The New Pamela: An Icon’s Journey in Redefining Beauty
Image Courtesy: WWD
She was the face of a generation: the pencil-thin eyebrows, black and silver smokey eyes, and Playboy-model lips were the standard for every woman in the 90s. The “Pam Anderson look” was desired by many, but none could fully capture the essence of the iconic supermodel. However, these days Pamela Anderson is ditching heavy makeup to embrace a more natural “makeup-free” look – something that many are calling brave. With intense pressures from the industry to conform to youthful beauty standards, is stepping out with no makeup considered a courageous act?
Image Courtesy: Marie Claire
Late last year at Paris Fashion Week, Pamela Anderson, known for her striking beauty, did the one audacious thing no woman over 40 in the public eye is "brave" enough to do: attend a high-profile event completely bare-faced. Every unspoken rule was broken as she put her natural, glowing skin on display. Bold and unafraid, Anderson told Vogue that the decision to go makeup-free just felt right, “'I don't know, something just kind of came over me, and I was dressing in these beautiful clothes, and I thought, ‘I don't want to compete with the clothes.’”
For months afterward, Anderson continued this makeup-free streak, expressing the freedom that came with it. Even when she did apply makeup, it followed this natural approach. At the 2024 Met Gala, the star stunned in a rosy-cheeked, shimmery look that makeup artist Pat McGrath described as “an elevation of natural.”
Image Courtesy: PureWow
This new direction is a stark contrast to the makeup the Baywatch actress wore years ago. Anderson’s former long-time makeup artist, the late Alexis Vogel, characterized it as an intense process. The bombshell beat involved intricate eyeliner on the top and lower lash lines, a white-silver highlighter to the brow bones and eyelids, and a combination of lip liner, foundation, and plenty of gloss on the lips. Although adored by the celebrity, she tells Harper’s Bazaar that this look felt more like a character for her, “I always like to inhabit a character... I just feel like it’s like performance art. When you walk out the door, it should be fun.”
Image Courtesy: People
Perhaps not intentionally, Anderson’s decision to go makeup-free reflects a rebellious opposition to the beauty standards the industry has created. It is uncommon to see any celebrity without makeup, especially within this new age of filler and Botox to reverse the effects of aging. But the icon’s philosophy towards makeup challenges this anti-aging notion. She expresses this in her memoir, Love, Pamela, “Chasing youth is futile. All we can do is embrace who we are and be okay with where our feet stand right now.” Concealing face-lines or pigmentation with makeup isn’t what she believes it is for. Instead, she sees it as a way to experiment and have fun.
Image Courtesy: Allure
Anderson’s bare-faced look may signify a new direction toward natural beauty in the industry and society. Each year, the age when women start receiving Botox and anti-aging remedies gets increasingly younger. The fear of aging drives them to seek procedures for wrinkles and imperfections that don’t even exist yet. This oppressive beauty standard has existed since the dawn of Pamela Anderson’s career. Beauty and youth were the most prized possessions back then and they’ve remained strong all these years. Going makeup-free at age 57 may be the powerful message women must see to let go of their irrational anxieties about growing older.
Pamela Anderson is known for many things, but her bold rejection of society’s obsession with youth and beauty truly shines. Makeup has always been a significant part of her journey, which is why she’s not ready to abandon it forever. Instead, she envisions walking the line between glam and authenticity, showcasing the raw beauty she continues to embrace.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabella Santiago
Editor: Grace Groover
Graphic Designer: Carly Collins
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