“I Wanted to Be Pam”: Miley Cyrus Credits Anderson’s Bold Persona for Shaping Her Artistic Identity
Miley Cyrus has long been a chameleon of pop culture, but in a raw new Instagram exchange with Pamela Anderson, the singer peeled back layers of her persona to reveal an enduring inspiration: the Baywatch icon herself.
Promoting Anderson’s film The Last Showgirl — which features Cyrus’ ballad “Beautiful That Way” on its soundtrack — the pair sat down for a heartfelt dialogue shared Monday. “Ever since I was little, it was only Pam,” Cyrus, 32, confessed. “When people asked what I wanted to be, I’d say: Her. The tattoos, the hair, all of it. I wanted to be a showgirl.”
The conversation, brimming with mutual reverence, traced Anderson’s evolution from ’90s sex symbol to respected actress and activist — a trajectory Cyrus called “the blueprint” for her own reinventions. “I’ve had pivots, evolutions, detours,” Cyrus said. “But every phase circles back to make the next stage more potent.” Anderson, 57, echoed the sentiment, rejecting past regrets: “I’m not ashamed of my life. I don’t need to let anything go.”
Anderson’s The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola, was notably absent from the 2025 Oscar nominations — a “snub” Anderson shrugged off. “Doing the work is the win,” she said, doubling down on comments made to Elle. Cyrus, whose track scored a Golden Globe nod, later cheered Anderson on Instagram: “It’s so fun to watch her shine.”
The exchange underscored a generational baton-passing: Cyrus, the genre-defying star, paying homage to Anderson’s unapologetic authenticity. As Anderson put it, “Bringing my younger self into my work now? That’s power.”
FAQs
Q: What is The Last Showgirl about?
A: The film stars Pamela Anderson in a narrative exploring showbiz resilience, with Miley Cyrus contributing to its soundtrack.
Q: How did Pamela Anderson react to her Oscar snub?
A: Anderson called the work itself “the win,” emphasizing artistic fulfillment over awards validation.
Q: What connects Miley Cyrus to Pamela Anderson’s career?
A: Cyrus cites Anderson’s bold persona and evolution as foundational to her own artistic reinventions.
Q: Who directed The Last Showgirl?
A: Gia Coppola helmed the project, enlisting Cyrus for its soundtrack.
Q: Has Miley Cyrus won a Golden Globe?
A: Her song “Beautiful That Way” was nominated, though the story highlights her support for Anderson over awards.
