I DID a double-take when I saw actress Lily James’ transformation into Baywatch icon Pamela Anderson.
It got me thinking . . . how easy would it be to turn ME into the Nineties pin-up?
In the new Disney+ Pam & Tommy series, 32-year-old Lily is completely unrecognisable with her bleach blonde hair and huge fake boobs – which have undeniably stolen the show.
So could a 37-year-old mum of two with post-breastfeeding 30B boobs and a boyish figure ever achieve that incredible DD chest, curvy hips and bottom?
Not to mention the California glow and Barbie-blonde hair.
As a teenager, I tuned in every Saturday afternoon for Baywatch, fascinated by Pammy. I was a bit obsessed. Every boy I knew had her poster on their bedroom wall, while girls longed for a bit of her sex appeal.
Lily’s makeover for a new TV show – which has just been released on Disney + – brought back those memories and feelings. I realised perhaps it was possible, just for a day, to be Pammy.
Like her, I’m a petite size eight. I’m a bit shorter. I go to the gym three times a week and eat well because being a model means staying in good shape.
I’m sure Pammy had to work hard for her figure so we have that much in common which is a good starting point.
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Almost £600, a giant pair of prosthetic boobs and seven hours in make-up later, the resemblance was uncanny.
Here’s how I got on . . .
Wig
MY hair is put into a net, ready for the blonde bombshell wig.
I am naturally light brown and apart from a few highlights, have never felt brave enough to go full-on blonde.
But I am keen to see if all-over peroxide suits me. On the hanger, I worry the £471.50 wig (Aderans UK) looks fake.
But after stylist Dino Pereira spends an hour chopping and blow-drying it into Pammy’s style, with a light fringe and feathers around my face, it looks like it is all my own .
For full authenticity, he applies make-up to my roots to match hers. After lashings of Schwarzkopf Got2b 2 Sexy volumising hairspray (£4.29, boots.com), I begin working on my hair flicks to get into character.
Brows
COPYING Pammy’s eyebrows is tricky because thin, high arches were in fashion back in her Nineties heyday.
It takes a few attempts to achieve the same look without having to pluck out any of my natural brow.
But make-up artist Aimee Adams gets the job done by using a Sienna X sculpting brow pencil and fixing serum (£20, sienna-x.co.uk) which works wonders.
Contouring
GOODBYE, Polly . . . hello Pamela! I am beginning to morph into my teenage idol.
Make-up artist Aimee applies a matte foundation in a tan shade, called Sculpted by Aimee Connolly Second Skin, all over my face (£25, boots.com).
Next, Aimee uses Smashbox Step By Step contour palette in Light (£29.50, smashbox.co.uk) to shape my cheekbones, down the sides and along the tip of my nose to create the illusion of Pamela’s button nose.
Boobs
BEFORE breastfeeding my children I had bigger boobs. But now I’m a B-cup and they are virtually non-existent.
Pamela had breast augmentations to take her to a size 34DD and I need help too. I find a prosthetic chest costing £114.20 on eBay.
When I pick them up they feel as heavy as a large bag of flour and I think I’ll struggle carrying them around.
But once on, they feel much lighter. I am very excited about having an ample bosom for the day and the rubbery, prosthetic set is quite comfy.
They feel quite real and though I get a bit sweaty, I can’t help admiring my new cleavage.
Eyes
MY transformation continues in the make-up chair with Aimee, who worked with Pamela and the Baywatch cast all those years ago.
I don’t wear much make-up day to day and am not a fan of that articial Towie or Love Island look.
To create Pamela’s smoky eyes, Aimee uses shades from the Too Faced Sweet Peach eye shadow palette (£40, lookfantastic.com) and the Avon Mark gel paint pencil eyeliner in black (£6, avon.uk.com), which is smudged out a little to give the smoky effect.
She then applies Ardell Demi Wispies (£10 for four pairs, Amazon) with lashings of Benefit’s Badgal Bang volumising mascara in black (£12.50, boots.com).
The Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat illuminating pen (£27, yslbeauty.co.uk) brightens the area under my eyes. I love the look and the lashes seem really natural.
Costume
I AM beyond excited about slipping into a replica of Pammy’s iconic red swimming costume (£8.40, Boohoo).
It scoops up high on my legs – this would not be my usual choice for the beach. But I love how the cut makes my pins look long and lean.
The look complete, I stand in front of the mirror to take in the full ensemble. I feel confident and sexy. At last, I am Pammy’s double!
My husband James reckons he isn’t a fan of big boobs. But if he could see me now, he might just change his mind.
Tan
TIME for the fake tan.
This is not something I bother with often, as I don’t like the faff and I always seem to end up with lines and marks.
I am naturally very pale but Rimmel SunShimmer instant fake tan (£5.94, boots.com) gives me the required beach-babe glow with the minimum of fuss.
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