Former Baywatch star Nicole Eggert has opened up about the dark side of life behind the red swimsuit.
Though the show catapulted her to global fame in the early ’90s, Eggert says the attention came with an unfortunate price – especially when it came to her love life.
Speaking candidly on a recent episode of the Still Here Hollywood podcast, Eggert revealed that her time playing Summer Quinn on Baywatch completely altered how people perceived her – and not for the better.
Nicole Eggert became famous after starring on Baywatch in the 90s
People have an idea of who you are, and that could be a number of things,’ she said.
‘I think it’s harder for people to get to know you without this preconceived notion that they have going in.’
Eggert joined Baywatch during its third season in 1992, originally believing she’d be starring in a spin-off series with a Beverly Hills, 90210-vibe set at a high school for lifeguards.
She recalled the fame turning into backlash that eventually affected her dating life, including people referring to her as a ‘Baywatch bimbo’
That show never happened.
‘Baywatch became so popular, the second series was never created,’ Eggert explained.
‘They were like, “Spin-off nothing. This is what’s working.”‘
But the overnight fame came with some unexpected backlash.
Eggert believed that after leaving the show, she’d leave the stigma behind too – but that didn’t happen
Eggert recalled being ‘ripped apart in the press’ during the height of the show’s success.
Instead of doors opening for her, she felt them slamming shut.
‘All of a sudden it was like we were called “Baywatch bimbos,”‘ she said.
‘It was t**ts and a**. What a mess.’
She said that the show affected her reputation as well as her self-esteem
After just two seasons, Eggert chose to leave the hit show in hopes of distancing herself from the Baywatch label.
‘I had some crazy idea in my head that if I left the show, I would be able to detach myself from the stigma,’ she said.
But that proved to be wishful thinking.
The stereotype followed her – not just professionally, but personally.
In January 2024, Eggert was diagnosed with a form of stage 2 breast cancer.
“I’m not like anyone I’ve played onscreen,” she said, noting how that confused potential romantic partners.
The impact of the show extended beyond reputation.
Eggert also revealed how being thrust into a world of nonstop swimsuit scenes took a toll on her body image.
Just 18 at the time, she made the decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery while on break from filming.
‘I regret it now, of course,’ she told People. ‘It was a stupid 18-year-old decision.’
Eggert recalled feeling insecure about wearing the show’s iconic red one-piece, saying, ‘The one-piece bathing suits were not flattering. I didn’t want to wear it at all.’
Over the years, she’s undergone multiple procedures, including a breast reduction that was even featured on an episode of ‘Botched’ in 2015.
Now 52, Eggert is dealing with a more serious health battle.
In January 2024, she revealed she’d been diagnosed with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma, a form of breast cancer.
She first noticed something was off in October 2023, when she began experiencing breast pain and sudden weight gain.
‘It really was throbbing and hurting,’ she said, but delays in scheduling led her to wait weeks for a proper diagnosis.
Both of Eggert’s parents had cancer, making the diagnosis all the more devastating.
But true to form, the former child star and lifeguard icon is facing it head-on.
Despite the hardships and the lasting stigma of Baywatch, Eggert is reclaiming her story.
‘It just wasn’t what I signed up for,’ she admitted.
By SYEDA SAAD/Daily Mail
