Donna D’Errico, known for her role on Baywatch, recently took a stand against criticism about her appearance in a bikini at the age of 54. After receiving comments from some women who suggested that she was “too old” to wear a swimsuit, D’Errico posted a striking photo of herself in a light pink bikini on Instagram, with a strong message for her critics.
In the caption, she addressed the backlash she received for a previous Fourth of July post where she wore a red, white, and blue bikini. Critics had labeled her as “too old to wear bikinis” and even called her “desperate.” But D’Errico wasn’t about to let these negative comments pass without a response. She confidently wrote, “Let me tell you something that might surprise you. I can wear and do whatever I want.” She closed the post with a cheeky remark, “So here I am in a bikini next to a coffee table.”
Her response was met with overwhelming support from fans in the comments section, who praised her for her confidence and for standing up against the age-shaming comments. One supporter wrote, “Do whatever you want, dear! We love you! Women always attack other women and try hard to make them feel bad. You have no reason to feel disappointed.” Another added, “Donna, you can wear and look absolutely phenomenal in a bikini. Don’t let those jealous ones bother you even a bit.”
D’Errico is not alone in her response to those who criticize older women for wearing certain types of clothing, particularly swimsuits. Fellow Baywatch alum Pamela Anderson has also been known for embracing her body as she ages. These women continue to redefine societal expectations about beauty and aging.
Another example comes from 57-year-old model Paulina Porizkova, who has faced similar criticism. In April, Porizkova shared some of the negative comments she received after posting bikini photos on her own Instagram page. Some remarks included, “It must hurt so much to post bikini pictures at your age.” Porizkova addressed these comments with a poignant reflection on beauty and aging, noting that while older men are often viewed as “distinguished,” older women are labeled as “ugly.”
In her response, Porizkova highlighted the shallow nature of equating beauty with youth. She wrote, “People who think beauty equals youth don’t understand beauty. Pretty is easy on the eyes, partly because it is a little bland, harmless. It is easy to accept and easy to forget.” But, she continued, “Beauty can be sharp. It can hurt you and leave a scar. To perceive beauty, you have to be able to see. That’s why I believe we become more beautiful with age. We have earned beauty,