Jayne knew exactly how to attract media attention.
She showed up at parties with pink-dressed dogs, jumped into pools fully clothed, and always made sure photographers caught her at the perfect moment.
Without social media, she still managed to stay in the spotlight.
11. She lied about her age
Many Hollywood stars did this, but Jayne took it to the extreme.
She claimed to be much younger than she really was and changed her birthdate several times in interviews.
Even after her death, some people still didn’t know how old she truly was.
12. She had major financial problems
Despite always being in the limelight, Jayne Mansfield was often broke.
She lived an extravagant lifestyle but didn’t earn enough to sustain it. When her film career collapsed, things only got worse.
13. She was obsessed with the color pink
Jayne Mansfield loved pink so much that she had her entire house—The Pink Palace—painted pink.
She had pink bathrooms, pink carpets, and even a heart-shaped pink pool.
After her death, the house was sold to Engelbert Humperdinck, who eventually had it demolished.
14. Her death was a gruesome car crash
On June 29, 1967, Jayne Mansfield was driving in Louisiana with her boyfriend and three of her children.
Their car crashed at high speed into a truck. Jayne, her boyfriend, and the driver died instantly. Her three children—including Mariska Hargitay—survived.
15. The myth that she was decapitated isn’t true
After her death, rumors spread that Jayne was decapitated. This started because a blonde wig was found on the road after the crash.
In reality, her skull was crushed, but she was not completely decapitated.
Her death was so shocking that safety bars on trucks are now known as “Mansfield bars.”
A tragic ending for an icon
Jayne Mansfield wasn’t just a sex symbol. She was smart, shameless, and knew exactly how to stay famous.
But her life ended in chaos, financial trouble, and one of Hollywood’s most gruesome deaths.
