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Revolutionary or obvious? Pamela Anderson’s unvarnished appearance is both
Pamela Anderson goes makeup-free at Paris Fashion Week. An act of revolution?
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Pamela Anderson goes almost entirely without make-up during Paris Fashion Week. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis calls it a “revolution.” Our author explains why the applause for the Baywatch mermaid’s refreshing appearance is going in the wrong direction.
Big breasts, thin eyebrows and long, peroxide blonde hair: as a sexy siren in a red swimsuit Pamela Anderson is still present in the collective memory. But in Paris she shows a different side of herself. The former Baywatch mermaid forgoes any make-up and instead shows herself as God and beauty docs created her. The reason why she stands out so much at Victoria Beckham and Co.’s shows? The 56-year-old’s beauty look became an “au naturel” topic within seconds of her first appearance, even though there was almost nothing to talk about. No full lips or bold smokey eyes; just a clean face that doesn’t look nearly as Barbie-esque as we know it. More symbolism of innocence is hardly possible.
Pamela Anderson refreshes the fashion world with a no-makeup look
Numerous media praise her for this performance and admire her courage. It almost seems as if a woman could still surprise and shock at a fashion show in 2023 if she dared not to put on make-up. It’s refreshing how a celebrity like Pamela Anderson who has been around for years can still be so startling with a bare face. After all, almost bare faces of prominent women have been appearing in public more and more often in recent years. But Anderson goes one step further, not only reducing but also foregoing even the slightest touch of color in the shows by Vivienne Westwood and Isabel Marant and consciously distancing himself. With her “imperfect” face, she manages to push the rigid conventions of the fashion world out of her comfort zone. Paris in particular is considered THE fashion week in the fashion calendar and is a flagship of fashionable class and perfection.
Even at Victoria Beckham’s show in Paris, the Baywatch star didn’t wear foundation, blush or mascara.
© Stephane Cardinale – Corbis / Getty Images
Jamie Lee Curtis applauds for ‘act of courage’
But does a woman still have to be celebrated for being without make-up? Pamela Anderson’s performance is definitely refreshing and a role model for many other women. But actually it should be normal to feel comfortable in your own skin even without make-up. Jamie Lee Curtis’ call shows that this is far from the case. However, equating no make-up with courage and rebellion seems too exaggerated in 2023.
Pamela Anderson without make-up: Nothing new and yet so striking
While it seems revolutionary to Jamie Lee Curtis that Pamela Anderson appears in Paris without make-up, fans of the Baywatch icon were probably only semi-surprised. Because a little note: The Canadian has hardly worn any make-up during public appearances since 2019. The death of her make-up artist and friend Alexis Vogel, who died of breast cancer in 2019, prompted her to make this decision, said the 56-year-old. Since then, she has modeled for Aritzia without makeup and appeared on the cover of WWD without makeup.
So why is she being celebrated so now of all times? Maybe because we finally want to see what should actually be obvious – that a woman without make-up can shine. And next to TikTok queens with thick lip liner and adhesive eyelashes, neither falls off nor trumps them. Pamela Anderson embodies just as much sex appeal topless as she did in Baywatch times and can proudly show a completely different beauty side of herself. Because that’s exactly what the blonde should really be celebrated for. To stand up for yourself without a doubt, whether completely without or with many layers of make-up on your face.