15 Shocking Celebrity Transformations That Made Headlines This Year

This year, a bunch of celebrities left us amazed with their jaw-dropping transformations. Whether it was for a movie, a lifestyle revamp, or just a bold style choice, these stars know how to keep us hooked.

Some of these changes sparked chatter about Ozempic, a weight-loss injection that isn’t officially FDA-approved for that purpose. Celebs like Lizzo shut down those rumors by opening up about how they actually achieved their stunning new looks.

Here’s a look at the stars who got everyone buzzing with their dramatic transformations this year.

#1 Tammy Slaton

Image source: tlc, tlc Slaton rose to fame with her sister, Amy, after starring in the popular TLC show 1000-lb Sisters, which is currently in its sixth season. The show chronicles the Kentucky-born sisters’ daily lives and their efforts to lose weight. In November, Tammy celebrated a major milestone when she stepped on a scale and saw her weight was 281.2 pounds (127 kg). “I think the last time I weighed 281 [pounds], I was in fourth or fifth grade,” the reality star shared. Slaton underwent bariatric surgery in 2022 and lost around 300 pounds (136 kg) the following year.

#2 Princess Kalina Of Bulgaria

Image source: Luc Castel/Getty Images, scanpix In June, the athletic Princess Kalina of Bulgaria impressed royal fans when she flaunted her toned, muscular arms during an outing in Sofia, the country’s capital, accompanied by her husband, Antonio José “Kitín” Muñoz, and their son, Simeón Hassan Muñoz. Kalina is the fifth child and only daughter of Simeon II, the last tsar in Bulgaria, and his wife, Margaret. She and Muñoz have been training together for 24 years. "I like the fitness philosophy and lifestyle. Staying in shape while seeking balance and harmony. Mens sana in corpore sano. If I don't work out, I don't feel well,” explained the princess, who trains four times a week and also enjoys skiing, kitesurfing, and equestrianism.

#3 Dave Bautista

Image source: davebautista, Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images The former WWE star attended the Toronto International Film Festival in September sporting a trimmed-down look. “I’m getting super trimmed; this is probably the lightest I’ve been since I was 19,” Dave said during an interview with Chris Van Vliet. The retired wrestler revealed that he was able to lose 75 lb (34kg) in a year through a plant-based diet. “I eat as clean as possible. I was eating mostly vegan, except for eggs because I couldn’t give them up for breakfast,” he told Men’s Health.

#4 Donatella Versace

Image source: Pierre Suu/Getty Images, donatella_versace The Italian designer, who became Versace’s creative director after the tragic murder of her brother Gianni, attended the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical in early December. After Donatella shared photos from the London event, netizens focused on her glowing appearance, speculating about the possible use of Photoshop, filters, or cosmetic surgery to explain the 69-year-old’s “new face.” Speaking at the Vogue Festival in 2013, the businesswoman said: “I’m not like this genetically, I use tons of cream and take care of my hair and skin.” “I don’t even know what my natural colour is,” she said in 2020. “Natural? What is natural? What is that? I do not believe in totally natural for women. For me, natural has something to do with vegetables.”

#5 Olivier Martinez

Image source: Jason LaVeris/Getty Images, BACKGRID/VidaPress The French actor, known for his roles in Un, deux, trois, soleil, The Horseman on the Roof, Before Night Falls, and Unfaithful, was photographed in September looking unrecognizable with a head of white hair replacing his once dark locks. Olivier famously dated Halle Berry from 2010 to 2013. The former couple share a 10-year-old son, Maceo, who was at the center of a custody battle in August after Halle requested a court intervene in their co-parenting agreement, alleging Olivier hadn’t been seeing a co-parenting coach as was previously stipulated. Her request was denied. She is also seeking sole legal custody of Maceo, claiming the actor’s "turbulent and detrimental behavior" has seriously impacted their son.

#6 Christina Aguilera

Image source:  Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images, xtina The Candyman hitmaker looked slim when she sported a black skin-tight bodysuit at Barry’s gym in West Hollywood, California, in September. Christina attended an event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her self-titled debut album and her limited edition Fuel Bar shake. After facing scrutiny over her body since her teens, the Grammy winner no longer cares what people have to say about it. “I have a maturity now where I just don’t give a f**k about your opinion,” she told Glamour in August. “I’m not going to take it on. It must be your responsibility to take up your space. Other people’s opinions of me are not my business.”

#7 Katy Perry

Image source: Stewart Cook/ABC/Getty Images, Lisa Lake/Getty Images The hitmaker's appearance at the iHeartRadio Q102’s Jingle Ball on December 16 renewed conversation about her weight. Her noticeably slimmer face and waistline led to speculations that she might have shed a few pounds using Ozempic. However, Katy has previously denied using the medication. According to an insider who spoke with the DailyMail, her slimmed-down figure is the result of her fiancé Orlando Bloom’s diet, which has encouraged her to “cut out tons of processed food.” Additionally, since dating the English actor, Katy reportedly doesn't “drink that much.”

#8 Mike Myers

Image source: Jeff Kravitz/etty Images, Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images For his first public appearance in over a year, the Emmy winner appeared at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater in a gray buzz cut, a clear contrast with the brushed-down brown hair he sported throughout his career. The Austin Powers actor attended the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute in April, which honored Nicole Kidman’s career. During the event, Mike went on stage wearing a mask—a reference to the 1999 Stanley Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut, in which Nicole stars as Alice Harford alongside Tom Cruise.

#9 Lindsay Lohan

Image source: Camera Press/VidaPress, Splash News/VidaPress Lindsay’s appearance at a promotional event for her Christmas film Our Little Secret left fans shocked, with many commenting that she may have gone under the knife to achieve her glowing look. Some even suggested that she had removed her signature freckles with laser treatment. The Mean Girls star previously attributed her appearance to skincare. “I used to try more serums and do more hair treatments, but now I keep things very basic. I realized, why use something I can’t use when pregnant? Why would I use that anyway?” She also told Allure she’s tried skin treatments like Morpheus8, a minimally invasive treatment that uses radiofrequency (RF) energy and microneedling. “I’ve tried Morpheus, IPL, and lasers. I try not to do them too much, but I’m always interested in what else is out there.”

#10 Serena William

Image source: serenawilliams, serenawilliams In December, Serena was accused of using weight loss medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro after posting a photo aboard her private plane, looking noticeably slimmer. The tennis legend has discussed her fitness journey following the birth of her second daughter, Adira, whom she shares with husband Alexis Ohanian, on many occasions. “I do HIIT workouts—high-intensity interval training—a little stretching, a little strength training, but mostly cardio training,” the 23-time Grand Slam winner told Vogue in 2022. “I do the cardio exercises on Tonal [smart home gym], which is really helpful for me just to get my body back and used to calisthenics."

#11 Lizzo

Image source: lizzobeeating, lizzobeeating Lizzo’s weight loss transformation has become the talk of the web this year. While some have accused the Truth Hurts singer of using Ozempic, she has consistently denied these claims, posting videos of her hard work at the gym on social media. “When you finally get Ozempic allegations after 5 months of weight training and calorie deficit,” the rapper, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, wrote below a social media video. Lizzo exercises with celebrity trainer Corey Calliet, who has trained other stars such as Keke Palmer, John Boyega, and Michael B. Jordan.

#12 Barbie Ferreira

Image source: Alamy/VidaPress, bbbriqn The Euphoria actress wowed social media users when she revealed her dramatic weight loss transformation in November. Barbie’s mirror selfie, which showed her defined jawline and slim waist, made fans question whether she had used Ozempic to achieve her results. “Ozempic got a choke hold on the entire industry,” one user speculated, while another said: “She fine both ways. My lord.” A source close to the actress claimed that she had lost weight to “revitalize” her career. “Since she quit Euphoria, the opportunities have been drying up for Barbie….She lost the weight to revitalize her career and better highlight her talents. She has such a strong drive to succeed in the industry and is incredibly talented.”

#13 Chris Evans

Image source: Jason Merritt/Getty Images, Samir Hussein/Getty Images Chris surprised his admirers when he sported a full beard and longer hair at the premiere of Red One in November. The Avengers actor posed with his co-stars The Rock and J.K Simmons. In the action holiday film, Chris stars as Jack O'Malley, a hacker hired for a secret operation to rescue Santa Claus after he’s been kidnapped from the North Pole. While some fans weren’t expecting to see his “grown up look,” Chris sported a similar style back in 2018 in Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War.

#14 Jessica Simpson

Image source: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Getty Images, Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Many fans agreed that the Texas-born singer looked unrecognizable after she posted a photo of herself inside a recording studio. “Who is this, even? It doesn’t even look like Jessica Simpson,” wrote one user, while another commented, “I thought this was Ivanka Trump at first.” Jessica said her comeback, which comes 14 years after her last album release, was “personal” and “an apology to [herself] for putting up with everything [she] did not deserve.” Part of her motivation is letting her children watch her shine as a pop star. “I’m doing this as a mother now, as a wife. I was a wife last time, but this is a very different marriage. And they’ve never seen me do this,” she told Bustle in 2023. “But there’s moments that make me want to do it—for them to see that color of me.”

#15 Amanda Bynes

Image source: Shawn Ehlers/Getty Images, BACKGRID/VidaPress The retired actress—who had millions of children glued to their screens when she starred on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show between 1999 and 2002—debuted a striking new look in August, stepping out with dramatic black hair. Amanda, known for her signature blonde locks, wore her hair straight and opted for a laid-back outfit for a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. This year, the former child star surprised fans by launching a clothing line in collaboration with designer Austin Babbit. This marked Amanda’s first fashion line since graduating from California’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in 2019. The 38-year-old presented the pieces in December during an art show and clothing pop-up with Babbit, where she signed autographs and took pictures with fans.