How many of us have headed out for the day having put on a full face of makeup although we know, deep down, we’d rather go without it?
Imagine spending the day being able to rub your eyes whenever you want, without the threat of thick black smears all over your face.
Yet, for a lot of women, the sometimes unspoken but very prevalent societal pressure of always needing to ‘look good’ is a crushing weight on our shoulders, often too hard to ignore, and so we bow to the pressure.
And that’s why, when Pamela Anderson - a global symbol of sex appeal and beauty, known for her signature smoky eye makeup and accentuated lips - decided to go completely makeup free last year, it was a breath of fresh air to women everywhere.
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Anderson was made famous by modelling for Playboy and acting in Baywatch, two things which showcase her obvious talent in different ways, yet were dominated by the male gaze and conversations around her often, if not always, boiled down to her perceived attractiveness.
Ever since Anderson landed in the public eye, men have lauded her as the ultimate sex symbol and women have tried to adopt her makeup routine. This was revived again after the broadcast of Pam & Tommy in 2022, a drama chronicling the life and love of Anderson and Tommy Lee.
Being the queen that she is, Anderson turned all of this reignited attention on its head in September 2023, arriving totally makeup-free at Paris Fashion Week.
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Anderson’s initial reason for the change was heartbreaking, explaining that she arrived at the decision to leave makeup behind after the tragic loss of her close friend and makeup artist Alexis Vogel in 2019.
“I just felt, without Alexis, it’s just better for me not to wear makeup”, she stated last year.
A recent interview with Highsnobiety checks back in with Anderson for a fresh perspective on life without the cosmetic glam, and it’s something not many people would expect.
Anderson admitted that her signature look which catapulted her to fame was completely inauthentic to her.
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“I was actually always a tomboy growing up,” she explained. “I never wanted to wear a dress. I was athletic. I made mud pies.”
The reason why the star adopted this look and stuck with it despite it not being an accurate reflection of who she truly was comes down to one thing: success.
She explained: “We all get roped into, ‘Oh, I want to be successful so I can have this and this, and show people that I’m cool, chic, admired.
“And then we’re all just left with debt and a fancy car. It’s just like chasing age. You’re not going to win. A life is less conclusive than that.”
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While Anderson’s makeup free era might have taken a while to sink in for some people - including her sons Brandon Thomas and Dylan Jagger who were apprehensive about the whole thing - women from all walks of life let out a collective sigh.
One X user remarked: “I love seeing pictures of Pamela Anderson without makeup because she looks so friggin' happy.”
Another weighed in, adding: “I seriously love that Pamela Anderson is going to red carpet events without any makeup & is still looking like a beauty.”
Featured Image Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage/Dave Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Vivienne WestwoodTopics: Pamela Anderson, Make-Up, Beauty