High school is a rough time. Everyone is going through weird stages of puberty, making them feel off track. Suffice it to say, no one yet feels quite like themselves in high school.
Combine growing pains, pimples, greasy hair, and questionable styles, and you have the experience of going to school. And of course, school is known for having its fair share of bullies and mean girls, no matter what grade you’re in.
School is also awkward because everyone is trying to figure out exactly who they are! No wonder everyone’s so uneasy. As comedienne and actress Ellen DeGeneres quipped on her show when she reunited with her prom date in 2011: “We’ve both changed.”
Here’s the good news for any despairing students out there — celebrities go through a rough age, too. Even actors who are now considered heartthrobs had their awkward stages. Just take George Clooney who was voted Sexiest Man of the Year not once but twice. He started out high school with Bell’s Palsy, which left half his face paralyzed for almost a year.
So, enjoy these 60 photos of celebrities long before they became the glamorous stars we know today.
Justin Bieber’s hair was just as fly as ever when he was in eighth grade in 2008. It’s incredible to think this heartthrob’s career hadn’t even fully launched a mere 11 years ago.
We’re used to seeing KJ Apa, who stars as Archie Andrews on Riverdale, as a redhead. But this school photo shows him with his natural brown hair, which might throw you for a loop.
The future “Just the Way You Are” and “24K Magic” singer may be pretty fly these days but back in high school, he was adorably goofy with a killer afro.
Liam Hemsworth may be famous now, but back in school, he was just as dorky as the rest of us. That blond hair isn’t a look that most of us have seen on him!
It turns out that Nicki Minaj was cute even back in high school, as seen when she posed for this yearbook photo. She was rocking the 90s ultra-straight hair and big earrings look.
Selena Gomez has always been adorable, which you can clearly see in her yearbook photo. Those bangs are quite something, as is her stylish blouse-and-cardigan combo.
Jennifer Lawrence might be a well-known celebrity now, having starred in The Hunger Games franchise as well as acclaimed movies like Silver Linings Playbook, Winter’s Bone, and X-Men, but back in 2005, she was a cute student with great taste in earrings.
This photo is from the days before she sang “I Kissed a Girl.” At that time, she was known as Katy Hudson. Her bright eyes are still recognizable, even though she wears her hair differently these days.
Miley Cyrus was pretty cute back in the day, with her big front teeth and a love of hair bows, apparently. What’s interesting is how she’s totally recognizable even years before she hit her break on Hannah Montana.
Channing Tatum was handsome even in high school, although we’re grateful to see that haircut didn’t accompany him into his professional career. It’s amazing how much the little things can change your look.
Overall, this gorgeous star hasn’t changed all that much since high school! Her hair is different and it looks like she’s had some dental work done, but other than that, she was just as beautiful then as she is now.
Yes, believe it or not, this really is James Franco, although it looks more like Nick Jonas. He doesn’t bear much resemblance to the curly-haired, broad-smiling star that we know and love.
Anna Kendrick might be in her 30s now, but she hasn’t changed that much since her high school days. Except, of course, for the small detail that she’s a movie star now.
Don’t recognize that face or the name? Amethyst Kelly is known to the world as Iggy Azalea, and she’s a lot more glamorous these days than she was in school.
Kesha isn’t even recognizable in this high school photo, which is completely devoid of glitter and over-the-top outfits. Back then, she was known as Kesha Rose Sebert.
Lautner eventually earned a reputation as a hunk after he found ample opportunities to take his shirt off in the Twilight Saga. But we’re sure he still had plenty of crushes back in the day. That hairstyle is best left in the past, though.
Emma Stone was pretty cute in high school, although it was years before she would make it big in movies like La La Land. Her style has aged surprisingly well!
The former president was rocking the classic big collar when he took this photo at Punahou School in Honolulu in 1979. Some styles don’t age quite as well!
Fergie mastered the big hairstyle when she posed for this photo back in 1990. Since then, she’s become known less for her big hair and more for her big voice.
Jennifer Lopez was all glamour in this 1987 photo from Preston High School in the Bronx. Already, she was set on becoming a star, inspired by Rita Moreno of West Side Story fame.
Roberts was still five years out from Pretty Woman when she took this photo at Campbell High School in Smyrna, Georgia in 1985. But her wide smile is unmistakable.
The future Posh Spice loved pushing the limits of her look even back in 1992. She said she was sent to the bathroom every day at school to take off her newest makeup look.
Cruise might have been looking dapper in this 1080 high school photo but it was only a year later that he was appearing on the big screen in Endless Love and Taps.
In 1982, “Monica” was a blue-eyed cutie from Mountain Brook High School in Alabama. But even though she didn’t look much like her “Friends” character, she was still adorable.
Beyoncé was only a freshman at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston when this photo was taken in 1996. But she was already a part of Destiny’s Child, which would propel her to fame.
Kim Kardashian looked pretty different with the cute bobbed hair she wore in 1995. In fact, she’s not really even recognizable as the long-haired model the world knows her as today.
This photo was taken just a couple of years before Swift made it big, but the superstar says she doesn’t miss high school. She finds life much happier now!
Back in 1996, Saldana looked very 90s with her short curly hair and ultra-thin eyebrows. If you didn’t recognize her, maybe it’s because she’s not a blue or green alien?
In 1987, Affleck was already getting into acting with roles on TV shows and an ABC Afterschool Special. And, as many fans have pointed out, he’s barely changed since the 80s.
Before she was the “It Girl” of the 1980s, Madonna was a cheerleader at high school in 1975. But she had already developed that heavily-lined eyeliner look that she later became known for.
Back in 1988, Cameron Diaz was a cheerleader with a famous retro hairstyle. But don’t let that fool you — she was already a magazine model before she graduated.
Hilary Swank is almost unrecognizable in her high school photo from 1990. She attended South Pasadena High School where she was involved with swimming and gymnastics, while rocking ultra-curly hair.
Sandra Bullock is in her 50s now, but she still looks exactly like the pigtailed cheerleader who attended high school in Arlington, Virginia in 1982. That’s to say, absolutely gorgeous.
Leonardo DiCaprio is proof that you can settle on a hairstyle at age 15 and never change it. He was already a child TV star at the time before hitting it big in the 90s with Titanic, Romeo + Juliet, and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
Megan Fox was just as glamorous in high school in 2001 as she is today. But Fox says her high school years in Port St. Lucie, Florida were not spent as a “mean girl.”
Streep says that high school was her first chance to play a role. She spent four years being a blonde cheerleader and homecoming queen, as seen here to perfection in 1967.
Mariah Carey was the queen of big hair in this photo from 1987, but she wasn’t a fan of school. In fact, she missed so many classes that she earned the nickname “Mirage” — but still graduated.
Jolie says she didn’t pay attention to her looks in high school, and as a result, didn’t know that she made other people nervous. The black combat boots and bat chains may have been a clue.
In 1989, Poehler had quite the retro hairstyle. But she maintains a sense of humor about it, joking on “Conan”: “Every day I would walk into school and just be, like, ‘You’re welcome, fellas.’ I drove all the way there with the windows down.”
While this photo was taken in 1987, Depp says the memory of that time is a blur. “I literally locked myself in a room and played guitar.” Three years later he would star in Edward Scissorhands.
As a writer, actress, and comedienne, Fey says that puberty was hard on her. She developed early and had greasy skin. This photo was taken in 1988 when she was about 18.
Jennifer Garner is known for her sweet personality, but in 1990 in Charleston, West Virginia, she was a bit of a rebel. She wouuld apply makeup in class when she wasn’t supposed to.
McCarthy experimented with different personas throughout high school, sometimes transitioning rapidly from preppy to punk. The changes earned her the superlative “Most Changed in Four Years.”
Clooney might have been voted The Sexiest Man Alive in 1997 and 2006, but his freshman year of high school in 1976 was rough. He had Bell’s Palsy, which paralyzed one side of his face for about nine months.
Hanks was sporting some luxurious locks as a senior in 1974 but says his personality hadn’t matured yet. He admits he wasn’t popular with students or teachers.
By the time he was 16, the Rock was 6 foot 4 inches tall and weighed 225. He also had an impressive growth of facial hair. All this led to a rumor that he was an undercover cop at his high school.
Evans’ headshot from 1998 makes him giggle today, but it did the trick and landed him his first internship — even if that photo looks a little bit “early Captain America” if you know what we mean.
Reynolds was on the set of a teen drama when he made a joke that made a crew member laugh — thus, his comedy troupe was born. Or maybe he was laughing at that hair?
Believe it or not, Fallon seemed destined for late-night entertainment even at a young age, earning the superlative “Most Likely to Replace David Letterman.”
Pratt was the youngest of three children and competed in sports at school. He also gave a speech at his graduation in spite of his reputation as a class clown.
DeGeneres shared this photo of herself at 15 in honor of her show being on the air for 15 years. She even reunited with her prom date while on the air and quipped, “We’ve both changed.”
Back when she was Hillary Rodham, the former First Lady and presidential hopeful was known as a dedicated student and aspiring politician – before she even graduated from high school.
Clarkson won “American Idol” just two years after graduating in 2000. At the time, she struggled with her weight and an eating disorder. These days, she’s not only a singer but also an advocate for positive body image.
Alec Baldwin has changed in many ways since he attended Berner High School in 1976. But those eyes have stayed the same. Once you see them, there’s no unseeing them!
60 celebrity yearbook photos show we’re all awkward when growing up
Jenà Lowe
01.04.22
High school is a rough time. Everyone is going through weird stages of puberty, making them feel off track. Suffice it to say, no one yet feels quite like themselves in high school.
Combine growing pains, pimples, greasy hair, and questionable styles, and you have the experience of going to school. And of course, school is known for having its fair share of bullies and mean girls, no matter what grade you’re in.
School is also awkward because everyone is trying to figure out exactly who they are! No wonder everyone’s so uneasy. As comedienne and actress Ellen DeGeneres quipped on her show when she reunited with her prom date in 2011: “We’ve both changed.”
Here’s the good news for any despairing students out there — celebrities go through a rough age, too. Even actors who are now considered heartthrobs had their awkward stages. Just take George Clooney who was voted Sexiest Man of the Year not once but twice. He started out high school with Bell’s Palsy, which left half his face paralyzed for almost a year.
So, enjoy these 60 photos of celebrities long before they became the glamorous stars we know today.
