Once the golden girl of Baywatch, Erika Eleniak surprised fans this week when she stepped out for a casual walk with her dog in Los Angeles—looking nothing like the fresh-faced lifeguard viewers remember from the early ’90s.
A Quiet Stroll in L.A. Turns Heads
Now 55, Erika was seen in a low-key neighborhood, taking her black-and-white pup for a walk.
But it wasn’t just the adorable dog that caught attention—it was Erika herself.
Rocking a relaxed look with a Tinker Bell tee, cargo shorts, pink slides, and a sleek leather hip bag, she looked comfortable and cool.
But what really stood out? Her arms, now fully inked in colorful sleeve tattoos—an eye-catching contrast to the unmarked skin from her Baywatch days.
Embracing the Ink and Telling Her Story
Erika recently opened up about her transformation on the Still Here Hollywood podcast.
She revealed she started getting tattoos in her late 20s, after leaving Baywatch.
Every tattoo, she says, holds a story—like one dedicated to her mother.
“I love tattoos. I love that my body is a canvas to tell my stories,” she shared emotionally.
From Spielberg to Slow-Motion Beach Runs
Before Baywatch, Erika was already familiar with the big screen.
She had a small but memorable role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial back in 1982.
After dabbling in modeling—including a cover appearance for Playboy in July 1989—she found fame on television as Shauni McClain, the female lead in the first two seasons of Baywatch.
Though the show was initially canceled after one season, it exploded in popularity worldwide in syndication.
Her Hollywood Journey Beyond Baywatch
After Baywatch, Erika’s career spanned both film and TV.
She starred in cult favorites like The Blob (1988), and appeared in major films such as Under Siege with Steven Seagal, The Beverly Hillbillies remake, and A Pyromaniac’s Love Story.
Her roles in the late ’90s and early 2000s shifted more toward indie projects, and in 2024, she returned to the screen playing herself in Lolipop Gang.
Defining Herself on Her Own Terms
Though often remembered for her Playboy appearance, Erika says she never truly identified with that title.
“I always considered myself an actress who did Playboy,” she emphasized on the podcast.
Despite being dubbed a “difficult” Playmate at the time for pushing back on photo concepts, she saw it purely as a modeling job—nothing more.
Personal Life: Love, Family, and a Move to Canada
Erika married bodybuilder Philip Golgia in 1998, though the marriage lasted only six months.
In the 2000s, she met Roch Daigle, a film crew member.
The couple eventually moved to Calgary, Canada, tied the knot in 2005, and welcomed a daughter together.
She’s kept a relatively low profile in recent years, balancing family life and occasional creative projects.
Keeping Her Voice in the Game
Most recently, Erika lent her voice to The Murder Years, an eight-part podcast series.
It’s clear she hasn’t stepped away from the industry entirely—just on her own terms and at her own pace.
A Life Beyond the Red Swimsuit
Erika Eleniak’s transformation—both physical and personal—is a testament to growth, resilience, and owning your narrative.
No longer the beachside sweetheart, she’s now a proud mom, storyteller, and unapologetically herself.