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?
Every boy had Pamela’s poster on their wall, writes Polly[/caption] Almost £600, a giant pair of prosthetic boobs and seven hours in make-up later, the resemblance was uncanny[/caption]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.
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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.
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 . . .
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.
This wig from Aderans UK costs over £470[/caption] Lily James is unrecognisable as Pamela Anderson in the new Disney+ series[/caption]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.
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.
It takes a few attempts to achieve the same look without having to pluck out any of Polly’s natural brow[/caption]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.
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.
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.
The boobs feel as heavy as a large bag of flour[/caption] Polly can’t contain her excitement as she poses with her new cleavage[/caption]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.
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.
I love the look and the lashes seem really natural, writes Polly[/caption]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.
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 replica cossie is just £8.40 from Boohoo[/caption]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.
TIME for the fake tan.
Rimmel SunShimmer instant fake tan will give you the required beach-babe glow with the minimum of fuss[/caption]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.