15 Unbelievable Celebrity Transformations
Celebrities are always changing up their looks to stay relevant, but every now and then, a star will undergo such a transformation that you have to look twice to make sure it's still them! There are those that continuously renovate their hair color, their style and their sound with every new record, and then there are those that completely alter their appearance just once, but it's the talk of Hollywood. They sometimes look better, they sometimes look worse, but they always leave a lasting impression on the fans! While the men of Tinseltown can boast about some pretty amazing transformations too, it's the ladies of the music, film and television industries that have snapped up our attention today. From inspiring stories of women who have shed half their body weight and emerged sexier than ever, to painfully nightmarish surgery situations, to total style, character and behavior overhauls, here are 15 unbelievable celebrity transformations.
15 Nicki Minaj
Since pictures of old Onika Tanya Maraj before the fame are pretty rare, most people probably don't realize that there's been huge changes in her appearance between then and now. She's known for her curves, and the rapping queen's bountiful backside has been the topic of discussion pretty much since she arrived on the world stage back in 2010 with her debut album Pink Friday. But it sure is a different look to the skinnier frame she was sporting back in the day. Surgery rumors have always bubbled around the superstar, with speculation that she's had butt implants and breast enhancement surgery, but Nicki's never commented on work she's had on her body. Her 5”2 figure isn't the only thing that's looking altered nowadays either! Her nose seems noticeably slimmer, which she attributes to contouring. Whatever her secret, our Nicki Minaj looks like a different person to the young girl from Queens!
14 Kelly Osbourne
We always knew her as Ozzy Osbourne's outspoken daughter, so when Kelly Osbourne lost a bunch of weight and adopted a style chic enough to have her fitting in with Giuliana Rancic and Joan Rivers on Fashion Police, we were a bit shocked, to say the least! The T.V. personality began work on the reality show in 2011, and while she would still go on to lose more weight in the future, the show dedicated to judging the fashion choices of Hollywood was an opportunity for Kelly to showcase her own new style. Being dressed in clothes from the world's top designers and having her newly violet tresses perfectly on fleek was definitely a change from Kelly's earlier Papa Don't Preach days! By 2013, Kelly had lost approximately 70 pounds, which she owes to enjoyable cardio and healthy eating options. While she maintains that she's still insecure, we are loving her new vibe!
13 Taylor Swift
Tay Tay's transformation has been gradual over her meteoric rise to superstardom over the past few years, so you may not have even noticed! But comparing the 17-year-old curly-haired country singer who first showed up on our radar with her debut single Tim McGraw in 2006, to the platinum blonde, leggy pop singer we know today, it's a little easier to see the change. Her self-titled record released later that year went on to sell over 2.5 million copies, and so began her transformation into a superstar. The following album she released in 2008, Fearless, topped both the country and pop charts, making it perhaps a crucial catalyst in the singer's industry domination and increasingly popular look! Today, there are people who have no doubt forgotten that T-Swizzle actually started out as a country singer in Nashville, Tennessee, because her current look and sound has pop written all over it.
12 Kim Kardashian
Kim might not necessarily come to mind when you think of outrageous celebrity transformations, but is there a bigger leap than going from Paris Hilton's minion to the most-talked-about celebrity in the world? Of course, there isn't! All it takes is a quick browse through some old photos of the middle Kardashian to realize how much her rising popularity has changed her clothes, her hair, her makeup, and, uh, her face. The socialite first rose to prominence on her hit reality television show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which debuted in October 2007. After various spin-off shows, a short sharp and shiny marriage to basketballer Kris Humphries, and a blooming relationship with current husband Kanye West, Kim is now synonymous with fame. While her black hair has stayed pretty consistent, Kim's face has definitely become smoother and younger, and her style now sets the trend for pretty much every girl on this planet!
11 Jordin Sparks
After Jordin Sparks' self-titled debut album went platinum and she began touring the world with the likes of Alicia Keys and making tunes with Chris Brown, she had already carved a name for herself as an Arizona-born girl next door with huge singing chops. She began dating singer Jason Derulo and appeared in his music video for 2014's Trumpets, wearing a two-piece black lingerie set, and the jaws of the world were left hanging open. In 11 months, the singer totally transformed her body and shed 50 pounds, leaving her smoking hot and healthy. In late 2013 she got herself a personal trainer, began a grueling five-day workout schedule, started taking metabolism-boosting supplements, and swapped her blatantly unhealthy favorite snack foods for healthier alternatives. Though she claims she doesn't count calories, Jordin packed her diet with clean, nutritious food, and is now reaping the benefits of the total health overhaul!
10 Rihanna
Riri is quite possibly the queen of comebacks, with each year of her already lengthy career showing her returning to the spotlight with a total makeover! She began in 2005 with a sweet persona and honey-blonde waves in videos and performances for songs like Pon de Replay off her debut album Music of the Sun. However, it was her third album Good Girl Gone Bad that brought her unbelievable transformation from cute teen to rebellious, sexy pop star with smash hits like Umbrella and a new, cropped, jet-black hairstyle. Goodbye sarongs and t-shirts, hello skin-tight leather leotards and thigh-high black boots! Since then, Riri has come back with a half-shaved head, blonde bangs, fiery red mohawks, vintage '50s brunette curls, and just about everything else under the sun to prove she is no longer the little girl from Barbados! Her voice has also evolved beautifully, rendering her quite the force to be reckoned with!
9 Snooki
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has kind of flown under the radar since her hit reality show Jersey Shore finished up in 2012 after three years and six seasons, but if you saw her today, you might not recognize her! The reality star is a far cry from the “meatball” everybody loved to laugh at on MTV's hit show, having lost 50 pounds and totally rethought her whole look! Thanks to regular intense workouts with a personal trainer and a strict eating plan, Snooki was able to burn away all the baby weight she was carrying after she gave birth to son Lorenzo in 2012. Now, she seriously looks nothing like the girl we saw at the Shore! Her style has undergone a dramatic renovation too, and it appears she has swapped short leopard jumpsuits and black hair poofs for sleek pencil skirts and crop tops, and a slightly flatter mane.
8 Adele
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins may not have changed that much since we've known and adored her, but the Someone Like You singer seriously had a bit of a style and body switch up during her rise to fame! Adele burst onto the scene following the release of her debut album 19 in 2008, and her full figure made her stand out in a music industry almost full of skinny minnies! But after the release of her second album 21 in 2011, global hits like Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You launched her to an unprecedented level of superstardom, and she had a new look to accompany her new success. The hitmaker was noticeably thinner, and opting for tighter clothes which showed off her slim waist and enviable curves. Today, following the release of her third album 25 last year, Adele is looking more healthy and glamorous than ever.
7 Khloé Kardashian
We always had a soft spot for the third Kardashian sister, who was a long-time target for internet bullies comparing her to older sisters Kourtney and Kim. But today the joke is on them because Khloé is in the best shape of her life! Since 2012, the reality star has lost an impressive 40 pounds, chopped off eight inches of her signature long hair, dyed it blonde, and is almost unrecognizable! While the hair was a spur of the moment decision, Koko made the decision to silence critics and take her life back through a hard exercise regime of boxing classes and Stairmaster sessions five times a week, plus a total diet renovation. The first thing she did was cut out dairy, and she never looked back! She not only looks amazing but has also created a new look and reputation for herself as a gorgeous and dedicated hard worker.
6 Renee Zellwegger
Though she has insisted that she has not gone under the knife, movie star Renée Zellweger turned up to the red carpet in October 2014 with a completely different face! Her previously narrow eyes, distinctive to her Eastern European heritage, looked wider and significantly altered in shape, leading to worldwide speculation that she'd undergone a blepharoplasty, which involves removing eyelid skin to obtain a more Northern European standard of beauty. Renée laughed off the rumors and attributed her change of look to a healthier and happier lifestyle. Whatever she was doing, she now looked so different that everyone couldn't help but focus on her total and complete transformation! However, over a year later in 2015, the actress was photographed and her face was remarkably similar to the way it once was again! There's really no explanation for such a striking transformation, though we're glad Renée is looking more like her old self again!
5 Jennifer Hudson
Another former American Idol star who went through an inspiring weight loss transformation! Using Weight Watchers, the Oscar-winner has dropped down to a size 6, which is a fair effort considering she was a size 16 when she first set foot on the American Idol stage back in 2004. Jen adopted a new and healthy lifestyle rather than an unrealistic crash diet to get her toned figure and has been working out with a trainer in the gym. Her appearance isn't the only thing that's changed in Jen's life either! We knew the girl could sing her butt off, but since her Idol days, she's starred alongside Beyoncé in 2005's Dreamgirls (which won her an Oscar AND a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress) and Sarah Jessica Parker in 2008's Sex and the City. She's now a celebrated actress in her own right and has the looks to match the success!
4 Ariana Grande
Perhaps only diehard fans would have caught this one out, but Ariana Grande wasn't always the petite pop superstar she is today. We now associate her with teeny tiny skirts, black cat ears, impossibly high heels and that iconic big hair, but before all that, Ari looked and acted a lot different! Her role as Cat on Nickelodeon's Victorious marked her first ascent to prominence, and believe it or not, she had dark red hair and a slightly fuller frame. Her makeup was being done totally differently, and she was going for an absolutely different look in terms of clothes, so all that put together means that 2010 Ariana and 2016 Ariana look like two separate people! Since then, she's lost a lot of weight, pulled out the spray tan (and the whole styling team) and is now wowing people with her Mariah-esque vocals rather than making them laugh on a kid's show.
3 Kylie Jenner
The youngest daughter of Kris Jenner pretty much grew up in the spotlight, watching her older sisters work Hollywood and become style icons. So we kind of saw this one coming! The transformation between young Kylie Jenner on early seasons of Keeping up with the Kardashians and the current world's most popular it-girl is outstanding! Her look may be constantly evolving, but the huge new lips, iconic enough to help her launch her own lipstick line, are the epitome of her style revolution. Since she turned up to the 2014 Billboard Music Awards with teal faded locks, the contoured makeup that's come to be her signature look, and plump lips, Kylie hasn't needed the help of her sisters to make some serious waves! It's amazing how much difference the lips can make, but Kylie looks like a totally different person, and if she's cool with it, then so are we!
2 Lil' Kim
In perhaps one of the most startling celebrity transformations of our time, rapper Lil' Kim finally took her plastic surgery to another level in early 2016 when she posted a few photos on Instagram with a totally new face. The star's skin was bleached, her hair blonde as blonde, and her face looked packed with too much filler, leaving her unrecognizable. Kim, who has been changing up her look with wigs and enhancements ever since her very first days in the industry, received backlash from a number of fans who were angry at her decision, commenting that she beared no resemblance to the rapping goddess they had all grown up with. Some fans had her back, though, showing their support through social media. While it definitely is Kim's decision, it's disappointing that she no longer looks like herself, because that was enough for all of us to get on board!
1 Miley Cyrus
It wasn't a surgery or weight loss scenario, but it doesn't get much bigger than Miley Cyrus' transformation from teen pop princess to super hot singer of rebellious tracks like We Can't Stop and BB Talk. Miley began her career as the sweet-as-pie star of Hannah Montana and was every little girl's idol. But as she started reaching a wider audience and performing hits like Can't be Tamed and Party in the USA in racier outfits, it was clear that Miley was headed for a new image. And that image was showcased to the world during the 2013 Video Music Awards when Miley took to the stage in just a skimpy leotard, and later stripped down to a skin-colored bikini and gave a provocative performance. The critics of the world were less than impressed, but Miley couldn't give two squats! Since then, her live performances have become even more ridiculous and more outrageous.