It’s hard to think of any celebrity who has done more to advance the concept of aging gracefully than Pamela Anderson. The actress, who turns 58 today, has recently taken to going makeup-free on the red carpet, telling Glamour: “Anti-aging is a lie. We’re getting older no matter what. Things change, and if you can find a sense of humor in it, it’s better. It’s good to have a sense of self and to be able to be your own best friend.”

Anderson’s road to self-acceptance as a Hollywood star has been a long and winding one—arguably beginning with her appearance as a Playboy cover girl, which quickly led to her breakthrough role as C.J. Parker on Baywatch. Anderson also had a long and notable reality-TV era; enjoyed a stint on Broadway; and released a memoir, a cookbook, and a moving documentary—all before wowing audiences as middle-aged Las Vegas showgirl Shelly in Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl last year. (I’m still so mad that movie was shut out of the Oscars race, but that’s a rant for another day!)

These days, Anderson seems closer than ever to writing her own ticket, which makes this the perfect opportunity to look back at just how far she’s come. In honor of her 58th birthday, here are 17 vintage photos of Anderson over the years: