The ’90s actresses had their own distinct Hollywood “it girl” glow and were unfortunately often treated like products, so aging and experimenting with styles would be similar to changing the colors or logo. The problem is that people inevitably change. Some embrace cosmetic tweaks, others step away from the beauty treadmill, and many faced personal challenges that matter more than appearances.
In the end, many of our ’90s favorites look almost unrecognizable today. Not due to anything being “wrong,” but simply because time keeps ticking.
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Milano was a staple of ’90s TV and had that instantly recognizable look with the dark hair, stylish clothes, and total poster-on-the-wall energy. More recently, Alyssa has been focusing not only on her acting skills but also on her physical appearance. In 2025, the actress confirmed that she had her breast implants removed, as they’ve been reminding her about why she thought she needed to be loved or successful. That’s also the example she wants to set for her daughter, so it’s very wholesome.
Lori Petty
In “Point Break” and “A League of Their Own,” Lori showed some of her best acting, channeling grit, edge, and real personality. She’s even joked that if casting directors wanted her to play “the girl next door,” they should literally go next door, because she wasn’t trying to be that. As she’s aged, Petty has doubled down on authenticity. Her hair got much shorter, the colors got more vivid, and it matches her career vibe.
Pamela Anderson
Legendary actress Pamela Anderson spent years trying to get rid of all the grease poured out by tabloids. “Baywatch” catapulted her into a global spotlight, with the media treating her dating history as if it were a reality TV show. After decades of high-fashion red carpet expectations, she started stepping out with a fresh face and minimal makeup, debuting the vibe at Paris Fashion Week in 2023, and even after all these years, she’s still a 10/10.
Tara Reid
About 20-30 years ago, Tara Reid was at her peak: American Pie fame was popping off, paparazzi were hunting her down, and her fashion sense was unmatched. But she wasn’t the carefree “hot girl” the public saw, and ended up dealing with some genuinely painful situations. She’s had botched plastic surgery procedures, which wrecked her confidence and even affected her work opportunities. Still, she kept working and eventually was caught in the “Sharknado” of her newfound success.
Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda had that classic Hollywood look with perfect, shiny hair, unique style, and a family name that could open any industry door in seconds. However, off-screen, Bridget was rather shy and didn’t like all the excess attention, which is basically the opposite of how being a celebrity works. She retired from acting in 2002, settled down with composer Danny Elfman, and mostly stepped away from public life. When paparazzi caught her body looking different, people acted like it was something unthinkable—a true sensation! Don’t blame others; even the hottest people age and succumb to gravity.
Heather Locklear
In the 1990s, Heather Locklear was quite literally everywhere—from your favorite TV show to the cheapest tabloid on the newsstand. With that came nonstop scrutiny, plus a long list of high-profile relationships for everyone to gawk at. Behind the scenes, she’s dealt with legal trouble, including a DUI arrest and a few visits to rehab. As often happens with women in the industry, rumors swirled about her having fillers, surgery, and all that good stuff. But to Heather, the idea that aging is a tragedy is ridiculous, saying she’s grateful to get older because it means she’s still here.
Geena Davis
Geena Davis has been a standout actress for decades. Her endless confidence made her the Hollywood icon we all know and love. That said, even someone like her can struggle with self-image and the pressure from the industry. As she got older, she also got louder about something that hits women in Hollywood hard: ageism. After being denied roles for being too old, she channeled that anger into action. Today, her Geena Davis Institute focuses on research and representation in media, pushing back on the industry’s long-standing bias.
Amanda Bynes
Back in the good old days, Amanda Bynes was the bubbly, quirky kid lighting up “All That,” and later she became a full-fledged teen comedy star with “The Amanda Show,” “What a Girl Wants,” and of course, her crown jewel—”She’s the Man.” Then, around 2010, she stunlocked everyone by quitting her incredibly successful career because it wasn’t fun anymore. What can you say? She used to be a spoiled brat. But after that, things got really messy with legal issues and mental health struggles, leading her parents to file for a conservatorship. Thankfully, lately, she’s been doing better, she even spoke about substance abuse and urged people to be careful because it can take over your life fast.
