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Pamela Anderson: “I’m 48 – and finally me!”

The blonde beauty’s ready to take on the world again

Since her days in the red swimsuit on Baywatch, we’ve become used to seeing Pamela Anderson glammed up to the gills on red carpets and at celebrity events. She even walked the runway for designer Richie Rich at New Zealand Fashion Week in 2009.

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But when Woman’s Day quizzes the ’90s icon on her favourite style moment in our exclusive chat, Pamela confesses, “I can’t think of any. I’m not a fan of fashion. When people dress me, I think it’s a little weird.”

So it’s no wonder that she chooses to pose naked apart from a bedsheet for our intimate photos – which come hot on the heels of her cover shoot for Playboy, the magazine’s last-ever fully nude pictures.

Pamela still fits her iconic Baywatch swimsuit.

But unlike in the past, Pamela isn’t taking off her clothes to shock people. She’s literally and figuratively stripping back the layers. Gone is the wild, party-loving Pam. The woman we talk to is a down-to-earth, laid-back earth mother.

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“I’ve finally started doing my own hair and make-up,” she admits. “I don’t worry so much about any of it any more. It feels fresh. I can get ready for anything in 15 minutes.”

So what are her secrets for looking at least a decade younger than her 48 years?

“I’m vegan,” she says. “And I walk my dogs on the beach, use a treadmill and do Pilates every once in a while. But I love the softness of being female – not too toned.”

“Softness” is not a word that comes to mind when most people think of Pamela. But the former Hollywood showgirl insists her best role is being a mum to sons Brandon, 19, and Dylan, 18, from her marriage to Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee. She acknowledges, “Being a dedicated mother isn’t something anyone seems to be interested in when it comes to me, but I’m the best mom I can be. My kids are proof of committed, loving parenting.”

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Pamela with her sons Brandon and Dylan.

Pamela’s boys have never seen Baywatch and don’t take her celebrity status seriously, but she says it’s “inevitable” they’ll follow in their parents’ creative footsteps. “It’s not a goal to be famous, but art finds you.”

She adds, “They have memories about being on sets as babies, then I took a long break from acting to be with them. Now they want me to go back to work, so I’ve done a few indie films, which are now making the festival circuit, but they’re more proud of my passion for animals.”

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Renewed passion

As well as regularly taking in rescued dogs, Pamela’s famous for her work with animal-rights organisation PETA and recently joined activist group Sea Shepherd to raise awareness of the atrocities being committed against whales and dolphins.

She also recently launched a line of vegan, leather-free boots, via website PammiesLife.com. “I do something for animals, the environment and vulnerable people every day,” explains Pamela.

“It’s a juggle, but it’s my passion. We all have to work together to protect the planet and strengthen nature.” Speaking of nature, Pamela has fond memories of her visits to Aotearoa, recalling, “I loved Waiheke Island, the vegan food and the people.” And she enjoyed working with Kiwi legend Temuera Morrison on the film Barbed Wire back in 1995.

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“It’s a cult hit, but not at the box office – I blame myself for not being able to give 100%,” remembers Pamela. “Tem was perfect, but I was recently married [to Tommy] and very distracted, and my husband was very high-maintenance and possessive. It was hard.”

Last November, Pamela revealed she’d been cured of the hepatitis C she’d contracted from a tattoo needle 17 years ago.

“It’s exciting and such a relief,” she tells. “My doctors told me to wait for a cure and it’s finally come. I was lucky to be rid of it before it caused any liver damage or other health issues.”

When it comes to her Scary Movie 3 co-star Charlie Sheen’s recent HIV revelation, Pamela says, “I wish Charlie the best. It’s important to have support and good spirits until a cure comes. The fact they found a cure for hep C is very promising for other so-called ‘incurable diseases’.”

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So how did Pamela celebrate her cure? “We didn’t celebrate,” she reveals. “I told the boys I was cured and we got on with our day.”

It seems the champagne and wild parties really are a thing of the past.

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