When it comes to celebrity, you can never tell who's going to make it.
Some people have 'the look' from the very beginning. Some take a little while to grow into their features. We've got both kinds of pictures in this collection. Have a look.
43. Jason Mamoa
Before he became the most handsome ruffian under the waves, Jason Mamoa was just another fish in the sea.
...
Sorta.
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Of course, he had model-level good looks even then... but young Jason looked less like Aquaman and a whole lot more like Barnacle Boy (shoutout to Spongebob for that reference).
Let's be clear: he was still a stud. But where are the bulging muscles? The wise and yet somehow boy-ish beard? He looks like the long-lost 5th member of One Direction.
42. Meghan Markle
The teenage years are awkward for everyone... except for future princesses, apparently.
I mean sure, she's not exactly modeling yet. But still, that is a put together look for high-school. I mean, where is her acne?
Seriously, where is her acne???
WHERE IS HER ACNE???
41. Chrissy Teigen
Here's two facts about what Chrissy Teigen looked like as a little kid:
- She was god-dang adorable
- She was liiiiiitle bit spotty
I'm sure Chrissy would have no problem with me pointing that out. We all deal with some acne or spots at some point, and Chrissy has made a point of being body-positive throughout her career.
So, if you're going through a bit of a breakout, think of this as motivation. You could marry John Legend too!
40. Bella Hadid
Bella's iconic look is all about cheekbones, great brows, and a smidgen of sulk.
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Turns out, she's been rocking it since the early days.
Instagram Blue Steel before Blue Steel was a thing
In her defense though, the look might not be entirely up to her. In a 2018 interview with Harper's Bazaar she said, “People always say I have the same facial expressions,” Hadid said. “But what they don’t realize is that for a long time I looked that way because photographers on set would direct me to look ‘bored’ or ‘very nonchalant.’
39. Kanye
It's hard to imagine a man with Kanye's ego as anything other than the Yeezy we know and love (and sometimes love to hate).
Instagram Just clownin' around
But when Kim Kardashian posted this pic for Ye's birthday, it was a much-needed reminder that he really is just like us. Look at those cheeks!
38. (Even More) Kanye
What, you thought that's all we had for Kanye?
No way.
While we're on the subject, here's a fun question: if you had to associate Ye with one brand, what would it be?
Yep, it's The Gap.
Long before he was making waves with his own collections, Kanye was hanging polos and khakis at everyone's mom's favorite outlet. True story!
37. Zac Efron
If Zac's acting career ever hits a wall (as long as those abs stick around, he's probably safe) he'll always have a fall back in baseball.
Look at that form! No wonder he knocked it out of the park when he was playing Troy. The guy's been an athlete from the beginning.
36. Taylor Swift
Before T-Swift wiped her Instagram clean in late 2017, she was the undisputed Queen of the well-constructed throwback pic.
Want proof?
Are you kidding me! That's too cute. I mean it. That should be illegal.
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Of course, what's even better is this flawless Teletubbies get-up. I would pay real money for adult Tswift to break out this costume for a music video. Someone get her on the phone.
35. Adele
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Fun fact: when she was a little kid, Adele's favorite hobby was chewing bricks.
Just kidding. But those teeth are something else! Luckily she's grown 'em all back now, and is looking better than ever these days.
34. Justin Bieber
Justin's been in the spotlight so long, it's easy to forget he had a pretty normal childhood before Usher and YouTube brought him into the sun.
Here he is practicing his boxing:
And here is the Justin that stole the heart of a billion tween girls:
33. Rihanna
Riri is a goddess, and if this picture proves anything, it's that her confidence is nothing new.
That's the coy smile of a girl who's already composing Work in her head, and getting ready to swerve Drake like it's her job.
32. Reese Witherspoon
Reese started her career when she was just a teenager, which makes you think it might be hard to find a photo from before she hit the silver screen.
Think again!
My god, talk about a cuteness OD. She was precious!
Of course, she also grew up fast. Here she is on the set of her second movie:
31. Jamie Foxx
It's tempting to believe that a man with the suave and sophisticated air of Jamie Foxx was simply born that way.
NOPE. Even Foxx had his awkward stage. In this case, it's an unfortunate experiment with Jheri curls, which were all the rage back in the dirty '80s.
Side note: name a more iconic duo than the 1980s and frickin outrageous hair.
30. Liam Hemsworth
Liam Hemsworth was apparently one of those people that just never had to deal with looking silly.
That's him hanging out with his high-school girlfriend (who, rumor has it, he dumped as soon as he met Miley Cyrus).
29. Beyonce
Even 'Yonce once looked a little bit silly...
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JUST KIDDING. Are you insane?? Beyoncé was a goddang adorable little kid, because of course she was.
You should know better.
28. Kylie Jenner
The Jenners might honestly be the best in the game when it comes to throwbacks.
Too cute! And look at Kylie's outfit. She was stunting even then.
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This one is... admittedly a little less flattering. Still, though, that hair is pretty fly.
27. Drake
Drake is my favorite entry on this list.
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In fairness to Aubrey, he doesn't actually look much different these days. He has one of those blessed faces that remains unravaged by the passing of time.
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That being said, he did look like THE nerd. Where are his muscles?
26. Gigi Hadid
There are so many adorable pictures of the Hadid sisters growing up, it was honestly hard not to put them all in this list. I guess when your mom is a model you're just destined to be photogenic.
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That one is pretty great, but it's got nothing on this:
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That is the best of them all. Remember: just because you're a family of models, doesn't mean it's easy to get everyone to sit still and take a freakin' photo.
25. Ariana Grande
Before you look at the photo, I want to warn you: it turns out Ariana was not rocking the ponytail her whole life.
I know.
I know.
Now if that's not the most ridiculously cute little kid you've ever seen, you should consider yourself blessed.
24. Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman is an ageless monster.
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Seriously. There is absolutely no difference between his graduation photo and any given photo of him today.
The question is: what's his secret? Clearly Hugh is holding on to some kind of futuristic, sci-fi-style elixir of youth.
23. Nicole Kidman
Whoa! Talk about a change. Nicole Kidman had a serious Hermoine thing going on back in the day.
Compare that to her curls now...
And sure, there's some similarity. But she doesn't have quite the same 'do anymore.
22. Khloe Kardashian
The Kardashians are the undisputed Queens of the glow-up, and here Khloe proves that yet again.
Don't get us wrong, she was adorable...
But look at her now! (And try to name a cuter kid. I'll wait)
21. Nick Jonas AND Miley Cyrus
"#tbt When you're 13... hanging with your first crush and you're trying to play it cool. #wheresmydeodorant"
That was Nick's caption when he posted this spicy pic on IG. What else can we say?
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I remember being a 13-year-old boy. That armpit stain is the most relatable content I've ever seen.
20. Christian Bale
If you think Christian Bale's constant weight changes make him unrecognizable today, just take a look at this throwback:
Whoa! Hard to believe that kid is just a few short decades from pummeling the Joker.
Of course, he grew up pretty fast...
Flickr
*Swoon*
19. Sarah Silverman
This is Sarah Silverman, minutes before one of the first auditions of her career:
Now that is a great photo. Not just because it shows that Sarah was absolutely slaying it back then, but also because it shows the funny lady in a bit of a more vulnerable moment. You can just see how nervous she must have been!
18. Amanda Seyfried
If this photo doesn't make your heart melt, I just do not know what to do for you.
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That is 100% pure A-Grade cuteness. Chubby cheeks? Check. Pre-braces teeth? Check. All-around adorable-ness? Check check check.
17. Selena Gomez
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Is this one cheating? Maybe. Technically speaking, Selena was already "famous" at this point (after all, does it get better than Barney?).
That being said, I think it's fair to say this shot came about before most people knew just how big Selena was going to be.
16. Lindsay Lohan
A girl like Lindsay Lohan has been partying it up and breaking it down for so long, it's easy to forget she was once just a little kid.
Here she is as Princess Jasmine:
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Beautiful. And it makes me even happier now that she's back on the straight and narrow.
15. Chris Pratt
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That's the face of a kid who was born to crack some jokes.
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And that is the face of a man born to break some hearts.
14. Harry Styles
Young Harry Styles is less "Mr. Steal Yo Girl" and more "Mr. Too Nervous To Talk To A Girl".
Sorry, that's a little mean. Let's be honest: even back then, Harry was cute as a button.
13. Lady Gaga
Most of us know Gaga for her... unique style. I'm thinking meat dress.
Then again, with movies like A Star Is Born (absolutely incredible, by the way) she's starting to remind us that behind the wild persona, there's still just a regular woman.
Pictures like this help to make that connection:
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And pictures like this one...
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and this one...
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Help to remind you that even world-conquering popstars went through the same slightly awkward phase in high-school.
12. Kim Kardashian
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When Kim threw this picture up on IG, the internet nearly exploded.
Even better was her caption: "Catholic School Girl 8th Grade"
Simple. Plain. Tells the whole story.
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Meanwhile, this pic shows Kim with Nicole Richie, back when both were clearly working through a little bit of tween cringe.
Just a little bit, though.
11. Hillary Duff
Here's a reminder that Hillary Duff was famous from a crazy young age:
10. The Rock
Back when the Rock was just a pebble, he posed for this photo:
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Clearly, his confidence is nothing new. That's a kid with a ton of swag.
Of course, he did have his awkward years.
That photo is... less flattering.
9. The Rock (Evolved)
Oh, you thought that was all the pictures of Dwayne that we had?
No way.
Facebook
Shown here in a picture he put on Facebook, we can see that The Rock was tacking on mass at a young age.
Great 'stache too.
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And then, of course, there is this absolute gem. Where would the internet be without this pic?
I've got just three things to say:
Chain.
Turtle.
Fanny pack
8. Katy Perry
Are you ready for this??
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Whoa! Not that it's a bad photo, but that looks almost nothing like the Katy we know.
Of course, it also proves she was belting it out when she was still just a spring chicken.
Here's another fun one:
Katy posted that to her own Instagram, with the caption, "When ur face is desperate for likes".
7. Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds is hot. I'm not afraid to say it.
Then again, it's good to remember that hotness can be a little controversial. So with that in mind, take a look at one of the most polarizing photos of all-time.
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Bam! When Reynolds posted that on his IG, the internet was divided. Some thought that boy-band Ryan was even more attractive. Others were not afraid to absolutely roast him in the comments.
It's hard to be handsome, I guess.
6. Blake Lively
Don't think that Ryan brings all the oldschool cool to our favorite celeb power couple. Blake has a funny side herself.
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Now that is how you do a throwback. Turns out Lively isn't just gorgeous: she's funny as heck too.
P.S. Where do I buy cat goggles? Asking for a friend...
5. Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde is the closest thing to perfection we can possibly imagine. Even as a teenager she was absolutely killing it.
Seriously--- that picture makes me angry. Leave some pretty for the rest of us, Wilde.
4. Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner wasn't always the best arrow-shooter on a team of actual superheros.
He used to have a pretty sweet mullet, too.
Boom! When I think style, I will now think mullet and white tux. When Renner wore this get-up to his prom, he raised the bar for everyone. We just didn't know it.
3. Matthew McConaughey
Before he was famous, Matthew McConaughey worked on a golf course. At first, he was just in charge of raking sand traps... but before long the groundskeeper had convinced him to make some extra dough by shooting the armadillos who liked to eat the greens.
That's right. Gaze upon the face of a full-blown, professional armadillo murderer.
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Pure evil.
2. Cardi B
Cardi B is the Sass Queen.
By the looks of this photo, that attitude is nothing new.
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Are you kidding me? Work it, Cardi. She's got so much spice in this photo, I feel like I need a glass of milk.
Bravo, I say. Bravo
1. The Whole Clan
Here it is. The final masterpiece.
The Kardashian-Jenners, way back before they'd made Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook into their own personal kingdoms. A good reminder that even the world's most famous family is, at the end of the day, just a family.
Bonus Round: Penn Badgley
Yeah, that's right: Former Gossip Girl star, Penn Badgley, used to be pretty darn emo.
To be fair, who didn't used to be a little emo? One minute you're straightening your bangs, the next minute you're the star of your own Netflix show.
