Throwback: Remember these 2000s baddies?

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Pam Andrews/ Picture: X(formerly Twitter)

It is common knowledge that beauty standards constantly shift and evolve to fit the standard of society at the time; what is regarded as beautiful is not necessarily the same as 20 years ago.

Let us look back at some of the beautiful women who graced our screens and were regarded as the pinnacle of beauty in the 2000s.

Pam Andrews

A 2000s South African baddies list is not a legitimate one without the one and only Pam Andrews. Besides her work on screen, Pam Andrews often made headlines for her looks, as she embodied what men desired and what women desired to look like.

Where is she? pic.twitter.com/ltY9x1YzXA

— MissNtabeni (@MissNtabeni) February 6, 2024

Khanyi Mbau

When speaking about longevity in the baddie game, the first name that comes to mind has to be Khanyi Mbau. This media personality was regarded as a baddie before being a baddie was cool, and was rather taboo and mostly shunned by society. For most young girls in the 2000s, Khanyi embodied what an ideal lifestyle looked like; she was young, hot and intelligent, living life to the fullest.

People don’t realize hard Khanyi Mbau was going in the 2000s, this woman was driving Lamborghinis before these so called celebs got McLarens pic.twitter.com/dVZMKl1Ko2

— the auditory abstract (@ChromeDaCesar) November 27, 2024

Claire Mawisa

A hall-of-fame former BONA cover star and baddie of note, a woman whose looks and modelling skills brought her into the industry, and journalistic and presenting skills kept her in the game for almost three decades now. Although beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Claire possesses those face cards that all can agree will never decline.

Claire Mawisa https://t.co/QcCHQ7Z1ql pic.twitter.com/wq5I7VLefR

— Huey Freeman (@_Tshenolo) February 13, 2025

Joelle Kayembe

That one Sprite Zero ad alone cemented Joelle’s place in South Africa’s book of baddies, although she went on to enjoy a long and successful modelling career. The ad in question is the ultimate display of a woman’s confidence, and quickly became every young girl, particularly dark skin girls’ role model.

Joelle Kayembe, you will always be famous https://t.co/ruovdeGlHW

— mr. ☆★ (@tracymokgopo) October 10, 2022

Mmabatho Montsho

Coming in last, we have yet another BONA cover star hall-of-famer in Mmabatho Montsho, who has been beautiful since her days as Lumka on Generations, up until today, where she has opted for a more behind-the-scenes role as a director and screenwriter, among other things.