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How Embracing Minimal Makeup Helped Pamela Anderson Reclaim Her Sense Of Self

"I wanted to remember who I was"
Pamela Anderson Makeup free Academy Museum Gala Oct 2024Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images

When the world first witnessed actress Pamela Anderson makeup-free at Paris Fashion Week in 2023, the star was genuinely shocked at the amount of press coverage it garnered.

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In an interview with Vogue, Andersonโ€™s explained that her reason for going makeup-free was a simple one โ€“ she wanted her outfit speak for itself, and avoid the time suck of a full makeup look โ€“ which is incredibly relatable. Since then, however, Andersonโ€™s initial thoughts seem to have developed a deeper sense of realisation.

Appearing on the Drew Barrymore Show, Anderson admitted that the decision wasnโ€™t as easy as it first appeared. โ€œIโ€™ve had my little, you know, journey with it, but we all are our own worst critics,โ€ she shared, before explaining how it eventually allowed her to โ€œfeel free.โ€

Speaking about the unexpected response sheโ€™s received since, she said: โ€œWhen people started coming up to me and talking about it, I through, โ€˜well, this is a great messageโ€™, you know? To really peel it back and find out who I was again. I wanted to remember who I was.โ€

Drew Barrymore and Pamela Anderson makeup free
Pamela Anderson makeup free inspired host and actress, Drew Barrymore to follow suit live on air. (Credit: The Drew Barrymore Show)
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After all, seeing Pamela Anderson makeup-free felt like a stark departure from the iconic beauty looks weโ€™d come to associate with the actress over the years. And as it turns out, this was the exact reason for Andersonโ€™s change of heart.

โ€œI found I played characters my whole life. I was painfully shy as a kid, even doing Playboy, for instance, was a huge leap of faith for me,โ€ she shared with Barrymore.

โ€œThis is what my fantasy of what a model is, or a playmate is, or a rock starโ€™s wife is, or what anything is. Iโ€™m going to do it the best, and Iโ€™ve been playing these characters along the way.โ€

The realisation led to a period of reflection for the actress, who, in a quest to rediscover her sense of self, retreated to her grandmotherโ€™s home where she spent time โ€œgetting into nature and going back to the trees that knew me since birth.โ€

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It was during this time that Anderson realised how empowered she had started to feel. โ€œI started realising, โ€˜Oh, I feel great as me, I donโ€™t want people to think of me as all those cartoon characters I created for protection,'โ€ before continuing, โ€œThis is the best time in my life. I feel soโ€ฆ excited about life again.โ€

Pamela Andersonโ€™s Best Minimal Makeup Looks

Pamela Anderson Makeup Free Academy Gala
Pamela Anderson attends the 2024 Academy Museum Gala. (Credit: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
Pamela Anderson Makeup Free glamour women of the year
Pamela Anderson at the 2024 Glamour Women of the Year Ceremony. (Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Glamour)
Pamela Anderson Makeup Free
Pamela Anderson attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. (Credit: Stefanie Keenan/VF24/WireImage for Vanity Fair)
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Pamela Anderson Makeup Free Fashion Awards
Anderson at The Fashion Awards 2023, presented by Pandora. (Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Pamela Anderson Makeup Free Vivienne Westwood fashion show
Where Pamela Andersonโ€™s makeup-free journey began โ€“ at the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer showing during Paris Fashion Week 2023. (Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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