Baywatch Star Erika Eleniak, 56, Embraces Inked Makeover Decades After Playboy Fame
Erika Eleniak — best known as Shauni McClain on Baywatch and for her Playboy appearance — has undergone a dramatic style evolution. At 56, the former lifeguard bombshell is nearly unrecognizable, covered in colorful tattoos from sleeve to sleeve and even extending down her back.
Eleniak recently opened up about her love for body art during an appearance on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, explaining that each tattoo holds deep personal meaning. One particularly emotional piece is a tattoo of an iris flower, dedicated to her mother, Iris, who passed away. She has called her body “a canvas to tell my stories.”
Though she first became interested in tattoos in her late 20s, Eleniak revealed that most of her large-scale ink work — including the full sleeves — has come within just the last few years. She also said she’s currently working on a back piece, further embracing this artistic chapter.
Fans first caught a real glimpse of her transformation during a low-key outing in Los Angeles, when she was spotted walking her dog in a casual T‑shirt that displayed both tattooed arms. Photographers noted the vivid detail of the ink: skulls, a wolf, spiderwebs, flowers, and more.
The change is a major departure from her Baywatch era — when she famously wore a red lifeguard swimsuit — and from her time as a Playboy model. That contrast isn’t lost on her, either: on the podcast, she reflected that her transformation feels deeply authentic, as though she’s reclaiming her body on her own terms.
In another interview, Eleniak also highlighted how Baywatch was tougher than it looked. She told UPI that running on sand and getting in and out of water every day challenged her more than fans realized — and her physical intensity on the show helped fuel her current appreciation for self-expression.
Her shift to a tattooed, more alternative look is resonating with fans and the media alike. Many see it as a powerful and personal reinvention — a far cry from the swimsuit icon she once was.
Even as she embraces this new chapter, Eleniak’s career remains alive and well. According to recent reports, she’s still acting and has several projects in the works, showing that her evolution is as much professional as it is personal.
