20 Cutest Celebrity #Throwback Pics
It's hard to imagine the huge stars that we know today as children. Back when they were innocent, carefree, not worth so much and unaware just how huge they were going to become. Most of these "selfies" were taken before they were stars in training and knew how to work the camera. There is always something quite appealing about a photo that hasn't been staged - when the person can simply be themselves. These were all taken back in the good old days when stars would smile instead of pout for the camera.
Most successful celebrities were born to be a star and these following throwback photos prove that they have always been the cutest. For others, this is certainly the moment before they blossomed into butterflies. Here are some of the cutest throwback pictures celebrities have shared with us over the years.
20 Gigi Hadid
Los Angeles born Gigi Hadid is the daughter of real-estate mogul Mohamed Hadid and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Foster. Since a young age, Gigi has always been a little jaw-dropper with her piercing blue eyes and naturally plumped out lips. Gigi has lived a privileged life thanks to her parents' combined wealth, although they have since divorced.
She attended Malibu High School, where she became captain of the varsity volleyball team and she also competed in horseback riding competitions. In 2013, she graduated and moved to New York so she could focus on studying and starting a modelling career of her own. It paid off when she signed to IMG Models and first walked in New York Fashion Week in 2014. Gigi is now currently worth an estimated $1.5 million. Not bad for 20-years-old.
19 Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne grew up in Belgravia - one of the wealthiest districts in London. Her godparents are Condé Nast executive Nicholas Coleridge and actress Joan Collins. Although she attended one of the best schools in the country, Francis Holland School for Girls in central London, she found it challenging as she struggled with dyspraxia, which can cause symptoms similar to chronic fatigue, poor balance and sensitivity to light. She revealed to Vogue, "I was hit with a massive wave of depression and anxiety and self-hatred, where the feelings were so painful that I would slam my head against a tree to try to knock myself out."
When she finally ventured into modelling, she was spotted by Sarah Doukas, the same talent scout who made Kate Moss a household name. For the first year of her career, she didn't receive one paying job. She also went to many castings before finally landing her first runway show after being noticed by Burberry. She was cast in their Spring/Summer 2011 show and last year she was the second-highest paid model in the world bringing home $9 million for that year alone.
18 Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago. Her talent comes from her mother, Carol Manaj, who was a gospel singer. Minaj's father was an alcoholic with a bad temper that provoked him to burn down their family home when she was just 5-years-old. Her mother moved the family to The Bronx, New York, where she successfully auditioned for a place at performing arts school, LaGuardia High School.
After graduation, Minaj dreamed of becoming an actress. She began working as a waitress at Red Lobster in the Bronx but was quickly fired for being rude to customers. Eventually she released her first mixtape in 2007 on Dirty Money Records. Minaj credits Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez for helping her 2010 single Super Bass become a success after they recorded a video of them rapping along. Her image has drastically changed compared to this angelic throwback picture when she returned to visit her home country as a young teenager.
17 Neil Patrick Harris
Actor Neil Patrick Harris was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He became a child actor aged 14-years-old after he starred in the movie Clara's Heart alongside Whoopi Goldberg for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. In 1995, he took on his first role as an adult in Animal Room. He also established his funny roots in stoner comedies Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.
In 2010, he opened the 82nd Academy Awards with a musical number. Then in 2015, he hosted the 87th Academy Awards becoming the first openly gay man to host the Academy Awards. He has been married to actor and chef David Michael Burtka since 2014.
16 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
In 1987, the California-born twins were cast as the role of Michelle Tanner in ABC's sitcom Full House when they were just six months old. As they were so young they took turns on set playing the role. In 1993, the Olsens created a company Dualstar, which produced the twins' following movies Double, Double, Toil and Trouble and How the West Was Fun. The girls dominated the 90s, their image was not only in movies but also on clothes, books, magazines, CDs, fragrances, makeup, board games, dolls, posters and calendars.
In 2006, the twins launched The Row, an American luxury fashion label which is a favourite with celebrities Jessica Biel, Julianne Moore, Selena Gomez, Reese Witherspoon, Chrissy Teigen and even the first lady Michelle Obama. The Row is currently available in 164 stores in 37 countries. In 2007, Forbes ranked them as the 11th richest women in entertainment, with an estimated net worth of US $100 million.
15 Kim and Kourtney Kardashian
Kim and Kourtney were the first Kardashian sisters on the scene before Khloe was born and then their brother, Robert Jr, came along. Their father, Robert Kardashian was a third-generation Armenian American, who divorced their mother, Kris Jenner, in 1991. Kris then remarried 1976 Olympic decathlon winner Bruce Jenner, now known as Caitlyn Jenner, and the family grew to include step-brothers, Burton, Brandon and Brody, step-sister Casey, and half-sisters, Kendall and Kylie.
They grew up in California and attended a Roman Catholic all-girls school. Robert Kardashian, who legally represented O.J. Simpson during his murder trial, sadly died of cancer in 2003. Then in 2007, a sex tape made by Kim and her ex-boyfriend Ray-J was leaked by Vivid Entertainment and the rest became celebrity history.
14 Kendall and Kylie Jenner
Kendall first appeared on Keeping Up With The Kardashians when she was just 11-years-old and Kylie was 9-years-old. In a column for the Wall Street Journal, Kendall revealed, "I feel like I grew up too fast a long time ago. Having older siblings, you grow up around adults, so you mature more quickly."
Recently their father changed genders and is now known as Caitlyn Jenner. Kendall told WWD magazine, "It would probably be different for someone who didn't have to live it through the media. It's something you have to get used to. But I've known since I was a kid. He never confirmed it to me, but I've known for a very long time."
13 Katy Perry
Katy Perry, real name Katheryn Hudson, was born in Santa Barbara, California. Her parents were born again Christians and between the age of 3 to 11 she would move around America with her parents as they set up churches. Perry practiced singing since the age of nine. She released a gospel album titled, Katy Hudson which received positive reviews but only sold 200 copies. In 2004, she changed her name to Katy Perry and was signed to Columbia Records. Sadly, before her first album was released she was dropped with the label and back to square one.
Perry then took her demos to several record companies as a last chance bid to launch a music career and she signed to Capitol Records in 2007. Perry teamed up with Dr. Luke, who helped her write I Kissed a Girl and Hot n Cold which bought her overnight success. Even if it did take more than five years to get there.
12 Kristen Stewart
In 1990, Kristen Stewart was born in Los Angeles, California. Her Australian mother is a script supervisor and her American father a television producer, so there were no doubts she would eventually land a career in the entertainment industry. She told Today.com, "I never wanted to be the center of attention - I wasn't that 'I want to be famous, I want to be an actor' kid. I never sought out acting, but I always practiced my autograph because I love pens. I'd write my name on everything."
In 2002, Stewart starred in the thriller Panic Room alongside Jodie Foster. She received a Young Artist Award nomination for her performance. In 2007, she was announced as the lead role of Twilight, starring alongside Robert Pattinson who she was also linked with romantically.
11 Justin Bieber
Candian born Justin Bieber arrived at St Joseph's Hospital in 1994. He was raised in Stratford, Ontario and is an only child, but when his mother remarried his family grew with his two younger half-siblings Jazym and Jaxon. Growing up Bieber learned how to play the piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet. He entered a local singing competition when he was 12-years-old, performing Ne-Yo's So Sick, where he came in second. His mother uploaded a video of the performance to YouTube and several others of her son singing.
Then in 2007, by complete accident, a marketing executive named Scotter Braun came across one of Bieber's videos when he was looking for a different artist. Braun then tracked down Bieber and at 13-years-old he travelled to Atlanta, Georgia, to sing for Usher. His debut single Baby has currently been viewed 1,329,743,454 times.
10 January Jones
January Jones was born in South Dakota. Her ancestry is Czech, Danish, English, Welsh, and German. This adorable throwback picture shows her without the signature blonde locks when she was just 10-years-old. Jones began her acting career with supporting roles in movies Anger Management, Love Actually, and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.
It wasn't until she was snapped up by AMC for the drama series Mad Men, where she starred as suburban housewife Betty Draper Francis, that she became recognized as a super talented actress. For her performance she received two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nomination.
9 Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson was born in New York City. Her father was born in Copenhagen and her mother's ancestors were Jewish immigrants from Poland. Johansson has always said that she grew up with "little money" and that her mother was a "film buff". When she was 18-years-old, she started theatrical training in Manhattan. She started auditioning for commercials but the rejection was unbearable for her.
In 1996, she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her role in Manny & Lo. Mick LaSalle, a critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, commented on her performance, "If she can get through puberty with that aura undisturbed, she could become an important actress." Then in 2003, she landed two breakthrough roles in Girl with a Pearl Earring and Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation. Almost seemingly overnight, Johansson became an international sex symbol and Hollywood superstar.
8 Rihanna
Rihanna, real name Robyn Fenty, was born in Saint Michael, Barbados. Growing up she sold clothes with her father on the street, although her childhood was not a happy one. Her father was addicted to crack cocaine and by the time she was 14-years-old her parents had divorced. Rihanna focused on her music and formed a girl group with two of her classmates. The group landed an audition with American record producer Evan Rogers who remembers, "The minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist." Impressed by her, she was invited to America where she produced her first demo tape.
In 2004, her demo tape was played to rapper Jay-Z who was then the president of Def Jam Records. Rihanna performed for Jay-Z and music mogul Antonio "L.A." Reid who was so impressed he told Jay-Z not to let her leave the building until she was signed. She had to wait until 3am for lawyers to draft a new contract as they didn't want her signing with anyone else she had meetings with. More than ten years later, Rihanna now has a net worth of $160 million.
7 Miranda Kerr
Judging by this throwback picture of Sydney born model Miranda Kerr, she has always been able to work a camera. Kerr said during her childhood she mostly "raced motorbikes and rode horses on her grandmother's farm." Her family moved to Brisbane when she was a teenager and she studied nutrition and health psychology before turning to modelling.
She entered a Dolly magazine modelling competition and a week before her 14th birthday she was invited to shoot for the magazine. What was a harmless photo shoot quickly sparked controversial debate with many believing they were glorifying and sexualising young girls in the beauty industry. Kerr stated, "Dolly is a magazine for teenage girls, not for old men. And I was fully clothed! Doing a winter shoot! They just made something out of nothing." As they say - all press is good press and she was signed to NEXT Model Management in early 2004 before becoming one of the highest-earning models in the world.
6 Christian Bale
Christian Bale's mother was a circus performer and his father a talent manager. Both his parents were born in South Africa, Bale was born in Wales and although he spent most of his childhood growing up there he claims he's more English than Welsh. In 1991, when his parents divorced, he moved with his father to Los Angeles, California aged 17.
In 1999, he landed his big break when he took on the role of serial killer Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. The part was intended for Leonardo DiCaprio, but he dropped out to star in The Beach. Bale spent months tanning and working out to prepare for the movie which premiered at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. Roger Ebert, world renowned film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, wrote, "Christian Bale is heroic in the way he allows the character to leap joyfully into despicability; there is no instinct for self-preservation here, and that is one mark of a good actor." Since American Psycho, he has earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe nominations for his roles in American Hustle and The Big Short.
5 Beyonce
Beyonce is one of the most powerful women in the world. She was born in Houston, Texas, her mother was a salon owner and her father a Xerox salesman. During her school days she attended dance classes where her dance teacher discovered she was able to hit difficult notes. When she was 7-years-old, she went on to win her school talent show performing Imagine by John Lennon. In 1990, she started attending the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
When she was 8-years-old, she and childhood friend Kelly Rowland formed an all-girl group called Girl's Tyme. Shortly after they formed, her father quit his job to manage the group full-time, which cut the family income in half forcing them to move into a smaller apartment. The strain eventually caused her parents to divorce. Her father continued to manage the group, who cut their members down to three and changed their name to Destiny's Child. They went on to become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.
4 Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift, named after singer James Taylor, was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. When she was 9-years-old, she became interested in musical theatre and travelled regularly to Broadway for singing and acting lessons. At weekends, she would perform at local fairs, karaoke contests and Boy Scout meetings. Then when she was 11, she watched a documentary about Faith Hill and to help her break into the country music scene the family relocated to Hendersonville, Tennessee.
She made a demo tape of country covers but was rejected from many record labels. Swift recalls, "Everyone in that town wanted to do what I wanted to do. So, I kept thinking to myself, I need to figure out a way to be different." When she was 12-years-old, she learned how to play the guitar then two years later she signed a development deal with RCA Records. Swift made one of the bravest moves of her career, she left RCA Records worried they would make her wait until she was 18 to release an album but she was ready to launch. Swift said, "I genuinely felt I was running out of time. I wanted to capture these years of my life on an album while they still represented what I was going through." She moved to Big Machine Records as one of the first acts they ever signed and she is now worth an eye-watering $80 million.
3 Brad Pitt
Born William Bradley "Brad" Pitt, he grew up in Springfield, Missouri with his two younger siblings, Doug and Julie. Pitt has previously described Springfield as a "Jesse James country with a lot of hills, a lot of lakes." After graduating high school, Pitt enrolled in the University of Missouri, majoring in journalism and advertising. He then decided he wanted to make it in the movie industry, so he moved to Los Angeles, where he took on several odd jobs to help pay for his acting lessons.
Pitt landed several small roles but then in 1987 he won the role as Randy, the boyfriend of Charlie Wade, in primetime series Dallas for four episodes. It wasn't until four years later, when he was cast as J.D. in Ridley Scott's 1991 movie Thelma & Louise, where he performed a love scene with Geena Davis, that he was considered an international sex symbol. The rest is Hollywood history.
2 Ariana Grande
Singer Ariana Grande is of Italian descent, she is half Sicilian and half Abruzzese. As a child she performed in many musical with the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theater in Florida. By 13-years-old, she knew she wanted to become an R&B singer but she was told by record executives that nobody would be interested in buying an R&B album sang by a teenager.
In 2009, Grande auditioned for the Nickelodeon television show Victorious. She won the role of Cat Valentine and the show went on to become the second most viewed live-action series in Nickelodeon history with 5.7 million viewers. She gained millions of teenage fans and after the show ended she recorded her debut album, Yours Truly, which took three years to complete. It debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 album chart making her the first female artist, since Kesha, to have a debut album top of the charts.
1 Leonardo Di Caprio
Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio was born in California. His father is half Italian and his mother is half German. DiCaprio also refers to himself as half Russian because two of his grandparents were Russian. He was named Leonardo because his mother was looking at a painting by Leonardo da Vinci when he first kicked.
The above picture is rare because his parents were together, they divorced before he turned 2-years-old. The photo caused controversy online as his mother has visible body hair. Taken in 1976, it received over 100,000 comments since it was posted on the History in Pictures Facebook page. Many branded his mother, Irmelin, "gross" and "disgusting" for her unshaven underarms, but many others jumped to her defense. One comment read: "I am part of a generation that wants to "free the nipple", but freaks out when women have hair in their armpits." His mother probably doesn't have time to read the comments as she is busy finding a place to sit her son's Academy Award for Best Actor trophy he won this year.
