Carmen Electra is challenging perceptions of aging and beauty by returning to Playboy at the age of 54. The actress and model, who first graced the magazine's pages three decades ago, is featured in Playboy's Summer 2026 issue, asserting that age should not be a barrier to confidence or self-expression.
"Don't let anyone tell you you're too old," Electra told Fox News Digital. "That's a myth. You are living your own life. You're not living your life for other people. And honestly, if you're manifesting that, that's what it's going to be for you. You have to change your thought process. You have to start telling yourself every morning, 'I'm beautiful. I'm good enough. I look great. I'm pretty.' Whatever it is that you want to be, you can be that."
Electra reflected on maintaining a youthful spirit, drawing inspiration from her past interest in Buddhism and the concept of the inner child. "I never want to lose that, and I'm not going to," she stated. "And I think the people who are older than me, who are still in this business and who I think are beautiful, have a youthful spirit. And people will love you for being who you really, truly are."
Initially, Electra did not anticipate a return to Playboy, stating she intended to "go with the flow of life." However, inspired by her active presence on social media, she decided to embrace the opportunity. "It's Playboy. Playboy is so iconic. So let's do it. And I'm so happy that I did."
Preparing for the photoshoot, Electra opted for walks in her neighborhood rather than a rigorous gym routine due to a busy schedule. She expressed satisfaction with the outcome and the positive reception from fans.
Electra has observed a shift in online interactions, noting that while some negative comments still surface, the majority of her followers express love and support. She attributes this to her own internal acceptance and focus on positivity. "I came to terms with that. And once I came to terms with that, my followers changed a lot. Every once in a while, somebody will say something negative. I ignore it, whatever. For the most part, it's all about love."
She finds her greatest confidence when she is working. "I feel the most confident when I'm working, and I've been working a lot," she said. "When I'm working, I'm really happy. It's weird; you would think that by now I'd be over it. But I'm just not. I love it. And the more I work, the more confident I feel."
Looking ahead, Electra shared advice for the cast of the upcoming "Baywatch" reboot, in which Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model Brooks Nader is set to star as a series regular. "My advice to the ladies is to be in the best shape of your life because you're really going to be out there on the water, and you're going to be doing all of these activities," she cautioned, emphasizing the physical demands of the role. She also advised aspiring cast members to be proficient swimmers. Electra expressed openness to a cameo appearance in the reboot, stating, "Hopefully they'll think about me and bring me in for a cameo."