Netizens are divided on the two dresses Pamela Anderson chose to wear during an event to promote The Last Showgirl, which many are calling a career-defining moment for the star.
At the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival on September 27, the 57-year-old Hollywood actress exuded elegance and style, capturing attention with two distinctive looks. During the photocall for her latest film, The Last Showgirl, Anderson wore a flowy floral dress that sparked mixed reactions online.
Pamela’s floral ensemble, designed by renowned fashion house Carolina Herrera, featured a bow at the collar, a deep V-neck, long sleeves, and side pockets. It also had buttoned cuffs and an overall vibrant pattern. Choosing to keep things simple, Anderson accessorized only with diamond stud earrings and paired the dress with nude-colored heels. She kept her look fresh and natural, wearing minimal makeup, only a hint of lip gloss, and letting her blonde hair cascade freely down her back.
However, the reaction from the online community was far from unanimous. While some praised her style, others were less than impressed. “What a frumpy dress!” one Facebook user criticized, but this was quickly countered by a fan saying, “[It’s] great stop the hate.” The original commenter persisted, arguing, “[It’s] not hate, it’s just very unflattering on her. She has a beautiful body, and this dress does nothing for her!”
Another critic pointed out that her lack of makeup added to the unflattering look: “[Needs] makeup, dress [makes] her look too old. I love Pamela ❤️ but not like this… [Makeup takes] 3 minutes.” Some echoed this sentiment, with another observer noting, “The floral is pretty, but the fit is wrong. Oversized looks slightly sloppy on her. I love slide 11 though. She looks so carefree and happy.” Meanwhile, another Reddit user described the floral dress as looking like “a lumpy housecoat.”
While Anderson’s floral outfit drew a lot of commentary, her second look for the evening — a pale pink gown designed by famed Lebanese designer Elie Saab — garnered more favorable attention. The gown, which is called the “Embellished Caped Gown” on the Mytheresa website, originally retailed for $3,400 but is now marked down to $2,380. The dress was accented with a gold emblem at the chest and featured a dramatic cape.
In contrast to her floral look, Anderson wore her hair styled in a sophisticated updo, parting it diagonally, and this time she opted for bright red lipstick, adding a bolder flair to her makeup.
Social media users seemed to appreciate this ensemble more. “I love the pink. It looks great on her,” commented one fan, while another echoed, “The pink gown is so pretty.” A third admirer gushed, “[Wow] she looks STUNNING. I love this for her.”
Still, some spectators remained critical of both outfits. “Not really a fan of the cut of either of these dresses — the pink one completely overwhelms her, and the floral one looks like a housecoat. That being said, she looks gorgeous otherwise, and the colors suit her well,” wrote one user. Another added, “She looks really nice and ladylike, but it’s too early for her to look like Helen Mirren.” A different commenter questioned, “Why is she covered up like a grandma?”
Some online commentators also expressed surprise at Anderson’s physical appearance. “She looks totally different,” one person noted, while another asked, “What happened to her… [Wow.]” However, Anderson’s defenders quickly responded to these remarks. One supporter wrote, “Not everyone GETS to grow old! She’s embracing the gift of aging and she looks different of course, but still her and pretty…”
While much of the focus was on Anderson’s fashion choices and appearance at the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival, some seemed to overlook the reason she was there — to promote The Last Showgirl, a film that has been making waves in the industry. The movie also stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Dave Bautista and tells the story of Shelley, a glamorous showgirl whose 30-year-long Las Vegas show gets canceled, forcing her to plan for the future.
The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola, has already earned an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was well-received at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Anderson’s portrayal of Shelley has been described as a “career-defining” role, with Deadline calling it one of the highlights of her career.
Despite the debate over Anderson’s red-carpet looks, her performance in The Last Showgirl has solidified her place as an enduring star in Hollywood.