Paula Abdul is still celebrating that Lakers’ win from earlier this week. “Bravo to the Lakers! It is exciting! Some of my fondest memories are from those days,” the 58-year-old former Laker Girl emphatically says. “That is what truly opened so many doors for me. Who would have thought?”
Something else she’s pretty passionate about: Sharing the message about her positive experience with Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel, a topical pain-relief solution for which she is a spokesperson. “This has been a great partnership. I was diagnosed with arthritis five years ago and I was introduced to the gel by my doctor, who understood I just couldn’t stop doing what I loved—if I had to stop dancing, it would absolutely crush me. From the moment I applied it, I had instant pain relief. And the fact that it’s now over-the-counter is going to make such a difference for so many, if not millions, of people.”
Another people-related project she’s thrown herself into during the stay-at-home hits the topic of hair. “It’s the coolest thing that’s happened to me during the pandemic,” she says of her collaboration with celebrity hair stylist and friend, Martino Cartier on their Forever Your Curl Styling Tool.
“I got to actually create a tool that is revolutionary for me—my talent is in my feet, not in my hands—and I can’t do my hair. All these years, I’ve had this naturally curly hair that I’ve despised and I was finally able to figure it out. It’s a curling iron with rapid heat that actually sets the curl while cool air is coming out. It’s one and done and it stays. It’s the simplest thing and it works on everyone.”
As for hair “misses,” she admits she’s made a few. “I was just highlighted in a ‘most iconic looks from each decade’ piece and, there I was, with my pom-pom hair, half-up, half-down with a scrunchie wearing the most ’80s dress—which I remember thinking was so great and glamorous at the time. As fun as the ’80s were, they were not a good time for hair or makeup.”
Back in the very present day called now, Abdul says she relies on the very modern aesthetics treatment of InMode FaceTime (she is a brand ambassador for the company). “I am of the age where I was wondering what was out there,” she says, adding that she also gets the occasional Botox treatment. “I didn’t think I was ready for a facelift, but I wanted my neck and jaw to be sleeker and tighter. I didn’t like how they were looking. This is a great noninvasive option for me; I’ve gotten really incredible results.”
Of course she says, the current times also call for some switching of gears. “These times have been rough for everyone. I am quarantining by myself, which is tough, but I’ve worked on filling a small ‘bubble’ with my friends so we still have some contact and we don’t feel so isolated. I’ve definitely become complacent during all of this, though, so I’ve been working on learning more about plant-based foods by taking online cooking classes and gathering information. I want to maintain feeling good—that’s really important to me. It’s not a perfect routine, and I only have so much self-motivation, but I’m finding that I really love these online classes—I even took a tap one! I like the fact that I’m discovering new passions that I never would have otherwise.”
