Pamela Anderson Never Felt 'Pretty Enough'

Jan. 27, 2015— -- "Baywatch" beauty Pamela Anderson has seen herself as many things, but pretty is not one of them.

No one is more surprised than her to have Next Modeling agency sign her for commercials and appearances.

"I’ve never felt pretty enough to be a model," she told the latest issue of Parade. "I think I’ve provoked feelings with how I look. But not as a beauty but as a mischievous little rascal! I’ve always been a tomboy."

In fact, she said, beauty has never been the first thing on her list, which is why she doesn't fear aging in an industry that focuses on youth and looks.

"My mom always told me beauty comes from within," she said in the interview. "And I know that’s maybe a cliché, but I do believe that. And I think that’s what lasts forever. I don’t really feel like I want to chase youth. I want to get old. I want to experience all the seasons of my life. I just don’t want to be afraid of it. And I think in this industry you’re surrounded by a lot of fear of getting older and fear of your looks leaving you."

She added, "And I thought well, I’m lucky then because I never really felt that great looking. I felt like I had fun. I felt like I could be sexy. I could be provocative and I could use my image to get attention for things that I cared about."

For Anderson, who recently revealed that she was a victim of childhood sexual abuse, it's shining the light on human, animal and environmental rights through the Pamela Anderson Foundation.

The 47-year-old actress talks about the decision to come forward and start her foundation in a two-part short documentary that can be seen on charity website, Chideo.