AceShowbiz - Pamela Anderson was "painfully shy" during her younger years. The 56-year-old actress - who took on the part of "C.J." Parker on "Baywatch" in the 90s - has claimed that the public's perception of her doesn't really chime with the reality.

"I've always felt like there's a little monster inside of me that I need to get out, I need to share," Pamela - who became a sex symbol on the back of her "Baywatch" fame - told Allure when reflecting on her personal journey.

"I've been trying and I've begun to feel closest to it … and it's peeling back everything and trying to remember what my original thoughts are … It's not just about makeup, taking off the mask, but it's about why am I here, what's my purpose, why do I resonate with people, can I help in any way?"

Asked if she has a name for the "little monster," the actress replied, "Little Pamela Anderson that's always been very mischievous and creative and lived in her imagination. [That feeling] it's just volcanic. I was painfully shy … I wouldn't [even] wear a bathing suit … I knew I had to jump off a bridge to get to … [release it]."

Pamela appeared makeup-free at Paris Fashion Week in 2023. The actress has now revealed her motivation for her makeup-free look, insisting she wasn't making a "political statement."

The Hollywood star - who previously modelled for Playboy magazine - said, "I did that for myself. It wasn't to make a political statement, I just wanted to have my little weird face sticking out of the top of those great clothes ... why am I playing the game?"