Honestly, if you grew up in the 90s, Heather Locklear was the blueprint. Whether it was the sharp-edged Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place or the radiant Sammy Jo on Dynasty, she basically defined what "cool" looked like for a decade. But Hollywood isn't always kind to its icons, and for a while there, the headlines surrounding Heather were... well, they were rough. We saw the mugshots, heard the rumors of late-night 911 calls, and honestly, a lot of people just assumed she had faded away into that specific kind of tabloid tragedy.
But it's 2026 now. Things have changed.
If you're wondering what does Heather Locklear look like now, the answer is actually a lot more refreshing than the gossip rags might lead you to believe. At 64 years old, she’s recently resurfaced in a way that feels intentional and—dare I say—vibrant. She isn't trying to be thirty anymore. And that’s exactly why people are obsessed with her current look.
The Viral Podcast Appearance That Started Everything
Back in late 2025, a photo of Heather started making the rounds on social media, and it wasn't a paparazzi shot of her getting coffee or leaving a court appearance. It was a candid moment from her launch of the podcast What Do You Want? with her longtime friend Jillian Barberie and Nurse Melanie Manel.
She looked... well, like herself again.
She was wearing this flowy, strapless white sundress. Her hair was that classic California blonde, done up in beachy waves, and—this is the part that caught everyone off guard—she was barefoot and smiling. Not a "red carpet" smile, but a genuine, eyes-crinkling-at-the-corners smile. People in the comments were losing their minds. "Heather, holy moly! You look absolutely amazing," one fan wrote. Others were asking for her skincare routine, which is a wild pivot from where things stood just a few years ago.
Embracing the Reality of 64
The thing about aging in the public eye is that it's a trap. If you get too much work done, people mock you. If you don't get enough, they say you've "let yourself go."
Heather has actually been pretty brave about this. On her podcast, she’s talked openly about things most celebs her age would die before admitting. She’s mentioned regrets about filler injections from back in the day that made her look "unnatural." She’s talked about the effects of menopause and hormone therapy. Basically, she stopped trying to hide the fact that time exists.
The Sobriety Glow-Up is Real
You can’t talk about how Heather looks today without acknowledging the elephant in the room: her health. It’s no secret that the late 2010s were a nightmare for her. Between multiple arrests and stays in rehab, she looked exhausted and swollen in those old photos.
But as of 2026, she is celebrating over six years of sobriety.
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That kind of lifestyle change does something to your face that no expensive cream can. Her skin looks clearer, and that puffiness that often comes with substance struggles is gone. She’s reportedly back to the things she loves—gardening, cooking for her elderly parents, and taking long walks.
Fashion Shifts: From "Exposed" to Graceful
During a recent 2025 appearance on the Still the Place podcast (a re-watch show with her former Melrose castmates), Heather made a hilarious confession. She admitted that back in the day, she felt incredibly "exposed" in her Amanda Woodward wardrobe.
"I can almost feel my crack," she joked when talking about how short those skirts got.
These days, her style is way more relaxed. You’re more likely to see her in a breezy maxi dress or high-quality loungewear than a micro-mini. She still has that "Spelling girl" polish, but it feels less like a costume now. It’s a softer look.
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Recent Public Outings in 2025 and 2026
If you missed her at the fan conventions, you missed a masterclass in aging with style. She appeared at Fan Expo Dallas and Washington State Summer Con in 2025.
- She reunited with William Shatner (her T.J. Hooker co-star) for a photo op that had nostalgia fans crying.
- She sat on a mental health panel at Calgary Expo, speaking as an advocate rather than just a "star."
- She looked remarkably comfortable in her own skin, even when fans were hovering with old Melrose posters.
The Ava Effect: A Mother-Daughter Bond
Another reason Heather looks so "at peace" lately might be her daughter, Ava Sambora. Ava, whom Heather shares with Richie Sambora, got engaged to her boyfriend Tyler Farrar in early 2024. Seeing Heather in the background of those engagement photos—beaming with pride—it’s clear that her family life is her anchor now.
She and Ava have been open about supporting each other through anxiety and recovery. That kind of emotional stability shows up in a person's eyes. You can't fake it.
Why We Should Stop Comparing Her to 1993
The internet loves a "before and after," but with Heather Locklear, the "after" is actually a success story. Is she the same 30-year-old who walked into a West Hollywood apartment complex and saved a failing TV show? No. She's 64.
She has fine lines. She has a history.
But when you see her today, you aren't seeing a "struggling star" anymore. You're seeing someone who went through the fire and came out the other side with her sense of humor intact. Her recent appearance on her podcast showed a woman who is fine being barefoot in a studio, talking about her life without the filters (literally and figuratively).
Actionable Insights for Following Heather's Journey:
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- Check out the podcast: If you want the most authentic version of Heather, listen to What Do You Want? with Jillian Barberie. It’s where she’s doing her most honest work right now.
- Look for the Advocacy: She is increasingly appearing on panels about mental health and recovery. These aren't just "glamour" appearances; they’re about her real-life experience.
- Wait on the Reboot: While there has been talk of a Melrose Place revival, Heather recently described the status as "crickets." Don't hold your breath for a return to Amanda Woodward just yet, but she has said she'd be open to it if the timing was right.
The bottom line is that Heather Locklear looks like a woman who has finally stopped running from her past and started enjoying her present. And honestly? That's the best she's looked in decades.