Baywatch Star Erika Eleniak, 56, Is Still A Bombshell Decades Later

"Baywatch" was a pop culture phenomenon in the '90s, and, unsurprisingly, fans still love and watch the TV show today. While we've gotten to see the natural evolutions of other "Baywatch" stars, like Pamela Anderson and her stunning style transformation, we often wonder what the less-public beauties of the cast, including actor Erika Eleniak, look like now. Eleniak was your classic blond-haired, blue-eyed bombshell who played lifeguard Shauni McClain in the first few seasons of the show. It's no secret that a big reason why "Baywatch" became so popular was its drop-dead gorgeous cast, and Eleniak was one of the OGs. We came across a more recent photo of Eleniak that proves she's still that girl, even decades after the show. 

Paul Archuleta/Getty

The above photo of Eleniak was taken at The Brave & Rescued Awards, an event that honored the Los Angeles Fire Department, in January 2026, and all we have to say is wow! Her gorgeous features have stayed largely untouched by time, and Eleniak has kept her blond hair all these years — right down to the soft, warm-honey hue she was known for on the show. On the show, we often saw it in slight beachy waves, but decades later, you typically see her long, blond hair styled straight.

Whether she's running errands or on a red carpet, Eleniak often favors minimal makeup looks, and it's so refreshing to see. Eleniak is 56 at the time of writing, and we love seeing her still stunning and looking fresh-faced even without makeup. Fans will also be excited to learn that Eleniak will reprise her role as Shauni in a "Baywatch" reboot series set to debut on Fox in January 2027.

Many "Baywatch" stars are very mindful of beauty products and techniques, like Pamela Anderson, who even has her own skincare line called Sonsie. Erika Eleniak is no different, and while starring in "Baywatch," she developed specific beauty priorities in response to the sun and harsh weather conditions while filming. "When the sun was shining nicely, we slathered ourselves with sunscreen," Eleniak told Beauty Lab in 2013. "And under my eyes, I applied an extra layer. I protected my hair by rinsing it IMMEDIATELY with water every time after a dip in the sea or the pool." 

As for her personal routine, Eleniak mentioned that she relies on a surprising household ingredient as a cleanser. "I use baking soda to cleanse my face," she revealed. "It exfoliates very gently and cleans well without drying out my skin. You can just buy it at the supermarket and the drugstore; a packet costs $2 and lasts a very long time. It's amazing!" Eleniak likes trying out different moisturizers, such as one from Baker's Best Health, but is partial to simple drugstore brands like Palmer's. "It's so wonderfully nourishing for my skin," she added. 

Of course, her gorgeous blond locks deserve extra TLC, and the "Baywatch" star shared that she goes to the health food store to stock up on products like shampoo, conditioner, and hair oil that don't contain harsh chemicals (something that can actually cause hair breakage and damage). "Since I started using that, my hair looks much better," she explained. Eleniak is clearly doing something right because she looks beyond stunning no matter the year.