16 Stars From The 90s You Never Thought Would Still Be Famous Today

There were many things we loved about the 90's. Who doesn't remember how much they loved boy bands, the Spice Girls, and of course the fashion. Who didn't try chokers and slip dresses back then, right? Kids of the 90's were also the first generation to have the internet! And who introduced the world to all of these totally fashionable and 'hip' fads? Celebrities! In the 90's there were countless posters above countless beds covered in crop tops and frosted tips, and some of the celebs on these posters are, surprisingly, still famous today. In fact, there are quite a few 90's celebs who you probably never thought would make it into the 21st century, but rolling with the times seems to come naturally for a few of them. While the 20-30-year-olds are happy that frosted tips and platform running shoes are no longer a thing, everyone is pretty happy that these few celebrities still spend some time in the spotlight. Ahh, nostalgia!

16 Alicia Silverstone

Her breakout role in The Crush gave a boost to this teen idol sweetheart's career, and she later appeared in a series of three Aerosmith videos. She then starred in the movie Clueless where she reached the height of her teen stardom days. Following her rise to fame, she had a series of not bad, but not great roles in movies like Batman and Robin where she played the legendary character, Batgirl. However, her career never really took off like many imagined it would so Silverstone retreated to her passions and became a spokesperson for PETA and wrote a book called “The Kind Diet”. She has not graced the screen since, except for a few home videos where she (wait for it) chewed up her infant son Bear's food, spit it out and fed him with it (mama bird to baby bird style), and she received some publicity for a few statements she's made about animal rights. She is still highly recognizable due to her amazingly timeless looks (she pretty much looks the exact same as she did in Clueless) and her controversial presence. Maybe there is something to this vegan thing!

15 Kaite Holmes

Katie started out as the girl next door Joey Potter on the popular 90's teen television drama Dawson's Creek. She had a few lackluster roles in movies and television shows through the years but didn't find her super stardom until 2006 when she married film mega star and 90's movie heartthrob, Tom Cruise (remember TomKat- that's when people started blending couples names). From then on the two were named a power couple and everyone expected big things from the duo. Sadly they divorced after only 5 years (was it because she was taller than him?) and she got full custody of their daughter, Suri Cruise. There were some weird times as she made statements about Cruise wanting to kidnap his daughter and how she feared the power of the Church of Scientology but nothing ever came to light. Since then she's been focusing on motherhood, Broadway roles and endorsing big brands like Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Ann Taylor. Although not making mega movies and painting the town red, she is still in the spotlight today.

14 Victoria Adams (a.k.a. Beckham, a.k.a. Posh Spice)

How can you forget your favorite all-time girl group. A member of the Spice Girls all-girl group, rocking the alter ego Posh Spice, Victoria was trendy and always put together, acting like she was the too cool for school girl in the group. Yet, when the Spice Girls split she attempted a solo career that basically flopped. Looking to capitalize on her fashion sense and a keen eye for design Beckham found success as a fashion designer. She was named Designer of the Year in the UK back in 2010 and has continued to design both on her own and through collabs with other big name designers. She also jumped back into the spotlight when she married soccer star and dreamboat David Beckham. One crazy thing about her rise to fame is the number of kidnapping and assassination attempts that have been in the works for this mom of four. It's crazy!

13 Ryan Gosling

Yep, that's right. For those not in the know, the dreamy Ryan Gosling was a child star starting out his path to success as a member of the Mickey Mouse Club. He was cute but goofy back then and seriously forgettable (sorry Ry!) but he was able to power through and eventually made his break into the spotlight. He did a number of projects as a child and teen but it was not until he starred in The Notebook that people started to take note. Even since he's become swoon-worthy and even became the center of the “Hey, girl” internet meme. Ryan hasn't let his heartthrob status get in his way of his big screen goals. Unlike many stars that rise from the depths of childhood stardom, Ryan has kept out of trouble, focused on setting a good example, and has set clear goals for his career, ones he takes seriously.

12 Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore comes from Hollywood royalty but with the number of cute kids in Hollywood, it's amazing that any of them have staying power. Drew captured our hearts in E.T. the Extraterrestrial as the sweet little sis with pigtails and a trusting nature. She began acting at just 11 months old (What? That's some serious skill) and continued to act through early childhood. Barrymore had a rocky road during her teen and young adult years fueled by drugs, alcohol, and poor personal choices. Once she broke away from personal issues and came into her own, Barrymore has done comedy, dramas, and even action movies (Charlie's Angels). She has also dabbled in producing and directing too. Clearly, she's not one to smear the family name and has become a Hollywood staple with hard work, good choices and a great attitude in her older years and continues to be a shining star.

11 Mark Wahlberg

Markie Mark has come a long way! He first entered our hearts as the front man for Markie Mark and the Funky Bunch in the 90's, wearing backwards ball caps and baggy pants. Back then he tried to pull off the “I'm too cool for school” vibe but it came off more poser than cool. After a few albums, he began focusing on acting and as a young adult landed some roles that showed his true talent. Since then he's starred in a series of important roles alongside many big Hollywood stars. Mark didn't stop there and has made a name for himself as a producer too on a number of television shows. If that wasn't enough he opened a restaurant with his brothers that had become really popular. Wahlberg has also starred in a couple of reality shows where everyone has seen that he's a pretty down to Earth guy and maybe someone you could actually hang out with.

10 Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris in Doogie Howser, MD. Enough said? He was nerdy, geeky and totally adorable all at the same time. He wasn't a half bad actor when he was a kid but didn't see huge fame until he became an adult. Once he made it onto television as Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother it was only blue skies and amazing things from there. He was not only the stand out character in the series (come on Bro you knew that!) but he also got stellar reviews for his ability to play his character so well. In 2010 he was named Time Magazines top 100 people to watch and he's hosted the Emmy Awards and the Oscars. It should also be noted that he was the first openly gay man to host the Oscars. He even won a Tony Award in 2014 for Best Leading Actor. Now that's a far cry from playing little Doogie Howser.

9 Mario Lopez

What kid from the 90's doesn't remember Saved by the Bell? It was just one of those shows that stuck with your growing up and part of all the other amazing 90s television shows you couldn't help but watch every weekend. From the clothing to the cheesy dialogue it was a classic that has been the brunt of many jokes and puns since. Before being on Saved by the Bell, Mario Lopez had success as a dancer and performer in the popular kids show Kids Incorporated. He hasn't really had a ton of success when it comes to acting since his role on Saved by the Bell (a few soaps and minor roles on shows) but he has become a popular TV show host. He's hosted shows like America's Best Dance Crew for MTV and is now a staple on Extra reporting on all things entertainment. He also hosted the popular show X-Factor and regularly can be seen on the red carpet interviewing celebs.

8 Christian Bale

Bale started off his career with a cereal commercial in the late 1980's and hasn't looked back. He started in a number of movies in the 90's including Newsies, Swing Kids, Velvet Goldmine and Metroland. He made so many movies in the 90's that he became popular for not only his roles in film but the fact that he stayed out of the limelight for most of the decade. Since the 1990's Bale has become a fan favorite and captured many starring roles in big films. He's also become someone with somewhat of a cult following movies like American Psycho and The Machinist. Bale has become a well-respected actor for his ability to transform himself into just about anyone and for just about any role he is given. This is one of the reasons he was selected as the first to portray Batman in the first chapter created by Christopher Nolan. Bale continues to make his way in Hollywood and is a well-respected actor.

7 Christina Applegate

When Christina came to your television sets she played a trashy teen with a bad attitude named Kelly Bundy. No one really expected that she was going to be a star at that point. The show had a cult following but was never really a huge hit. After the cancellation of Married with Children, she's managed to remain in the spotlight on both television and the big screen. She is one of the founding members of the Pussycat Dolls which opened Johnny Depp's Viper Room in 1995. She's also made a slew of movies and had many starring roles including big hits like Anchorman and The Sweetest Thing. She's continued to make sure she's been a working actress and seems to have a knack for picking successful projects that only catapult her career further. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, she became an advocate for awareness and getting women the support they need. Applegate has come a long way since her days as Kelly Bundy.

6 Justin Timberlake

It is pretty hard to separate Justin Timberlake from NSYNC and those horrible denim outfits that he and then-girlfriend Britney Spears wore out in public. Seriously, it is just a little scary (okay it's more than just a little scary) that the fashion statement they made got so popular. But it's not the only thing that comes to mind when you hear his name, especially in more recent years. Justin has been kicking some booty and taking names since the demise of NSYNC. He's been recording music as a solo artist, producing music, making movies (and he's not a half bad actor) and he recently became a family man when his first child was born. Little baby Silas has one pretty cool pops that's for sure! Justin's not batted an eye since his fame with NSYNC and everyone expects to see many more amazing things from him in the future.

5 Melanie Brown (a.k.a Mel B. and a.k.a. Scary Spice)

Another member of our fave girl group. The Spice Girls ignited girl power all over the world. “Wannabe” was a HUGE hit and everyone was singing it. While girls were swooning over the boys from Hansen and The Backstreet Boys they were also empowered by the messages the Spice Girls sang about. Girls loved that each of the Spice Girls had something about them that they could relate to. All of the ladies from the Spice Girls have been doing well but Melanie Brown, also known as “Scary Spice”, is still popular and made a great name for herself on the X-Factor. Melanie has also become a popular show host in the UK and still sings too! One of the best things is she continues to be a huge fan of her fellow band mates and of course spreading the message of being a strong woman. She's even trying to put together a Spice Girls reunion!

4 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (a.k.a. The Olsen Twins)

Full House clearly was a big deal for the kids of the 90's, just look at how much press the 2016 reboot got. If you weren't a fan of the family comedy, spoiler alert, Mary-Kate and Ashley both played Michelle, the baby of the family. Michelle's character was probably everyone's fave for how adorable and hilarious she was. Although they started acting when they were just tots, they've only let fame fuel their own personal goals. Despite not acting in a while these two women continue to make headlines. From their fashion lines to marriages, they continue to make entertainment headlines regularly. They are not your typical child stars all grown up. These two are great role models for young people trying to start their own businesses as well as surviving child stardom without ending up down and out in the end. Plus, they've remained close and still support each other.

3 Nick Lachey

Remember Nick Lachey from his time as boy band royalty in 98 Degrees? Or maybe you remember him from his relationship with Jessica Simpson (ugh, who doesn't miss the adorable couple?). Most are surprised to know that he's still around and doing well. He's had multiple reality shows, owns a bar and continues to make headlines today. Many remember the debut of Nick and Jessica which was a huge show on MTV, and one of the first reality shows ever. Although everyone knows that he has been divorced from Jessica Simpson for a long time, they can't help but remember his reaction to the “Chicken of the Sea” incident. Lachey proves if you work hard you can find success. He's had much success and still continues to move forward with new projects in the works. Plus, now he's joined the “Hot Dads Club”. What more could a girl ask for?

2 Britney Spears

Britney was once in a little school girl outfit singing and dancing around like a sex starved teenager. She was every guy's crush and every girl wanted to be her (she was pretty spot on for the fashion scene in the 90's). It's been a long road for Brit and honestly, there were times when people really wondered if she would make it. Britney now rocks the stage with her resident show in Vegas and doesn't seem to be showing signs of stopping. She survived that weird spiral she took (remember the head shaving, walking barefoot in public restrooms, driving with her child on her lap, and that British accent) and now she is back and is better than ever. She looks amazing, is back in tip top shape and continues to try to better herself. Despite public meltdowns and some questionable performances, she hasn't given up. Now that's the mark of a true 90's survivor child!

1 Lance Bass

Okay, he wasn't the guy that all the girls swooned over in NSYNC, but he was an important part of the swoon-worthy NSYNC team. After he finished touring with the band, Bass moved to Star City, Russia. He hoped to gain a seat on a Soyuz space capsule. Bass got certified by both NASA and the Russian Space Program after several months of cosmonaut training and planned to join the TMA-1 mission to the International Space Station. However, after his financial sponsors backed out, Bass was denied a seat on the mission. Lance has since drifted from singing and aspirations of orbiting space and has embraced using his voice for other causes. He is still maintained his spot in the public eye and continues to fight for human rights. He advocates for marriage equality and still hangs out with the popular crowd in Hollywood (Like the Kardashians and Ellen Degeneres).