Love, Pamela: A Memoir of Prose, Poetry, and Truth

At age 22, Pamela Anderson was spotted at a football game, becoming an instant crowd favorite and, soon, a model. Her dramatic ascent to Playboy model and television star made her a household name around the world. While Anderson was initially amazed and grateful for these opportunities, she soon learned that there are serious pitfalls to fame. While Anderson acknowledges that a life in the public eye has often been painful, she also recognizes that fame is a privilege—one she earned through her own personal and professional choices. She writes, “My life was still a gift and I wasn’t one to complain / I just wanted to figure out the best way to handle things / To use my influence / For good / Pure intentions / No matter what the world thought” (100). This tension between Anderson’s self-image and her public image is a central conflict in the memoir. As Anderson tries to use the privilege of fame “for good,” she must contend with a mass audience that too often sees her only as a sexual object or as a source of gossip and scandal. 

Being associated with Playboy and its nude photoshoots hypersexualized Anderson’s public image at the outset of her career.