"Everyone's heard blonde jokes," said Fern Magnin, the BLDC's recently named official spokeswoman, said in a statement. "People (especially male people) assume you're a bimbo. It's like you're a sculpture--pretty to look at but unable to speak or think. Well, I can change a light bulb on my own, thank you very much. We're not going to stand for it anymore."

The BLDC, the official sponsor of National Blonde Day, was created in response to prejudice against blonde lawyers.

"We aren't taken seriously," said Elle Woods, the BLDC's founding member and a Harvard Law School student.

The BLDC's mission is threefold: to stop the widespread belief that blondes are dumb; to destroy blonde stereotypes; and to make sure that hair color isn't a factor in either a work or social environment.

The club's motto is: "Be true to your roots."

For more information on National Blonde Day, or the BLDC, call its hotline at (888) 746-7646, or visit the Web site at www.nationalblondeday.com.

No, not really.

Well, there will be a National Blonde Day, but the holiday, Web site, hotline and the BLDC are the brainchild of MGM executives looking for a novel way to promote their film Legally Blonde, starring Reese Witherspoon.

Witherspoon plays Elle Woods, who seemingly has it all: the looks, the bod, the blonde hair and the cutest boy on campus. But when her Prince Charming can't pop the question because Elle is "too blonde," Elle rallies all her resources to follow him to the Harvard Law School and win him back, and to win acceptance for all blondes.

Fern Magnin, the BLDC's spokeswoman, also is another character from the film.

With all the summer action blockbusters receiving the majority of the hype, MGM had to find a new way to market the movie, one a little off-center.

Legally Blonde will be released July 13, the same weekend as the highly anticipated action-flick Final Fantasy, one week after Scary Movie 2--the initial Scary Movie raked in more than $150 million--and one week prior to Jurassic Park 3. The Lost World: Jurassic Park holds the record for the highest opening weekend take at more than $90 million.

"MGM has been incredibly creative," said Cosmopolitan's entertainment editor, Jennifer Furmaniak, who admits to having blonde highlights. "People think it's real, which is funny.

"There's always been an ongoing debate. Who has more fun, blondes or brunettes? Who's smarter, brunettes or blondes? MGM has made a fun movie from something people identify with in their daily lives.

"National Blonde Day is fun, cute, and campy."

There's been a great response to the Blonde Legal Defense Club, MGM publicist Orna Zadeh said.

"The hotline is ringing off the hook" Zadeh said. "People are really into it; people think [National Blonde Day] is a real holiday. So we're going to make it a real event."

MGM is certainly treating it as a real holiday. On Monday, July 9, there will be free dye jobs--blonde, of course--by Vidal Sassoon in 10 major markets and at other local hairdressers across the country.

MGM also will hold free screenings of the movie on National Blonde Day. And one lucky entrant into the official online contest will win a free trip to the premiere in Hollywood and the premiere party.

And MGM is not the only one turning this into something for blondes to celebrate. Cosmopolitan also is running a contest to turn 10 women into the Cosmopolitan Blonde Bombshells.

Contestants must write a 300-word essay on "why blondes are as brilliant as brunettes." The winners will receive a free blonding hair-color process, a cosmetic makeover, a trip to the premiere, an outfit from XOXO to wear to the premiere, and access to the premiere party.