Pamela Anderson has made an unexpected beauty switch, stepping away from the makeup-free style that has become one of her defining looks in recent years. The 59-year-old Baywatch star appeared at Vogue World: Milano during Milan Fashion Week on Tuesday, September 22, wearing a shimmering gold lamé Ferragamo maxi dress with bold jewelry and a dramatic smoky-eye makeup look. Anderson first became known for embracing a bare face at Paris Fashion Week in 2023 and has continued the approach at major events, including red carpets and the Met Gala. She previously explained that losing her longtime makeup artist and close friend Alexis Vogel to breast cancer in 2019 changed the way she viewed cosmetics. “Since then, I just felt, without Alexis, it’s just better for me not to wear makeup,” Anderson said. She has also described the decision as freeing, saying she no longer feels pressure to follow beauty expectations and would rather be herself.

Her return to full glam quickly sparked mixed reactions online. One critic called the makeup “scary,” while other fans enthusiastically defended Anderson and praised her decision to experiment with a different look. Supporters described her latest appearance as a new chapter and highlighted her eyes and features, with one fan celebrating the return of her signature eye makeup. Anderson has previously acknowledged that she may experiment with cosmetics again for acting roles, explaining that she finds it difficult to find a balance between wearing nothing and going completely glamorous. During a PEOPLE interview, she said she wanted to be a “trend-setter” rather than simply follow whatever beauty style was popular. Her Milan appearance appears to have offered exactly that opportunity: a striking departure from the natural look audiences have become accustomed to seeing from her.