Pamela Anderson & That Iconic Red Swimsuit

In Retrospect with Susie Banikarim and Jessica Bennett

When lifeguard CJ Parker, played by Pamela Anderson, ran in slow-mo down a sandy California beach in her iconic cherry red swimsuit — you know the one, low in the front, hiiiiiigh on the sides — she didn’t just turn “Baywatch” into the number-one TV show in America, she became the enduring symbol of 90s sexuality. In this episode, Jess and Susie trace that swimsuit’s surprising history — and its ripple effects.

Guests:

  • Pamela Anderson, actor, activist and author 
  • Susan Douglas, professor of media studies at the University of Michigan and author of “Enlightened Sexism”

FOR MORE:

  • Pamela Anderson Doesn’t Need Your Redemption. She’s Just Fine. (NY Times)
  • How Baywatch Went from Early Belly Flop to the Big Screen (NY Times)
  • Pamela: A Love Story (Netflix)

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