As a child of the 90s (I was five when they began), Pamela Anderson in her red swimsuit is an image burned into my adolescence – on friends’ brothers’ bedroom walls, in magazines, and of course on the TV screen. I don’t remember if we were actually allowed to watch Baywatch, but as a kid in the 90s, you sure knew about it!
From bedroom walls to my Substack feed, now in her 50s Pamela has become the girl of all of our dreams. A woman strong enough to change the narrative on her terms.
Last night I rewatched her Netflix documentary, Pamela, A Love Story, in anticipation of seeing her speak live next week in Melbourne for Wanderlust’s True North series – it’s not too late to book your tickets here.
I wanted to immerse myself in her story again, and I was reminded of everything she had endured and overcome. She spoke of her early career with Playboy as a way to take her power back after experiencing sexual assault, not once but twice as a child.
Then, at the height of her career and after becoming a mother, that power she had found was stripped from her again. We all know the story of the tape, so I won’t go into it here, but watching Pamela speak of this time, it’s heartbreaking to hear her admit that she knew her career was over. She speaks of becoming a caricature, a punchline.
I wonder if she could have ever dreamed that thirty years later, women (and men too, I’m sure) would pack theatres on the other side of the world – not to ask her about her boobs, her ex-husbands, that tape, or even a red swimsuit – but to hear her speak on resilience, wellness, and a life finally lived in alignment with her true self.
Since the documentary was released in 2023, we’ve watched Pamela go on to have somewhat of a career renaissance, appearing in Chicago on Broadway, and a triumphant return to film with the lead role in Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, earning Golden Globe, SAG and Gotham Award nominations and widespread critical praise.
Beyond the screen, she has emerged as a powerful voice for conscious living. Her minimalist skincare brand Sonsie has gained international attention in the clean beauty space, while her choice to appear makeup-free in public has resonated worldwide, challenging entrenched beauty norms and positioning her as a modern symbol of self-acceptance and authenticity.
There’s also The Open Journal – her Substack. Now with over 151,000 subscribers, it’s a weekly public journal entry filled with thoughts, poetry, and what she calls love-based philosophy. It has become a go-to for women around the world, me included.
On returning to Australia for True North, Pamela said, “This moment in my life feels expansive and deeply intentional. These conversations are about coming home to yourself, embracing change, letting go of old narratives and trusting what’s next.”
Founded in Australia, Wanderlust is a certified B Corp at the intersection of wellness, culture, and conscious living. Known for its premium supplements that nourish the body, Wanderlust also creates purpose-driven experiences, including In Conversation with Jane Fonda and Wellspring. Bringing together global thought leaders, artists and changemakers, Wanderlust events explore what it truly means to live well.Wanderlust’s True North presents Pamela Anderson takes place in Sydney on Thursday, 16 April and Melbourne on Friday, 17 April 2026. Tickets are still available at wanderlust.com.au/events.
