Ariana Grande's Beauty Evolution

From fresh-faced Broadway ingénue to chart-topping pop star, Ariana Grande is no stranger to dramatic entrances and exits. As Cat Valentine in Nickelodeon's Victorious and iCarly, she dyed her hair bright red to resemble a red velvet cupcake — her bubbly character’s favorite sweet snack. After launching her singing career in 2012, Ariana shed her stoplight hair for equally showstopping ombre highlights. What’s stayed constant? The triple threat has never stepped onto the red carpet, stage, or sidewalk without totally flawless makeup.

The Sam & Cat star told Teen Vogue us this year in her cover feature, “I don’t try to do things because they will look a certain way. I try to keep it real with my fans.” In the same interview, she even admitted to us that her hair is only about 10 percent authentically hers. Yes, Ariana is picture-perfect and pitch-perfect, but don’t let that intimidate you — she’s also totally real.

In honor of her birthday, check out all of Ariana’s beauty looks to see just how much her style has changed throughout the years. Don’t forget to hit the comments section to tell us which look is your favorite!

In 2008, she started her career in the musical 13 on Broadway, for which she won the National Youth Theatre Association Award. As a new stage actress on the scene, she appeared in Times Square frequently (as above), rocking wild black curls and natural makeup — a bouncy look to match the cheerleader personality she portrayed.

 

At the 2009 AFI Festival opening night in Hollywood, she debuted her signature red locks with coral lipstick and pastel pink eye shadow. By then, she had begun filming Victorious with fellow cover girl Victoria Justice — and was well on her way to a triple-threat career.

At the Los Angeles premiere of Justin Bieber: Never Say Never in 2011, she wore British label Lipsy — but the real head-turner was her flawless gold eye makeup and violet-red hair pulled back into a high ponytail to show off those rosy cheekbones. Lips were kept neutral to complement the eyes.

 

Letting down her hair Rapunzel-style, Ariana attended the New York premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 2011. Her plunging neckline, bright red lipstick, and loose curls reflected an Old Hollywood glamour — with a touch of wizardry.

Looking girly and glam with a hair bow matching her cocktail dress, she arrived at Nickelodeon’s 2012 Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles. While her makeup was kept to a minimum for the occasion, her lips popped in pink to accentuate the best red carpet accessory of all — a bright smile.

 

Ariana looked all grown up at the 2012 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, where she matched her lips to her bright red gown. Her long lashes added dramatic flair without the help of flashy jewelry.

Starting a new chapter in her career, she showed up to KIIS FM’s 2012 Jingle Ball in Los Angeles with her natural hair color. The brunette starlet kept her hair in loose waves and highlighted her features with shimmering pink lips and eyes — an on-trend holiday party look.

 

She crowned her princess curls with a floral Urban Outfitters headband at the 2013 Radio Disney Music Awards in Los Angeles. Her romantic beauty look was completed with matching rose pink lipstick and eye shadow.