Pamela Anderson, the 57-year-old actress and activist who once defined 1990s pin-up glamour, is rewriting the rules of beauty and self-care for a new era. In a world dominated by social media filters and the relentless pursuit of flawless perfection, Anderson is making headlines for her bold choice to step onto red carpets without a trace of makeup, embracing her natural beauty and urging others to do the same. This personal mission—one that challenges traditional beauty standards—has resonated deeply, earning her praise as a rebel with a cause.
Appearing fresh-faced on the July/August 2026 cover of Harper’s Bazaar UK (on newsstands from June 19), Anderson spoke candidly about her evolving relationship with beauty, self-acceptance, and the pressures of modern image culture. “I think that with AI technology and filters, people are becoming kind of boring-looking. I want to challenge beauty norms. I’ve always been a rebel. I never see somebody and think, ‘I want to look like that.’ I just want to see who I am,” she told Harper’s Bazaar UK. Her words cut through the noise of a digitally curated world, inviting others to join her in celebrating authenticity over artifice.
Anderson’s journey toward self-acceptance hasn’t been a quiet one. Her decision to go makeup-free at high-profile events has made waves, not just for its visual impact but for the message it sends. “At some point you have to say, ‘This is all I’ve got.’ Surrender to it. And it’s real happiness. It’s freedom to know you can walk on a red carpet without a stitch of make-up on. I mean, why can’t I? Men do it all the time,” she remarked. According to Harper’s Bazaar UK, this attitude has inspired a new conversation about what it means to age, to be visible, and to feel beautiful in one’s own skin.
But Anderson’s commitment to authenticity doesn’t stop at her public persona. She’s also the creative force and cofounder behind Sonsie, a minimalist skincare brand rooted in the principles of simplicity, self-acceptance, and natural beauty. Sonsie, whose name is derived from a Scottish word that evokes the radiant feeling of self-acceptance and self-care, aims to redefine beauty as something gentle and real—something that isn’t chased, but discovered within.
“Sonsie means the radiant feeling that appears when self-acceptance and self-care come together,” Anderson explained in an interview with NewBeauty. “It’s beauty that comes from being comfortable in your own skin. I love that it describes beauty as something gentle and real—not something you chase, but something that’s already there.” This ethos is at the heart of Sonsie’s product line, especially the Sonsie Basic Balm in Sugar-Dipped Rhubarb, a peptide-rich staple inspired by Anderson’s childhood memory of dipping rhubarb in sugar—a nod to the simple pleasures that shape our sense of self.
The Basic Balm, which retails for $22, is set to restock the week of February 11, 2026, after an enthusiastic response to its limited-edition fall launch. Anderson describes it as “a community staple and goes everywhere with you,” noting that the rhubarb version offers a “beautiful, cool-toned shimmer” that’s both nostalgic and practical. Her approach to product development is deeply personal, drawing inspiration from her own garden, particularly her beloved roses, which have found their way into Sonsie’s Cleansing Mousse. “Everything in my garden inspires me—my roses especially. We added them into our Cleansing Mousse. It reminds me of my morning walks through my rose garden,” she shared.
Anderson’s connection to nature is more than aesthetic—it’s foundational to her philosophy of self-care and beauty. “I’ve always been a nature lover. It has reset me time and again—even in the hardest of times. I can find happiness outside, in the forest or on the beach. I put my toes in the ocean, and all is well,” she said. Her daily routine reflects this ethos: rising early, writing or reading, following her Sonsie skincare ritual, and walking outdoors every morning, regardless of the weather. “I walk every morning; I have to get fresh air—no matter the weather.”
For Anderson, the parallels between nurturing a garden and caring for one’s skin are clear. “I always say life is like a garden: Tend to it and watch what blooms. It’s the same with our minds, bodies and skin. If you love and care for yourself, it shows…it’s magnetic,” she told NewBeauty. This belief in the power of gentle, consistent care over complicated routines is at the core of Sonsie’s mission. “Unfortunately, we’ve all been convinced into 10-plus step routines. It’s not necessary. If anything, I’ve learned less is more. It’s pretty simple.”
Anderson’s advocacy for simplicity and authenticity extends to her advice for others. She encourages women to let go of overcomplicated beauty standards and routines, suggesting that true radiance comes from comfort and ease rather than constant striving. “This is one of the many reasons we built Sonsie—to simplify, to give women their time back,” she said. Her hope for those who use her products is heartfelt: “I want them to feel loved. To feel at ease. To feel relief.”
Beyond her work with Sonsie and her public stance on beauty, Anderson is experiencing a period of personal and professional rediscovery. She’s set to appear in the much-anticipated reboot of the Naked Gun trilogy, a film series celebrated for its slapstick humor and irreverent wit. Reflecting on her role, Anderson told Harper’s Bazaar UK, “It’s going to show a different side of me. I feel every film I do lately is healing various parts of me. And you need a big, messy life to draw from if you want to make these kinds of things interesting.” Acting, for her, has become a form of self-exploration and healing, a way to channel the complexities of her life into creative expression.
As Anderson looks ahead, she remains committed to living authentically and creatively. “I love being in a creative space. That’s my happy place. I guess it’s a romantic space, but it’s not necessarily about men or about relationships. It’s about seeing what you’re made of, what you’re supposed to contribute to the world. I love poetry, film and music, and I feel like I’m just trying to live this part of my life as authentically as possible,” she said. With characteristic candor, she added, “I don’t know what my next incarnation will be, but right now, I want to peel it back. Clean up a little bit and just see: who am I?”
Through her choices—whether it’s going bare-faced on the red carpet, launching a skincare brand that champions realness, or stepping into new creative roles—Pamela Anderson is making a case for a more genuine, less performative approach to beauty and life. Her message is simple yet powerful: happiness and beauty are found in self-acceptance, not in chasing someone else’s ideal.
