Pamela's Natural Look
90s Playboy 'It girl' has opted out of red carpet glam and is embracing her natural beauty, unexpectedly beginning a movement of women to follow suit.
Pamela Anderson going make-up free at the Golden Globes red carpet 2025. Image courtesy of Amy Sussman/Getty Images, available at Town & Country. ⓒ All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Pamela Anderson is a household name; the Playboy and Baywatch star dominated the 90s with her seductive, rockstar beauty alongside her high-profile relationship with Tommy Lee, the drummer of the popular 80s/90s rock band, Mötley Crüe; plastering tabloids and fashion magazines, being one of the biggest power couples of that decade and in popular culture. However, the superstar has ditched the contour and eyeliner for moisturizers and serums as she embraces her natural beauty at big events and unexpectedly began an empowering movement amongst women to do the same, altering the beauty industry and the shackles of unattainable standards women face every day.
Pamela Anderson’s iconic 90s look that she has recently ditched. Image courtesy of Getty Images, available at Byrdie. ⓒ All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
The root of her decision to go make-up free is actually rather sentimental and heartwarming. She made this choice after the death of her iconic make-up artist, Alexis Vogel, who had been the creator behind Anderson's iconic looks since the 90s. Vogel passed away from breast cancer in 2019 and since then, Anderson has not hired another makeup artist, choosing to honor the artist as well as raising awareness of breast cancer by ditching her staple full-glam looks, drawing attention to her and, as a result, the cause of her decision. Through this process, the Playboy star has described her new minimalist look in an interview with Elle as, "freeing, and fun, and a little rebellious too."
The 57-year-old has embraced the natural process of aging, something that is scrutinized and heavily judged in society today, particularly by the media, beginning a movement amongst middle-aged and older women in particular to also embrace their natural, aging appearance and not feel the pressure to cover up.
Pamela Anderson in her staple full-glam look vs her makeup-free look in 2024. Images courtesy of Barry King/Getty Images and Taylor Hill/Filmmagic, available at: People Magazine ⓒ All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Her awareness raised around unrealistic beauty standards has been incredibly impactful for women; the ability to have a choice over how we present ourselves and not attempting to fit a specific and ever-changing mold built by men or the media. The Last Showgirl star told Vogue France, "I'm not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room. I feel like it's just freedom," she added. "It's a release." Anderson has always been one to stand out and rebel when it comes to conforming to the 'beauty ideals', the Hollywood actress once again showing us her love to go against the grains of media and trends, creating her own new look and showing many other women that it's ok to be your natural, authentic self—there should not be a negative stigma around not wearing makeup as a woman.
In the process of finding herself and her own natural journey, Anderson has catalyzed a vast rise in awareness for the negative and potentially harmful effects of beauty culture and the beauty industry; the expectations and trends they convey to women. Her make-up free campaign, of course, caused some uproar on social media—particularly amongst men—with the change in her appearance being drastic and many not understanding the significance of such a choice for herself as well as other women.
Pamela Anderson showcases her new natural look at Paris Fashion Week for the Vivienne Westwood FW23 show. Image courtesy of Getty Images, available at Allure. ⓒ All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Many may argue that the iconic image of Baywatch phenomenon and face of Playboy, Pamela Anderson, has vanished, but I—along with many others—believe this new version of the star is the start of an incredibly beautiful movement within the fashion and beauty industry; a much-needed shift in perspective and expectations to change unrealistic and harmful expectations for women to meet. Pamela Anderson has become a beacon of empowerment for women, especially aging women, to embrace their natural beauty and the process of growing old, showing us there is beauty in fine lines and wrinkles.
