Pamela Anderson Addresses If Her Makeup-Free Moment Was a PR Move
Originally appeared on E! Online
Pamela Anderson has nothing to hide.
After fans questioned the authenticity of her makeup-free appearances at September's Paris Fashion Week, the Baywatch alum set the record straight.
"I did that for myself," Pamela told Allure in an interview published Feb. 8. "It wasn't to make a political statement, I just wanted to have my little weird face sticking out of the top of those great clothes...why am I playing the game?"
But when the 56-year-old announced her skincare deal with Sonsie in January, fans couldn't help but feel duped. However, Pamela maintains that going bare-faced and becoming a beauty ambassador was simply kismet.
"I don't think you should give me the credit of it being a stunt," she told the outlet, "because that's not how I think. But the timing and the stars aligned."
Pamela Anderson Through the Years
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In all honesty, Pam didn't think anyone would notice her makeup-free looks at the Isabel Marant, Victoria Beckham and Vivienne Westwood shows.
"I just thought I'm not competing with all these beautiful people," she explained of her decision. "I felt like the monster, like a little kid in all these beautiful clothes and how lucky am I and I wanted to appreciate it from that point of view."
Although the former Playmate didn't expect the positive reaction to her fresh-faced look, she loves knowing it struck a chord with audiences.
"I like that it resonated but it wasn't my intention to…thinking everyone's going to get into this thing," she noted. "But as I noticed it was resonating, I thought, this is really great.[The beauty market] is full of false promises and false hope...accepting ourselves for who we are, it just feels necessary."
Pamela's new outlook on beauty comes after years of being pressured to look a certain way.
"It was kind of overwhelming, as a Playboy centerfold or Bunny, people had expectations," she said of her '90s bombshell image. "I feel much more sensual in my own skin. It's much more intimate and vulnerable, kind of like...how your boyfriend sees you, without makeup. It's almost sexier, I think."
She continued, "I've been on this journey, from Playboy to Baywatch—all these Halloween costumes, I like to say—and now come back home to self-love and self-acceptance."
For Pam, self-acceptance has been an essential practice that transcends beauty. As she put it, "If you're living authentically, you don't have to explain yourself. That's the key."
Keep reading to see all of the celebrities who have embraced the skin their in with makeup-free looks.
<p>Alicia Keys</p>
The OG celebrity to go makeup free, Alicia shows off her radiant skin.
<p>Anne Hathaway</p>
"I don't think about age," Anne told Today's Sheinelle Jones in an interview published Sept. 18. "To me, aging is another word for living. So, if people want to pay a compliment, it's nice. But whatever the hype is, I'm interested in what's beyond the concept of hype."
<p>Millie Bobby Brown</p>
The Stranger Things star recently shared a makeup-free selfie, embracing the skin she's in on Instagram.
<p>Megan Thee Stallion</p>
The rapper proved that hot girls don't need makeup to look beautiful.
<p>Pamela Anderson</p>
The Baywatch alum is kickstarting a new beauty trend after going makeup-free during Paris Fashion Week.
"It's all about self-acceptance," she told i-D magazine on Sept. 29. "This is the chapter of my life I'm trying to embrace now. Since I really walk out the door as me, I feel relief—a weight off my shoulders."As she put it, "I'm dressing for me now, not for everybody else."
<p>Drew Barrymore</p>
"This is 47!" Drew celebrated in February 2022.
<p>Sofía Vergara</p>
The Modern Family alum shared a rare makeup-free selfie during Paris Fashion Week.
<p>Tracee Ellis Ross</p>
The Grown-ish actress is known for celebrating her natural beauty and this thirst trap is no different.
<p>Selena Gomez</p>
The Rare Beauty founder not only snapped a selfie of her fresh-faced look, but showed off her natural curls.
<p>Lady Gaga</p>
Even makeup rebels have to let their skin breathe.
<p>Leni Klum</p>
The model shared a close-up of her acne breakouts in this makeup-free selfie.
<p>Tyra Banks</p>
The supermodel struck a pose to show off her fresh-faced beauty. "Some take a chill pill," she wrote. "I take a wig break."
<p>Salma Hayek</p>
"Thank you for sharing your love, making me feel supported and many times making me laugh," the actress told her followers. "I always learn from all of you and I hope many blessings come your way in this new adventure
<p>Jessica Biel</p>
The actress skipped the makeup for a good cause, writing on Instagram, "Spreading some self love today with zero filter and zero makeup for my girl @KateUpton."
"She's on a mission to encourage everyone to feel strong and love themselves *as they are*... and I'm so honored to help spread that message," Jessica continued. "Take a second to show the real you."
<p>Gabrielle Union</p>
The actress is often told she doesn't look a day over 21 and this selfie proves it.
<p>Gwyneth Paltrow</p>
The Goop founder is known for rocking a makeup-free look.
<p>Halle Berry</p>
The Oscar winner bared more than just her face in this sexy snapshot.
<p>Michelle Pfeiffer</p>
To celebrate a social media milestone, the actress showed off her natural beauty.
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