From the sandy shores of Baywatch to a prestigious museum exhibit, Pamela Anderson’s famous red swimsuit is making waves again. The iconic bathing suit, synonymous with Anderson’s role as lifeguard CJ Parker, is now part of a major new exhibition at the Design Museum in London.
Titled Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style, the exhibit celebrates the evolution of swimwear, and Anderson’s legendary swimsuit is taking center stage. On loan from the BikiniARTmuseum in Germany, the suit was once part of David Hasselhoff’s personal collection. Visitors can now view it alongside other historic swimwear items, from vintage woolen swimsuits to modern trends like “Mermaidcore.”
The exhibit also features a variety of fascinating items, including a scale model of Zaha Hadid’s London Aquatics Centre and an Olympic gold medal from the 1924 Paris Games.
For Anderson, the Baywatch swimsuit is more than just a pop culture symbol. In her 2023 Netflix documentary and memoir, Love, Pamela, she opened up about her Hollywood career and personal life, touching on everything from her role as CJ Parker to her marriage to Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee.
Now, her swimsuit has made the leap from television legend to museum piece, proving just how deeply Baywatch and Anderson’s iconic look are woven into fashion history.