It’s easy to think of celebrities as these gods and goddesses among people, who’ve always looked ready to take on any event and look great doing it. Red carpet appearance? Easy! Impromptu fan gathering? Just say the word. Some random kid’s birthday party? They got you! But guess what? Once upon a time, these superstars were also regular rugrats with crazy haircuts and fashion choices that scream, “My mom dressed me.”
Even though today they’re all stylish and serious, it’s good for one’s soul to travel back in time and look at their childhood photos—little time capsules, giving us a peek at who these stars were before the fame, fortune, and overzealous fan squads. From goofy grins to oversized glasses, these snapshots remind us that even the most stunning A-listers had their share of awkward phases.
Some photos look eerily similar to their younger selves, while others have changed so much you’ll do a double-take. Try to play a little game and see if you can tell who you’re looking at without reading their name first. Or don’t; we’re not your parents. But it’d be more fun if you accepted this challenge.
1. Can you believe this guy’s hairstyle basically hasn’t changed since he was 6? And now he is a stand-up comedian. Tiny Eric Andre is totally adorable!
2. Straight from sunny California comes this little kiddo, who grew up to be a rising Marvel star. Can you guess who she is? You got it, it’s Hailee Steinfeld.
3. Who’s this future badass model with some of the most cringey family drama on this planet? If you said “one of the Kardashians,” you’re very close. It’s Kendall Jenner!
4. You’ve probably binged the show where she has “friends,” and they get into all sorts of shenanigans. Of course, it’s Jennifer Aniston.
5. This nerdy, innocent kid has grown up to be one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood. You can already tell it’s Sydney Sweeney, right?
6. If you’ve watched “The Man In The Moon,” you should easily guess who this lil’ cutie is. Spoiler alert: it’s Reese Witherspoon!
7. Before conquering Hollywood in his iconic red and blue body suit, this tiny guy used to love playing football. Ryan Reynolds is in the house!
8. This adorable peek-a-boo star is famous for charming audiences with her delightful voice! If you guessed Katy Perry, you’re wrong, buddy! It’s Camila Cabello, come on.
9. With all that lipstick on her face, she’s almost unrecognizable. She is best known for her quirky characters, like that lady who totally went to the Good Place. You got it, it’s Kristen Bell!
10. Speaking of makeup, the kid in this photo has so much of it on her face that she basically looks like her adult self! We all love her music, and you already know it’s Dua Lipa.
11. It’s hard to believe that this scrawny kid will turn into a “huge, jacked man” in about 30 years. Do we even have to say more? Naturally, it’s Hugh Jackman.
12. Here’s literally the best hint we can give you. He’s literally the “literally” guy. Unless you have watched Parks & Rec, you’d never guess it’s Rob Lowe.
13. Honestly, you shouldn’t even need a hint here. Just look at that face and imagine it about 20 years later on a big screen. Selma Blair looks so adorable as a kid, though!
14. Coming to you straight from Houston, Texas, this young lady became a teen idol in the early 2000s. And look at Hilary Duff now—she’s an absolute superstar!
15. This one might be the easiest of them all. You can clearly tell that even as a child, Rihanna had all those distinctive facial features.
