From no-makeup red carpets to tousled bobs and flushed cheeks, Pamela Anderson’s latest beauty chapter sees the cultural icon reframe her signature style through a softer lens
Pamela Anderson has swiftly become the doyenne of make-up-free beauty. After relying on a bold, punk-rock aesthetic throughout the ’90s and early ’00s – defined by swathes of kohl eyeliner and skinnier-than-skinny eyebrows – more recently she has evolved her look to focus simply on radiant, healthy skin.
Now, the sorts of beauty details that made Pam, Pam back in the day have returned – albeit in a softer, more subtle way this time around. And from the flushed cheeks to her gently defined eye and trademark chestnut eyebrows, Anderson’s recent return to make-up echoes her own internal evolution.
Pamela Anderson seen exiting her hotel in New York City on 20 May, 2025. Styled by Bailey Moon. Hair by Marcus Francis. Make-up by Shayna Gold. Photo: TheStewartofNY
“I’ve never been opposed to glam, I was only waiting to see what my next incarnation would be,” Anderson told British Vogue of her latest transformation. “I wanted a clean slate and dove into good quality, simple skincare that could mimic my dream, how I want to live and breathe, in nature and the red-carpet world.” Never one to shy away from speaking her mind, Anderson views the conversation surrounding her changing look as simply “a reminder that we’re good enough without following trends”.
An avid reader and lover of cinema, art informs Anderson’s every stylistic move. “French and Italian films, from Godard to Fellini,” in particular, are regular sources of inspiration for the actress and model, and she can regularly be found at the theatre or nestled in “an avant-garde movie house”, her phone switched firmly off.
Pamela Anderson waves to fans as she departs her hotel in New York City on 19 May. Styled by Bailey Moon. Hair by Marcus Francis. Make-up by Shayna Gold. Photo: MEGA
When kickstarting her press tour for The Naked Gun in New York City, Anderson looked fresh-faced, wearing minimal make-up and her trademark thousand-watt smile. Marrying her character with her real-life persona through beauty, the look was intentionally “fun, fashionable and joyful”, she says, defined by a dash of eye make-up and splash of rouge on her cheeks.
As for her hair? Anderson explains that she cut in bangs specially for The Last Showgirl promo tour, before going even further and cutting a shoulder-length bob for Place to Be – an upcoming drama also starring Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi. “She is a legend,” Anderson says of Burstyn, who will be playing her mother in the film. Adding the curls to her hair was the perfect finishing touch, adding a “playful and romantic” air to Anderson’s look.
Pamela with an angular bob at the Met Gala 2025. Photo: Theo Wargo
Since she first went sans make-up at Paris Fashion Week in 2023, Anderson went on to co-found skincare brand Sonsie in 2024. The products, she says, are everything she needs to feel put together. “The serum and cream combination gives me a glow that can’t be produced with make-up and digital photography,” she explains.
It’s clear that, confidence-wise, Anderson doesn’t require external validation. “I’m not chasing anything, I’m going with the flow, living in the present moment,” she says. “It’s been a journey to get here, and we all do it our own way – fashion and beauty are subjective – I’m proof of that. You will never make everyone happy. I’m trying to inspire feelings, not details. It’s how I see the world.”
Originally published by British Vogue