Nicole Eggert Reflects on Baywatch Experience, Stigma, and Cancer Diagnosis
Nicole Eggert, known for her role as Roberta "Summer" Quinn on the iconic television series Baywatch, recently opened up about her experiences on the show, the challenges she faced afterward, and her recent breast cancer diagnosis. In an interview on the "Still Here Hollywood" podcast, Eggert shared her insights into the realities of fame, the stigma associated with Baywatch, and the personal struggles she encountered both during and after her time on the show.
Eggert joined Baywatch in 1992 for its third season, but her initial understanding was that she would be part of a spin-off series with a "90210-esque feel" set on the beach. The concept involved a high school at the beach where students trained to become lifeguards. However, Baywatch’s immense popularity led the producers to abandon the spin-off idea, much to Eggert’s disappointment. "Spin-off nothing. This is what’s working, and we want it to stay like this," she recalled them saying.
Feeling that the show was not what she had originally signed up for, Eggert made the decision to leave Baywatch after two seasons. She harbored a hope that departing the show would help her escape the "Baywatch stigma" that she felt had been attached to all the actors involved. "I had some crazy idea in my head that if I left the show, I would be able to detach myself from the stigma that the show had given all of us as actors, which is not a thing," she admitted.
The "Baywatch stigma," as Eggert described it, extended into her personal life, particularly her dating experiences. She found that people had preconceived notions about her based on her role on the show, making it difficult for them to get to know the real her. "People have an idea of who you are, and that could be a number of things. And I think it’s harder for people to get to know you without this preconceived notion that they have going in," she explained. Eggert emphasized that she is "not like anyone" she’s played onscreen, which often surprised and sometimes deterred potential partners.
When Steve Kmetko, the host of the "Still Here Hollywood" podcast, asked Eggert about her experience being on the world’s biggest television show, she simply described it as "weird." She elaborated on the negative press that the cast faced, which she believes hindered their career prospects. "We were being ripped apart in the press," she said. "Due to the negative press, the casting doors were not opening anymore." The media often labeled the Baywatch actresses as "Baywatch bimbos" and focused on the show’s perceived emphasis on "T&A." Eggert acknowledged the paradoxical situation, stating, "And then all of a sudden it was like we were called ‘Baywatch bimbos’ and these dumb bimbos on the beach, and it’s T&A. And then on the other hand, you have this No. 1 hit on your hand, and it’s like what a kerfuffle. What a mess."
Despite her earlier departure, Eggert returned to the Baywatch universe in 2003 for the movie "Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding." Looking back, she realized that she hadn’t fully grasped what she was getting into when she initially joined the show. "Oh my God, we’re going to be in a bathing suit all day every day?" she remembered thinking on her first day. She also felt self-conscious about her body compared to her co-stars. "All the girls worked out and were super tiny and fit, and I was like, ‘Whoops.’ And the one-piece bathing suits were not flattering. I didn’t want to wear it at all," she said of the iconic red swimsuit. "It just wasn’t what I signed up for. It was a totally different show and ballgame and not where I wanted to be."
During a break from filming Baywatch, Eggert, then 18, made the decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery, a decision she now regrets. "I regret it now, of course," she explained. "I look at all these younger girls doing it and think, ‘God, leave your bodies alone!’" She felt pressured to conform to the physical ideals promoted by the show. "But when you have to put on that one-piece, and it’s like you’re so flat that it’s like pleating, you got pleats across the front … you’re like, ‘What is this?’ Nothing you can do. You can’t stuff it with anything. You can’t do anything." With time, Eggert began to question her motivations for the surgery. "It was a stupid 18-year-old decision," she admitted.
Since her initial breast augmentation, Eggert has undergone several subsequent surgeries. In 2015, she appeared on an episode of "Botched," seeking a breast reduction.
In January 2024, Eggert shared the news that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She first experienced pain in her breast and noticed a weight gain of 25 pounds within a three-month period. Initially attributing these symptoms to menopause, she was surprised to discover a lump during a self-examination in October 2023. "It really was throbbing and hurting," she told People magazine. "I immediately went to my general practitioner, and she told me I had to immediately go get it looked at. But the problem was, I just couldn’t get an appointment. Everything was booked. So I had to wait until the end of November to get it done."
The results of her tests revealed that she had stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer. Eggert’s parents both had cancer, making the diagnosis particularly difficult for her. She is now facing the challenges of treatment and the financial burden that comes with it. The actress’ candor about her experiences on Baywatch, the pressures of fame, and her recent health struggles has resonated with many, highlighting the complexities of a life lived in the public eye.
