She Got Married At the Age of 16
When Norma Jeane was 16 years old, Berniece got a letter in the mail announcing her engagement to be married. Norma married Jim Dougherty in 1942, when the young man was 21 years of age. Dougherty joined the Merchant Navy after the young couple moved to Santa Catalina Island, which was where Norma Jeane would soon start her modeling career, leading her to become Marilyn.