Pamela Anderson’s iconic red swimsuit from Baywatch will be part of the ‘Splash!‘ exhibition at the Design Museum in London, exploring the evolution of aquatic style.
Pamela Anderson’s famous red swimsuit, worn in the TV series Baywatch, is undoubtedly a cultural icon. Beyond Halloween costumes and the general obsession with Anderson, the design of this swimsuit marked a significant shift in the world of swimwear. This shift will be explored in the new exhibition titled ‘Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style,’ which will open in March 2025 at the Design Museum in London.
The exhibition will trace the unique evolution of swimwear over the past 100 years, from the first lido in the UK in the 20th century to the recent Mermaidcore trend that gained popularity after the pandemic. In addition to Anderson’s famous swimsuit, the exhibition will feature objects such as the first Olympic solo swimming gold medal won by a British woman and the ‘LZR Racer’ swimsuit, banned for its technical doping.



With over 200 objects loaned by 50 European institutions, the exhibition will be divided into three sections: the pool, the lido, and nature. It will explore how design has influenced our relationship with swimming, highlighting its transition from a functional garment to a style symbol and how it challenges ideas about autonomy and the body.