Yes, Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe did meet, and their relationship over the years has been ripe for speculation. Though they were not especially close, the two overlapped in Hollywood in the 1950s, and their relationship has often been characterized as one more of rivalry than friendship.
Both women became iconic sex symbols and had what were strikingly similar career trajectories, which understandably resulted in often inevitable comparisons. Marilyn Monroe, already one of the biggest stars in the world by the time Jayne Mansfield hit her stride, was known as the reigning queen of Hollywood’s golden age. Jayne, with her dazzling blonde features and curvaceous body, frequently described as a younger, more overtly sexual Monroe-esque creature, inspired countless mentions in the papers that put the two in competition.
Despite the similarities in their public personas, their interactions were reportedly cordial, but the rivalry was palpable. Some accounts suggest that Jayne may have tried to emulate Marilyn’s success, even adopting a similar blonde bombshell image and working with the same studio, 20th Century Fox. However, there were also reports that Monroe may have been uncomfortable with Jayne’s growing popularity, possibly due to the fact that Jayne was often seen as a direct competitor.
The most famous meeting between the two occurred at a Hollywood party in 1957. It is said that the two women shared a brief and somewhat frosty conversation, with Monroe reportedly seeming distant and unimpressed by Jayne’s attempts at friendly banter. Nevertheless, there are other accounts that suggest the meeting wasn’t entirely negative and that the women exchanged pleasantries.
In terms of their relationship, there’s little evidence to suggest they were close friends. While both women were highly publicized in the media and often played up their own public personas, there wasn’t much indication of a deeper personal connection. In fact, Jayne Mansfield's often overt sexuality and her efforts to position herself as a rival to Marilyn Monroe likely contributed to a sense of tension between them.
Ultimately, while their relationship may have been one of mild rivalry, both women remain legends in their own right, each contributing to the entertainment world in ways that still resonate today.