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Home · Beauty

<p>Then and Now: The Most Beautiful <strong>Black Women</strong> From People's 2016 Most Beautiful List </p>

11 beautiful Black women who made People's Most Beautiul Women of 2016 list.

By Virginia Lowman · Updated October 27, 2020
01
THEN: Pretty in Pink

For young Keke Palmer, balmy lips add lightly blushed cheeks were the perfect compliment to her blush pink dress.

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02
Now: Bold Beauty

At 22, Keke Palmer has adopted her own sex appeal and and confident stance. We love that her beauty looks are daring and easy to recreate.

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03
THEN: Berry-Lipped Maven

During her Cousin Skeeter days, Meagan Good was all about busboy hats, dewy skin and smoky lids. Instead of bold lips, the young actress opted for balmy lips wth a berry stain.

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04
NOW: Mad About Nudes

Fast forward 10 years and Mrs. Good is traded in her long flowing strands for a face-framing cropped cut, nude glossy lips and a metllic smoky eye.

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05
THEN: Sparkle and Shine

Way before she was making cameos in Beyonce’s music videos, Serena was a fresh-faced beauty that loved glitter lip gloss, bold blush and metallic shadows.

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06
NOW: Soft and Elegant

Today, Serena has traded in her bold blush and metallic lids for a softer, more elegant palette.

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07
THEN: Braided Babe

Angela Bassett has been a riveting beauty since she was a fresh-faced grad from Yale’s prestigious school of drama. In 1995, at HBO’s Comic Relief VII to Benefit the Homeless, Bassett rocked a bold lip, feathery lashes and box braids. We’re obsessed.

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08
NOW: Iconic Stunner

At 57, Bassett has evolved passed the box braids look and opted for face-framing waves instead. She’s ditched the bold red lip in favor of a nude gloss, smoked lids and lush lashes.

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09
THEN: Fresh-faced Beauty

A young and curly-haired Robin Givens’ was contouring way befor the Kardashians made it popular. Her 90’s go-to beauty look was simple: glossy pink lips and defined cheeks.And, hair accessories were a must! How cute is her printed headscarf?

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10
NOW: Sleek and Chic

Almost 20 years later and Givens still doesn’t look a day over thirty. She trades in her girlish curls for sleek, shiny tresses and smoky lids.

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11
THEN: Love in Lines

Before we knew her as Cookie Lyon, Taraji P Henson was a fresh-faced belle who loved to pair bold lip liner with a high shine gloss.

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12
NOW: Bold Lipped Queen

Today on the red carpet, Taraji is always setting the trends, rocking bold lips, gorgeous brows and shimmery lids.

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13
THEN: Schoolgirl Flush

In her days as a budding actress, Sanaa Lathan was a fan of rich hues on her eyes and pale pink blush.

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14
NOW: Regal Beauty

Today, Lathan still loves a good pink blush, but she’s softened her palette and brought more attention to her eyes by adding gorgeous lengthy lashes.

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15
THEN: Green Beauty

Remember seeing Kerry in Save the Last Dance? We loved her curly fro, glowing skin and stained berry lips.

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16
NOW: Classic Beauty

Fast forward a decade or so and Washington is the epitome of classic beauty, red lips and all.

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17
THEN: Disney Cutie

Zendaya was turning heads long before she had her own Barbie. The young teen paired blushed cheeks with glossy lips for the perfect flush.

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18
NOW: Next-Level Gorgeous

Still turning heads, there has yet to be a red carpet event that Zendaya has not slayed. 

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19
THEN: Nouveau Beauty

We were first introduced to Lupita Nyong’O when she was nominated for an Academy Award for her riveting role in “12 Years a Slave.” She stunned on the red carpet sporting bold, vibrant shadows and creamy fuchsia lips.

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20
Molten Beauty

Lupita Nyong’O never shies away from a beauty challenge. This liquid gold eye look is everything.

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21
THEN: Bombshell Belle

Way back when Christina Milian had us crooning to her hit single “Dip It Low,” she was always making waves on the red carpet with her gorgeous crimped strands, red lips and bright eyes.

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22
NOW: Bronzed Babe

Milian’s red carpet look now is much more focused on glowing, bronzy skin. We love the subtle flush paired with lush lashes.

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