Pamela Anderson stated that going makeup-free is “freedom.”
She collaborated with Vogue France on a getting-ready video prior to the Vivienne Westwood runway show in Paris, where she sported a variety of natural beauty styles last week. Anderson explained she was working without a glam team, didn’t arrange her hair after getting out of the shower, and wore homemade rose oil moisturizer and mascara on her face. She desired a natural appearance to allow her outfits to flourish.
“I’m not into the makeup look right now,” said the 56-year-old model and actress, who has spent the past year and a half reclaiming her life story, which was exposed in a Netflix documentary and best-selling memoir.
Anderson, who was the ultimate sex icon after appearing on the cover of Playboy and wearing the iconic red swimsuit on Baywatch before having her privacy violated in the most shocking (and unlawful) ways, stated that she is “vintage now.” Being in her 50s has prompted the mother of two to question beauty standards, stating, “If we all chase youth or our conception of beauty as depicted in fashion magazines and other media, we will only be disappointed.”
She described her daring beauty statement as “a little bit rebellious,” but also as what feels right to her right now. “I believe I’ve never been happier in my own flesh… I am not attempting to be the most beautiful lady in the room. I feel nothing but liberation. It is almost a relief.”
Curtis’s acknowledgement of Anderson was both praised and criticized, but regardless of your stance, it is noteworthy in the world of celebrity. It also arrives this week as we see Isabella Rossellini, 71, without retouching on Vogue Italia. Hilarie Burton, age 41, also expresses her “relief” at allowing her hair turn gray.
Christy Turlington, age 54, recently stated that she will not undergo plastic surgery because “I love seeing a real face… I am one of those faces.” Justine Bateman, age 57, has also been spreading this message, speaking about the societal conditioning of women to dread aging. The gray hair of Andie MacDowell, 65, and the makeup-free appearance of Tracee Ellis Ross, 50, have generated numerous headlines.
Whether or not this represents a natural beauty revolution, as opposed to a few exceptions to the Hollywood norm, is another matter.
Claire Sisco King, associate professor of communication studies and program chair for cinema and media arts at Vanderbilt University, told Yahoo: “The cynical side of me believes they will be one-offs.”
“You just think about on TikTok, the ubiquity of those ‘get ready with me’ videos, and how popular that makeup culture has become, which of course has the backing of cosmetic companies to support it,” she added. “I believe that older women feel empowered to embrace natural beauty and the no-makeup look.” The sense that they’ve been discarded or deemed past their prime probably feels liberating and gives them a sense of agency, but I don’t see it becoming the norm because our culture is so ingrained in youth culture and beauty culture and the way those things are articulated.
