Most Dramatic Celebrity Transformations Over the Years: PHOTOS
So much has changed within the past few decades. It’s hard to believe that only a little over a decade ago, we didn’t even have Instagram, an app that now more or less rules our lives, or TikTok, the app we always get our Amazon recommendations from. It seems like everything has changed in the past few decades — and that includes some of our favorite celebrities transforming into seemingly new people.
Whether it’s their career trajectory or their looks, many celebrities have changed who they are in recent years. A prime example is Chris Pratt — who went from a TV funny guy to a full-on action hero in the blink of an eye. Along with that, the Kardashians frequently transform themselves, creating different business ventures, new hairstyles, and body transformations alike.
Celebrities frequently transform themselves for their roles, but just as many transform themselves in real life. Seeing side-by-side photos can be mind-boggling because sometimes you forget about how these celebrities started out in Hollywood.
Let’s look back at the most dramatic celebrity transformations of the decade. Settle in, because we’re about to seriously shock you with what these stars looked like ten years back. So, ready to take a trip through time? Here are the most dramatic celeb transformations of the past decade below.
A version of this article was originally published in April 2022.
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Kim Kardashian
From her beginnings as Paris Hilton’s closet organizer or on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kim Kardashian transformed herself over the past decade. Along with being a reality TV star, she has gone down numerous business ventures like a beauty line called KKW Beauty, a mobile game called Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, a fragrance line called KKW Fragrance, and the ever-so-popular shapewear brand SKIMS. She married Kanye West back in 2014 (and filed for divorce in 2021) and welcomed four children named North, 8, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 2. She’s also been working on her law degree, passing the “baby-bar” exam in Dec. 2021.
Adele
Ever since Adele’s music blew up in the early 2010s, everyone fell for the powerhouse singer. Her albums 21, 25, and 30 became instant successes, with all three topping #1 on nearly every worldwide music chart.
Along with being the proud mama to Angelo James, born in 2012, Adele is all about a new lifestyle. She shocked fans in 2020 when fans saw that she lost over 100 pounds, completely transforming her look. Adele is currently engaged to music producer Rich Paul.
Rihanna
No matter the time or place, Rihanna always looks amazing. Back in the early 2010s, she continually released hit albums like Loud, Talk That Talk, and Unapologetic. The last album she released was back in 2016, called Anti.
Since then, she’s gone down a plethora of different business paths such as her lingerie line called Savage X Fenty, a beauty line called Fenty Beauty, a skincare line called Fenty Skin, and a briefly-lived fashion line under LVMH called Fenty. She’s become a billionaire over time and has been incredibly generous, donating frequently to charities all over the world.
Businesses aside, she’s also a mom of two to her kids Rza, born in in January 2022, and Riot, born in August 2023, who she shares with partner ASAP Rocky.
Kylie Jenner
Out of all the celebs on this list, Kylie Jenner has had one of the most dramatic transformations. Back in 2010, when she first starred in Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kylie was only 13, so obviously a lot has changed. She is now a mother to daughter Stormi Webster, born in February 2018, and son Aire Webster, born in February 2022.
In addition to being a mom of two, she’s also a bona fide beauty mogul — Jenner has also become the youngest self-made billionaire ever with businesses like Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin. Plus, she’s also dating one of Hollywood’s rising stars, Timothée Chalamet.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus has come a long way since her Disney Channel days. Over the past decade, she’s gone through transformation after transformation, trying to find her true sound after Disney. For her look, she’s dyed her hair blonde, gotten quite a few tattoos, and gotten a more rocker chic vibe. Since her Disney days, she’s released a few studio albums including Younger Now, Plastic Hearts and Endless Summer, with critical success.
Rebel Wilson
In the early 2010s, nearly every comedy film starred Rebel Wilson. She starred in hit films like What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Struck by Lightning, Bachelorette, and the Pitch Perfect franchise. And, in recent years, she’s been a huge health and body positivity advocate, frequently talking about her weight. In 2020, she started working on her personal weight loss journey, losing 60 pounds. She dubbed 2020 “the year of health” and has gained even more confidence, per Women’s Health.
In November 2022, Wilson became a mom to her daughter Royce November 2022. She’s also engaged to her longtime partner, Ramona Agruma.
Khloé Kardashian
Though Khloé Kardashian has starred alongside her family on Keeping Up With The Kardashians since 2007, we’ve seen her become a star in her own right over these last ten years. She also launched her denim and bikini brand, Good American, in 2016, welcomed daughter True and son Tatum with then-boyfriend Tristan Thompson in 2018 and 2022, and created her own reality series, Revenge Body, in 2017, inspired by her own weight loss and newfound confidence.
Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi
Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi hit stardom when she starred in the reality shows The Jersey Shore from 2009 to 2012 and Snooki & Jwoww from 2012 to 2015. She then appeared in a slew of reality shows like Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Family Feud.
She is the proud mama of three children named Lorenzo Dominic, born in 2012, Giovanna Marie, born in 2014, and Angelo James, born in 2019, with her husband Jionni LaValle.
Lady Gaga
When Lady Gaga first came onto the music scene in 2009, people couldn’t get enough of her new sound and wild clothing (we all remember the meat dress). But since then, she’s done a complete 180. The Oscar-winning actress has since come out with hit albums such as Born This Way, Artpop, Cheek to Cheek, Joanne and Chromatica. Along with that, she’s made waves in the acting world by starring in films like A Star is Born and House of Gucci. She may no longer be making us gasp and scratch our heads with every look, but she’s still a true fashion icon.
Andie MacDowell
Along with continuing her impressive TV and film career, Andie MacDowell has become the face of aging gracefully. Back at the sixth Annual InStyle Awards in 2021, MacDowell showed her natural gray hair, and we fell in love with her all over again for it.
“It made me so much more powerful and so much more comfortable,” the actress told Flow Space about the transformation. “It made me feel me… I’m not trying to be something that I’m not.”
MacDowell’s also a mom to her daughters Margaret and Rainey, and son Justin.
Liam Payne
Like all of the members of One Direction, Liam Payne was once bright-eyed and had no tattoos. Fast forward to these past few years, and not only does he have 22 tattoos, but he’s looking more stylish than ever (despite the lack of gravity-defying hairspray). Since leaving One Direction, Payne’s released many songs solo including “Strip That Down,” “Bedroom Floor” and “Both Ways.”
Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy has kept a steady comedic career for the past few decades, starring in hit films like The Hit, Bridesmaids and Identity Thief. Despite her career not changing too much, she underwent a weight loss journey. She told Extra that the key to her losing 75 pounds is “No trick, nothing to tell, just super boring life. You bring it real down, you don’t do anything fun and you go to bed at 7:30 — that’s the trick,” she said.
Jessica Simpson
Honestly, everyone owes Jessica Simpson an apology for calling her overweight in the early 2000s. This constant media typecast heavily affected her confidence later in life. In the 2000s and the early 2010s, Simpson was the reality TV and singing queen. But since then, she’s gone down different ventures like releasing a memoir called Open Book, her Warm Up brand for workout clothing and her clothing and shoe line, The Jessica Simpson Collection. She shares three children named Maxwell Drew, born in 2012, Ace Knute, born in 2013, and Birdie Mae, born in 2019, with former NFL tight end Eric Johnson.
Zac Efron
When Zac Efron rose to fame as Troy Bolton in the High School Musical franchise, no one could deny he was the heartthrob teen girls couldn’t get enough of. Over the years, in addition to continuing to do musicals (Hairspray and The Greatest Showman) and romances (including The Lucky One and Charlie St. Cloud), he’s also ventured into drama too (like The Iron Claw and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile). Plus, he’s continued to be a Hollywood hunk all throughout.
Demi Moore
Demi Moore has always been one of Hollywood’s most beautiful actresses, both then and now. She’s also starred in a few iconic roles like G.I. Jane, Striptease and Indecent Proposal. In 2024, however, she’s reintroducing herself to Hollywood after a hiatus in the unexpected thriller, The Substance. “It’s not like I ever officially left, but I understand the sentiment and appreciate it because there hasn’t been a project or a role that has come along that has been this dynamic for me to really dive into and sink my teeth into,” Moore told Entertainment Weekly.
Moore’s a proud mom to her daughters Rumer, Tallulah and Scout from her marriage to Bruce Willis.
Chris Pratt
Back in July 2013, Chris Pratt shook the world a little bit when he posted a gym selfie showing his toned abs as he prepared for his first Marvel role in Guardians of the Galaxy. After all, Pratt was then an established comedy actor in roles like Parks and Recreation and What’s Your Number? Since 2013, however, Pratt has made quite a mark in action movies, like The Terminal List and The Tomorrow War, and has continued to look ultra-fit ever since.
Pratt shares daughters Lyla, born August 2020, and Eloise, born May 2022, with wife Katherine Schwarzenegger and son Jack, born in 2012, with ex-wife Anna Farris.
Harry Styles
Die-hard One Direction fans know all too well how Harry Styles rocked his long hair at the beginning of his career. And while some might debate which hair makes him look the most handsome, he’s rocked every length since. He’s also gone on to be the most successful solo artist from the band with his hit albums Harry Styles, Fine Line and Harry’s House. He’s also dipped his toes in acting too in Dunkirk, Don’t Worry Darling and The Policeman.
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman is what we like to call a true Hollywood powerhouse. Over the years, the actress has given incredible performances across movies and TV including Oscar-winning The Hours, Moulin Rouge!, Big Little Lies, and, most recently, The Perfect Couple. And, throughout it all, she’s always been a red carpet veteran, perhaps looking more confident now than ever before.
Her acting roles aside, Kidman’s also a mom to kids Bella and Connor from her marriage to Tom Cruise and Sunday, born in 2008, and Faith, born in 2010, with her husband Keith Urban.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Speaking of Hollywood icons, Leonardo DiCaprio has been gracing the big screen and moving viewers with his performance since his child acting years. Among his most notable works are Inception, Titanic, The Wolf of Wolf Street and The Revenant, which earned him his first-ever Oscar in 2016.
Jennifer Aniston
After rising to stardom as the hilarious and ultra-stylish Rachel Green in Friends, Jennifer Aniston has managed to become a Hollywood acting veteran as well as a red-carpet showstopper. Some of her most notable titles over the years are We’re the Millers, Cake, Just Go With It, and, most recently, The Morning Show.
Cardi B
Looking at these two pictures, it’s safe to say Cardi B has come a long way since her days as the host for Love and Hip Hop: New York. Ever since, she’s become one of the most successful female rappers of all time with some successful songs like “Up,” “Bodak Yellow” and “WAP.”
Her incredible career aside, Cardi B is a mom to daughter Kulture, born in 2018, and son Wave, born in 2021, as well as their third child, born September 2024, with fellow rapper Offset.
Madonna
Hollywood’s ultimate Material Girl has always been a trendsetter, no matter the decade! While Madonna may look different today compared to her headline-making looks from the ’80s, she continues to push the envelope when it comes to her fashion.
She’s also a mom to six grown-up kids: Lourdes Leon, David Banda, Mercy James, Rocco Ritchie and twins Stella and Estere Ciccone.
