Pamela Anderson has opened up on why she now prefers to hit the red carpet makeup-free and embrace her natural beauty despite her legendary 90s pin-up image.
The actress and activist, 57, who helped define an era, has won praise as she makes it her personal mission to challenge traditional beauty standards in a culture increasingly dominated by filters and curated perfection.
Appearing fresh-faced on the July/August cover of Harper’s Bazaar UK, Anderson said, “I think that with AI technology and filters, people are becoming kind of boring-looking. I want to challenge beauty norms. I’ve always been a rebel. I never see somebody and think, ‘I want to look like that.’ I just want to see who I am.
“At some point you have to say, ‘This is all I’ve got.’ Surrender to it. And it’s real happiness. It’s freedom to know you can walk on a red carpet without a stitch of make-up on. I mean, why can’t I? Men do it all the time.”
Anderson is also preparing for a major return to the big screen in the reboot of the beloved The Naked Gun franchise, where she stars opposite Liam Neeson.
The original Naked Gun trilogy, led by Leslie Nielsen as Detective Frank Drebin, became a cult classic for its slapstick comedy and sharp wit. The reboot promises to bring that irreverent spirit to a new generation.
On her role in the upcoming film, Anderson revealed, “It’s going to show a different side of me. I feel every film I do lately is healing various parts of me. And you need a big, messy life to draw from if you want to make these kinds of things interesting.”
Beyond acting, Anderson is on a personal journey of rediscovery. “I love being in a creative space. That’s my happy place. I guess it’s a romantic space, but it’s not necessarily about men or about relationships. It’s about seeing what you’re made of, what you’re supposed to contribute to the world. I love poetry, film and music, and I feel like I’m just trying to live this part of my life as authentically as possible.”
Reflecting on her evolving identity, she added, “I don’t know what my next incarnation will be, but right now, I want to peel it back. Clean up a little bit and just see: who am I?”
The July/August issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK is on sale from June 19.
