Pamela Anderson seems to have done it all: starred in hit TV shows and movies, been the subject of documentaries, written books, and fought for animal rights. But until now, at age 56, she had never been the face of a major cosmetics campaign.
“Even though all these years had passed, I was laughing,” Anderson told Bazaar of being approached to appear in Smashbox’s new campaign. “I said, ‘I wish they’d hired me back in the day when I couldn’t pay my rent.’ But I wasn’t that cool back then.”
Of course we have different opinions. The Baywatch star is an icon in the truest sense of the word, and has masterfully maintained that status through the art of reinvention over the past three decades. “So my aesthetic is a little different 1708338294” she admits. “I don’t think it’s that flashy now, but it was kind of fun to wink back in the day.”
For Smashbox, Anderson brought back her signature ’90s beauty look, including thin eyebrows, smokey eyes, and glowing skin. It’s a blueprint that’s been replicated by everyone from Kendall Jenner to Megan Thee Stallion. Of course, these days Anderson is best known for her no-makeup look. She appeared without makeup at Paris Fashion Week last fall, and she was once again seen in an image for the skincare brand Sonsie, which she recently acquired.
But it’s Pamela Anderson we’re talking about. He’s never one to do what’s expected of him. So when she was asked to open a Smashbox beauty time capsule, she obliged.
“A lot of people, a lot of brands have come to me to do things like flashbacks. I mean, Vogue and various designers have asked me to do flashback campaigns as well. ” she says. With Smashbox, everything fell into place. “I thought, ‘Well, I’m going to do this, because this is one of the things that’s always been on my list of things I wish I could do,'” she says. “In the ’90s, the beauty industry wasn’t paying attention to me. But now the ’90s are popular, so I’m going to take it for what it is. I’m just going to be happy about it.”
Another selling point was Anderson’s shared history with Smashbox founder Davis Factor, who also photographed the campaign. “Davis was one of the first photographers to photograph me outside of Playboy magazine. He met my mother in Roxbury, Los Angeles,” she says. “I always have a personal story about why I do something, but it’s almost never about the product. It’s about the relationship.”
Here, Anderson opens up to Bazaar about the nostalgic campaign, her continuing influence on beauty, when she feels most herself, and more.
What’s the best part about working on a campaign with Smashbox?
“I like the idea of a primer because it separates you from the makeup. So I’m thinking about how to protect your skin and how to use makeup as an extension and an expression, but not the most important thing. That’s what I’ve been doing, peeling back the layers and remembering who I am, but sometimes I’m not. [being] I am against wearing makeup and having fun.
“I’m a fun-loving person, and these days I have glitter in my oatmeal every day. I’m doing little things that make sense to me that might not make sense to other people. [The Smashbox team] It feels like family. we grew up together. Smashbox is the original brand of his makeup studio. David and his brother, I wish I had campaigned for them back in the day. I always thought they were so cool, and now I get to do it. So, in a sense, it’s a full-circle moment. ”
I hear you’ve turned down many beauty campaigns because they didn’t resonate with you. What’s different about Smashbox?
“There were a lot of reasons why we hadn’t done something before, but a lot of them had to do with sustainability, like asking people if the packaging could be biodegradable and cruelty-free. Those were all the questions I had. Thirty years ago people just thought I was annoying, and now it’s all the rage. But I love and respect Smashbox. Because that’s what they’ve always done. And makeup is fun. Like I said, it’s an expression. I’m not against makeup. I don’t know what I want to look like anymore. yeah. [Editor’s note: Smashbox is a cruelty-free brand, but does not make any claims that its products are biodegradable.]
“I always thought that when I got older I would be accepted, and now I’m doing that. So I’m kind of having a funny moment right now. I’m enjoying it because it goes by so fast. They’re people. That’s what this industry is about, bringing people up and bringing people down. So I’m going to enjoy the good times.”
Lately, I’ve been wearing no makeup in public. If you do makeup, what do you gravitate toward when it comes to makeup?
“At this point, I still don’t know. Now that makeup has changed, I feel like I’m living in that mystery. Back then, when people were filming you and you were being paparazzi… However, it was more tolerant. [photos were] on film. Now, with this new kind of digital photography and HD, a different kind of makeup is possible. ”
“So I think it’s safest not to wear makeup, because once you start putting makeup on, you get a lot of information from the camera. I think primer helps because it smooths out the skin. This is It’s a good product, I’ve tried it and I like it, but I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I don’t know what’s going to happen after the primer.”
Looking back at your various eras, what is the beauty that feels most like you?
“Well, I think this is the most me. And even though I insisted on wearing eyelashes, probably during my Baywatch days. They were waterproof!
“I always like to live inside a character. Maybe that’s why I often dress up in Halloween costumes. I’ll take that as a compliment. But it’s more than just makeup. , how you feel inside, what you exude, what you wear, who you surround yourself with, and the music you listen to. It really feels like performance art. It should be fun when I walk out the door. And I don’t want to take myself too seriously.”
“That’s why this campaign came at the perfect time in a way, because I was like, ‘I’m not trying to say I’m a natural beauty guru.’ [by going make-up-free]. I’m just experimenting. ” When she didn’t wear makeup during the Fashion Week, it was just for herself. “Why am I doing this?” I mean, this whole fascinating team just seems like too much to me. I don’t have much time in Paris, so I want to wander around and see the architecture. I don’t want to sit in the makeup chair for three hours. Will it make someone like me more? Will it do me any good? why am i doing that?
“Of course, my mother placed great importance on beauty and cuteness. She always told me that if you are beautiful, you are more powerful. Even though I was very insecure when I was younger. I’m still putting the pieces together, but I think we need to remember what’s at the root of it, and then we can talk about makeup.”
What do you think when you see people like Kendall Jenner recreating your signature ’90s beauty look?
“My kids sometimes send me stuff like that, and I kind of laugh when I see it. But back then, I wasn’t following trends. I didn’t think I was beautiful either. Back then, I probably wasn’t. I felt more insecure than anyone else, and I dressed for my husband.
“The other day I was creating a mood board for a project and I kept seeing pictures of myself that I didn’t want to see. They weren’t asked for. And I thought, “Oh my god, am I invading myself?” And sadly, I realized that at that point I probably didn’t think I was fashionable or beautiful or anything. I was just having a good time and trying to juggle the beach and babies and rock stars.
“But the good thing is, if you can be your own biggest fan, I think that’s something I’ve learned over time. I think that’s a really strong message. I don’t mean to be corny, but… That’s true. I think you can live a more fairytale-like and magical life if you don’t depend on other people’s approval.”
I wanted to ask you, last year you said you used underwear as a hair tie for an updo. Do you have any other amazing beauty tricks?
“That was a joke, by the way. But I used some bikini bottoms. I guess I’m an open book. I don’t have anything else, but that it was bikini bottoms. is clear.”
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
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