The 80s were certainly a noteworthy decade. The music, fashion, and – lest we forget the mind-boggling politics – the 80s certainly had a lot of things worth remembering. Speaking of fashion, however, one of the things the 80s will undoubtedly be remembered for is the countless stunning models, actresses, singers, and other women in pop culture.
Now, beauty is, of course, subjective, so everyone has their own favorite 80s sex symbol, but we’re willing to bet most people’s Top 3s include at least a couple of the women we’ve listed below.
1. Cindy Crawford
The biggest supermodel of the 80s, Cindy Crawford, simply cannot be anywhere but the top of this list. She also featured in some of the most memorable music videos of the 80s – George Michael’s “Freedom!” and Jon Bon Jovi’s “Please Come Home for Christmas.”
2. Belinda Carlisle
The lead of the 80s rock group “Go-Go’s,” Belinda Carlisle, isn’t as famous today as some of the other women on this list, as her star dimmed for a while after the 80s due to personal issues and substance abuse problems. She did get through those hiccups, but she’s one of those stars who eventually chose the quiet family life instead of the continued hassle of the big stage.
3. Kim Basinger
A modeling and Playboy star since the 70s, Kim Ann Basinger also broke into Hollywood during the 80s with “Never Say Never Again.” This paved the way not only to Tim Burton’s “Batman,” but also to an Oscar for her role in “L.A. Confidential,” as well as numerous other awards.
4. Kelly LeBrock
Initially a fashion model raised in England, Kelly LeBrock moved to Hollywood’s big screen with roles in “Weird Science” and “The Woman In Red.” Sadly, she hasn’t made many movies since the 90s, and she’s mostly been famous for her numerous celebrity marriages and divorces during the last few decades. Still, that doesn’t make us love her any less.
5. Erika Eleniak
The memorable star of Spielberg’s “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” Erika Eleniak, transitioned from a child star into a sex symbol in 1989 when she joined the stunning cast of “Baywatch.” After dropping jaws with the iconic swimsuit for a while, Erika later starred in other hits such as “Under Siege” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
6. Sean Young
The infamous star of 80s Hollywood hits such as “Blade Runner,” “No Way Out,” and “Stripes,” Sean Young, was an undisputed sex symbol of the rocking decade, but her time in the limelight hasn’t been the same ever since due to various on-set issues. Still, her role in “Blade Runner” is so memorable that she continues to live rent-free in the head of any man who’s watched that movie.
7. Whitney Houston
A wonder on both the concert stage and the big screen, Whitney Houston is one of the best singers to ever come out of the 80s, as well as one of the most beautiful women of that decade. She later solidified her iconic stature by proving she could also tango with the best of Hollywood stars through movies such as “The Bodyguard” and “Waiting to Exhale.”
8. Julia Roberts
If “Pretty Woman’s” star doesn’t belong on this list, we don’t know who does. Not only was Julia Roberts stunningly beautiful in the 80s, but she continued to be so for decades to come. Like many other stars on this list, she had a rather rocky personal life and numerous divorces, but, unlike most, this doesn’t stop her from also having one of the best Hollywood careers of all time.
9. Pamela Anderson
“Baywatch’s” most iconic sex symbol to this day, Pamela Anderson, has certainly had a memorable and tumultuous career. The 80s were bright for her, however, even if “Barb Wire” didn’t manage to solidify her big-screen presence.
10. Paula Abdul
A singer, cheerleader, choreographer, dancer, T.V. celebrity, and actress, Paula Abdul has been a mainstay on America’s screens for several decades, as both her beauty and her captivating personality just keep drawing audiences in. The daughter of Syrian Jewish immigrants, Paula Abdul’s beauty was so captivating that it has inspired thousands of Americans to look for mail order brides on sites like BridesUniverse to this day.
11. Alyssa Milano
Acting in front of audiences from as early as seven years old, Alyssa Milano certainly blossomed into a gorgeous woman at the tail end of the 80s and early 90s. She rose to fame with the sitcom “Who’s The Boss” before she starred in “Charmed” in the late 90s and early 00s. Today, she is more famous as a political activist than an actress, but she continues to occasionally grace the big screen too.
12. Lisa Bonet
Lisa Bonet was born Lilakoi Moon, and that’s the name she used when she first started gracing the T.V. screen in the 80s on “The Cosby Show” and “A Different World.” She later changed her name in 1995, and audiences fell in love with her new self and new roles just as easily as they did as her in the 80s.
13. Kylie Minogue
The Australian pop icon doesn’t just continue to be incredibly beautiful to this day but was certainly one of the most breathtaking women of the 80s. With her unique look, she graced both the music scene and the big screen as she both featured in the Aussie soap hit “Neighbours” and had awesome hits, such as “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” and “I Should Be So Lucky.”
14. Winona Ryder
A cult icon for decades, Winona Ryder became one of America’s biggest sex symbols in the late 80s and hasn’t gotten out of people’s heads ever since. Her role in “Beetlejuice” was her most famous one for a long time, and in the early 00s, she almost left the limelight for good due to mental health issues. She returned with a bang on “Stranger Things,” however, and she’s hopefully here to stay for a long time.
Wrapping Up
Of course, there are a lot of other mesmerizingly beautiful women we could have added to this list – Danica McKellar from “The Wonder Years,” “Fast Times AT Ridgemont High” Phoebe Cates, teen idol Tiffany, “Saved By The Bell’s” Tiffani Thiessen, Olivia Newton-John from “Grease,” pop music’s revolutionary Madonna, and countless others. Alas, we only had time for fourteen sex symbols today, and we stand by our picks. Even if your favorite 80s icon wasn’t featured here, you can hopefully at least agree that all fourteen of the women above are worthy of being mentioned.
