Pamela Anderson's Return To Her '90s Makeup Is The Iconic Transformation We Didn't Know We Needed
Pamela Anderson might be known for her no-makeup beauty in recent years, but she hasn't given up cosmetics entirely in the 2020s. In a photo posted by makeup artist David Velasquez that racked up thousands of likes on Instagram before being deleted, she graced us with full '90s glam, including super-thin, arched-for-dear-life brows; sky-reaching lashes, smoky eyeshadow under and over the lid; and matte nude lips to seal the deal. She gave time-capsule energy in the throwback photo from 2022, and the "Baywatch"-era blowout was a true flex. "[She] looks GORGEOUS here," one X user said of the resurfaced look. "She's so stunning. She can rock her 90s glam like no one else can," wrote another.
Ooooo Pamela Anderson finally dipped back into her 90's glam and I live 😍 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AmekvUoBHe
— KenBarbie™ (@itsKenBarbie) May 19, 2025
Now, don't get us wrong: Pamela Anderson's makeup-free looks are absolutely flawless. Women everywhere have appreciated seeing a '90s it-girl reject beauty standards on her own terms. It reminded us that makeup can be a fun push, not a prerequisite for beauty. And that's exactly what makes the now-deleted post so iconic.
Anderson isn't here to be boxed in. She has given us a masterclass on how to look fresh-faced when you don't have makeup on, but she also knows that loving your face without makeup doesn't mean you can't enjoy the drama of it, too. It's not about which look is better; it's about the confidence to move between both. Plus, it's simply fun and refreshing to see her honor her '90s self in the 2020s.
Some responses to Pamela Anderson's makeup transformation have been heartbreaking
Pamela Anderson's journey away from makeup started with the tragic loss of her longtime makeup artist in 2019, but it wasn't until 2023 — a year after the now-deleted photo was taken — that she fully embraced the barefaced shift. "I don't know, something just kind of came over me and I was dressing in these beautiful clothes and I thought, 'I don't want to compete with the clothes,'" she told Vogue France at the time. Speaking to People the same year, she explained that it's now a relief to prioritize her comfort: "I really didn't know anyone would notice it, but I'm glad it became a positive message."
Unfortunately, not everyone found Anderson's decision to be positive or uplifting. One Instagram user said she looked "dreadful" without makeup, while another said she was falling back on the graceful-aging narrative because she "couldn't keep up" with being glamorous. Somehow, her message about finding beauty in comfort got lost in the noise driven by shallow standards. However, Anderson had the perfect answer. "I call it Life-ing, not aging," she said to People. "Chasing youth is futile. All we can do is embrace who we are at the moment we're in, and be okay with where our feet stand right now."
The star of "The Last Showgirl" also made it clear that she would never be anti-makeup. "I'm not opposed to it, I just don't want to play the game," she told People. So, if you never got over the iconic vintage glam, this is your sign to dive into our guide for recreating Pamela Anderson's iconic '90s makeup. Or don't. Like Anderson believes, both paths are valid and beautiful.