I spent 7 hours and £600 transforming myself into Pamela Anderson… it was agony
PAMELA Anderson is one of the most recognizable women in the world, especially in her iconic Baywatch swimsuit.
And even though her stint as lifeguard CJ Parker ended in 1997, I’ve often wondered: How easy would it be to turn me into a 1990s pin-up?
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Could a 37-year-old mother of two with post-lactation 30B breasts and a boyish figure ever achieve that incredible DD chest, round hips and butt?
It took a lot more work than simply donning a crimson swimsuit, with Pammy’s from the actual Baywatch set to be featured in the Splash! A century of swimming and style from March.
I also needed that Malibu glow and Barbie blonde hair.
As a teenager I watched Baywatch every Saturday afternoon, fascinated by Pammy, now 57. I was a bit obsessed.
Every boy I knew had her poster on their bedroom wall, while girls longed for a bit of her sex appeal.
Like them, I am small, size eight. I’m a little shorter. I go to the gym three times a week and eat well, because being a model means staying in good shape.
I’m sure Pammy has had to work hard for her figure, so we have a lot in common and that’s a good starting point.
Nearly £600, a giant pair of prosthetic breasts and seven hours of make-up later, the resemblance was uncanny.
Here’s how I did. . .
Wig
MY hair is in a net, ready for the blonde bombshell wig.
I am naturally light brown and, apart from a few highlights, have never had the courage to go completely blonde.
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But I’m curious whether all-over peroxide suits me. On the hanger I’m afraid the £471.50 (Aderans UK) wig looks fake.
But after stylist Dino Pereira spends an hour cutting and blow-drying Pammy’s style, with light bangs and feathers around my face, it looks like it’s all mine.
For complete authenticity, he applies makeup to my roots to match hers. After a generous dose of Schwarzkopf Got2b 2 Sexy Volumizing Hairspray (£4.29, boots.com), I start working on my hair moves to get into character.
Pamela Anderson on going makeup-free
The 57-year-old actress went viral last year for going to Paris Fashion Week without makeup and she revealed it wasn’t a publicity stunt.
“I don’t think you should give me credit for it being a stunt because I don’t think of it that way,” Anderson told Allure.
“I’m not really into makeup right now,” she told Vogue. “My mother always said to me, ‘At some point in your life you don’t want to wear makeup on your skin,’ and she’s right. . Sometimes you have to challenge beauty.”
Pamela added that she hopes that by not wearing makeup, she can contribute to the many ways women can express themselves.
“I’m not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room,” she said. “I feel like it’s just freedom. It’s a relief.”
Eyebrows
Copying Pammy’s eyebrows is difficult because thin, high arches were fashionable in the heyday of the 1990s.
It takes a few tries to get the same look without having to pluck out my natural eyebrows.
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But make-up artist Aimee Adams gets the job done by using a Sienna sienna-x.nl) which works wonders.
Contours
Goodbye, Polly. . . Hello Pamela! I’m starting to turn into my teenage idol.
Make-up artist Aimee applies a matte foundation in a light brown shade, called Sculpted by Aimee Connolly Second Skin, all over my face (£25, boots.com).
Next, Aimee uses the Smashbox Step By Step Contour Palette in Light (£29.50, smashbox.nl) to shape my cheekbones, along the sides and along the tip of my nose to create the illusion of Pamela’s button nose.
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Breasts
BEFORE I breastfed my children, I had bigger breasts. But now I have a B cup and they are virtually non-existent.
Pamela has had a breast augmentation to take her down to a size 34DD and I need help too. I find a breast prosthesis on eBay that costs £114.20.
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When I pick them up they feel as heavy as a large bag of flour and I think I will have difficulty carrying them.
But once on they feel much lighter. I’m really excited about having an ample bosom for the day and the rubbery, prosthetic set is quite comfortable.
They feel very real and even though I get a little sweaty, I can’t help but admire my new cleavage.
Eyes
MY transformation continues in the makeup chair with Aimee, who worked with Pamela and the cast of Baywatch all those years ago.
I don’t wear a lot of make-up on a daily basis and am not a fan of that artificial Towie or Love Island look.
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To create Pamela’s smoky eyes, Aimee uses shades from the Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette (£40, lookfantastic.com) and the Avon Mark Gel Paint Pencil Eyeliner in Black (£6, avon.uk.com), which has been smudged a bit to give the smoky effect.
She then applies Ardell Demi Wispies (£10 for four pairs, Amazon) with a generous dose of Benefit’s Badgal Bang Volumizing Mascara in black (£12.50, boots.com).
The Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Illuminating Pen (£27, yslbeauty.co.uk) brightens the area under my eyes. I love the look and the lashes look very natural.
Costume
I’m beyond excited to don a replica of Pammy’s iconic red swimming costume (£8.40, Boohoo).
It ends up high on my legs – this wouldn’t be my usual choice for the beach. But I love how the cut makes my pins look long and lean.
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The look complete, I stand in front of the mirror to take in the entire ensemble. I feel confident and sexy. Finally, I’m Pammy’s doppelgänger!
My husband James thinks he’s not a fan of big boobs. But if he saw me now, maybe he would change his mind.
Tanning
TIME for the fake tan.
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This isn’t something I bother with often as I don’t like fussing and I always seem to end up with lines and marks.
I’m naturally very pale, but Rimmel SunShimmer instant fake tan (£5.94, boots.com) gives me the requisite beach babe glow with the minimum of fuss.
Fantastic £10 fake tan test
Finding the perfect fake tan is not easy. That’s why Fabulous has tested a number of fake tanners that cost less than €10.
*If you click on a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate income
Superdrug Solait Self Tanning Mousse Medium – £4.79 (was £5.99) – Buy now
- Tester: Abby Wilson, Senior Fabulous Digital Writer
- Review: “This product gives a very natural looking tan and if you want something bolder I recommend leaving it on longer or choosing a darker shade. I’m impressed with the result but now my whole room stinks of If you’re on a budget and want a tan for last minute plans, I’d say this is one to try.
bBold Dream Mousse Tan in the dark – £9.50 – Buy now
- Tester: Josie O’Brien, Senior Fabulous Digital Writer
- Review: “The first thing I noticed about this tan was the ‘juicy watermelon’ smell – it’s lovely. I got a natural bronze tint instead of an orange glow. My only problem is that the tan is adding to my dry patches seemed to stick and accentuated ‘strawberry skin’ on my legs. I’m still adding this color to my arsenal though – the scent, color and texture are dreamy.”
St Moriz Professional Medium Tanning Mousse – £4.99 – Buy now
- Tester: Kate Kulniece, fantastic writer
- Review: “The St. Moriz mousse not only gives you a beautiful bronzed glow, but it also smells fantastic – think Piña Colada on a sunny beach. At first I was a little skeptical because I’m gradually becoming a fake tan girl, but this rapidly evolving St. Moriz song could change everything.”
