15970GAZETTE & HERALD: MOTHER-of-two Melanie Gowans has come out of self-imposed retirement to bring her alter ego Marilyn Monroe back to life again.

The 32-year-old, of Braemor Road, Calne, hung up her blond bombshell outfit ten years ago before the birth of the first of her three children.

She had previously won a look-alike contest in a national newspaper, performed on stage with Bucks Fizz and toured the country before having her children.

Now, after being bitten by the Marilyn bug at a charity show, she is back ending her 10-year itch.

Mrs Gowans said: "I was toying with the idea for a long time.

"I was at the height of my career when I gave up.

"But I am still young enough and want to do it again while I still can.

"I did a couple of charity shows and that's what got me back into it.

"People kept on at me to be Marilyn again and I have been bitten by the bug.

"I love performing anything to do with Marilyn because she's loved by everyone.

"My kids absolutely adore Marilyn and are firmly behind me."

Mrs Gowans, 32, first decided to become a Marilyn impersonator when her hairdresser encouraged her to go blonde.

Soon after, people stopped the mum-of-three in the street, waved at her, and called her Marilyn.

The real Marylin Monroe, or Norma Jean, died in 1962 in her Los Angeles home aged just 36, after allegedly taking an overdose of sleeping tablets.