Pamela Anderson: Forever an Icon

A trendsetter from the 90s till today.

by JULIA KARASU ★ FEBRUARY 15, 2024

The 90s icons are back… but who are we kidding they were never out! From Paris Hilton still living her best life to Britney Spears ending her conservatorship, we welcome Pamela Anderson’s reappearance to the public. By becoming the face of Playboy Playmate and taking on the TV drama Baywatch, Pamela rose to international fame and became the American cultural icon and sex symbol of the 90s. Pamela was praised and hated by the media for years, and being the star of the first-ever leaked celebrity sex tape didn’t quite work out as well for her as it did for Kim Kardashian. 

But now, twenty years later, Pamela is reclaiming her name and rewriting her story. In her Netflix documentary, Pamela, A Love Story, she shared much of her childhood trauma and the battle of accepting an image the media creates for you. Pamela, struggling to embrace her sexuality, was perceived by the public as “easy” because of the roles she played and the style she flaunted. Fortunately, Pamela’s confidence helped generations of women who followed. By going against societal norms, Pamela allowed women to look and feel sexy without shame. Now is the true era of self-acceptance and self-love for Pamela, and she loves sharing it with us. 

An enduring style icon, Pamela explains that the “90s were about being unique." Her signature hairstyles, razor-thin brows, and overlined lips are still influential. TikTok even has a Pamela Anderson filter with over 345 million views, allowing users to recreate her skinny brow signature look. In a world where fashion trends come and go quickly, Pamela is a testament to staying true to one’s unique sense of style, and her looks are timeless. 

Let’s look at Pamela's most iconic fashion moments:

Baywatch Attire

Her signature high-cut red swimsuit transformed her into the bombshell of her generation. She has brought back this iconic swimsuit with a Pamela Anderson x Frankies Bikinis collaboration. She says, "I have been wanting to do this forever, but timing is everything, and it was worth the wait.”The Frankies Bikini collaboration allowed Pamela to help design a collection that is “less sexy and more true” to her.
A Rockstar’s Wife

Joining the ranks of iconic couples, Pamela and Tommy Lee dominated headlines as the most powerful rockstar-model duo at the time. They were known for having fun, and their red carpet-outfits reflected this. Pamela loved standing out with sparkly sequins, designer slip dresses, and her perfectly messy bun. 
A Whole Lot Of Leather

After her movie, Barb Wire, leather became a new staple in Pamela’s closet–from corset tops to mini dresses to full catsuits. The famous leather pants and leather jackets have been super trendy in the last few years, and using Pamela’s leather look provides great inspiration. Plus, tell me you couldn’t see Alix Earle wearing that corset.

Style Staples

If we are talking about everyday looks, Pamela had her style staples. The cool girl energy is similar to Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid’s “model off-duty” style today. 

A Natural Beauty Revolution

At the 2023 Fall Paris Fashion Week show, Pamela decided to go makeup-free and enforced the natural beauty revolution which has inspired many. Social media has created such a high standard for younger audiences that we forget that only some things online are real. Pamela’s ultimate expression of self-love and self-acceptance is extremely inspiring, regardless of age. With the “clean girl” aesthetic on the rise, the “no makeup” look will soon become a power move.

Without a doubt, Pamela has proved to us that once an icon, forever an icon. At 56 years old, she is having her renaissance. It’s sad how much power the media has in shaping someone's image. Men turned Pamela into an object and negative connotations were often associated with her name. But in reality, Pamela is strong, confident, and inspiring. With the resurgence of 90s fashion and Y2K, Pamela Anderson’s outfits are the perfect Pinterest search for inspiration. Her style is bold and fearless, with confidence radiating from her outfits. No matter what era of her life, she uses the art of fashion as a form of self-expression and remains a great role model for women.