Pamela Anderson has long been an icon and symbol of her generation, yet in recent years, she’s found solace in a quieter life, returning to her roots. Stepping away from the high-profile lifestyle she once led, Pamela has again found herself in the public eye, but this time with a different narrative. Two major creative projects, released almost simultaneously, have garnered praise from critics.
In January, Netflix debuted the documentary *Pamela: A Love Story*, and around the same time, Anderson launched her book *With Love, Pamela*, which she describes as a deeply personal and truthful account of her life.
Women’s Wear Daily took the opportunity to interview Pamela following these releases, capturing not only her thoughts but also a stunning, makeup-free photoshoot. At 55, Pamela embraces her natural beauty with confidence, showing that she has nothing to hide.
Both the documentary and the book reveal a resilient woman who is not afraid to reclaim her story after decades of media portrayal. Since the late 1980s, when she first rose to fame as a Playboy model, much has been said and written about her—but now she is sharing her version of events.
“I never imagined I’d get the chance to tell my true story,” Anderson reflected. “I thought my legacy would be a red swimsuit and a fluffy pink hat, and no one would ever know what I went through or overcame.”
Today, Pamela’s life is centered around simplicity and her love for her dogs. “My days start early. I let the dogs out, feed them, and then it depends on the season. In spring and summer, I spend time planting. In fall and winter, I make pickles and jams. I’m always evolving, always in my garden, and constantly writing.”
Having faced many challenges, Pamela shared a touching psychological exercise she uses to heal her inner child. “I close my eyes and picture my younger self, calling out to her and giving her a tight hug. I tell her the words she needed to hear back then: ‘You’re going to be okay. You’re loved. You’re beautiful.’ The first time I did it, I cried.”
Pamela also reflected on her sense of style over the years, admitting she always felt out of sync with fashion. “Clothes never quite felt right to me. I wanted to dress up, but some outfits just didn’t suit my body. When I was younger, I focused on having fun with fashion. I’d throw on shiny pants, a big pink hat, and blue eyeliner in five minutes, and Tommy and I would walk the red carpet like that. We didn’t care about stylists or trends.”
Now, Anderson feels stronger than ever. “I feel powerful in this stage of my life. I embrace my freckles, my unstyled hair, my natural face. I’m not interested in injections—they don’t work for me. I want to see how life unfolds naturally. I feel like it’s a testament to my strength that I’m accepting myself more.”
Her life philosophy is refreshingly simple: “Be real, be honest, and always do your best. Every day, strive not to hurt anyone. It’s that straightforward.”
Pamela sees her greatest achievement as telling her story on her terms. “The biggest accomplishment for me recently is sharing my story from start to finish, despite the fear of not pleasing everyone—even the people closest to me. These are the truths I need to tell, and I’m proud to do so.”