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Home · Black History Month

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers' Beauty Transformations

In honor of Black History Month, we're taking a look back at a handful of our favorite singers' beauty looks and comparing them to their current makeup regimens. What a difference a decade makes!
By Nicole Marie Melton · Updated October 28, 2020
01
1996: Mariah Carey

Carey turned heads at the American Music Awards in a subtle smoky eye and metallic bronze lips.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
02
2012: Mariah Carey

Carey is still rocking her metallic lip gloss, albeit in a more subtle hue.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
03
1994: Toni Braxton

At the 1994 MTV Video Music awards Toni Braxton was the perfect mid-’90s siren in matte red lips and strong brows.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
04
2012: Toni Braxton

Nowadays, you’d be hard pressed not to see Braxton out-and-about in a full face of makeup, complete with lush lashes, sparkly shadow and glossy lips.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
05
2001: Beyoncé

As one-third of Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé sported fiery amber eyeshadow and golden-tangerine lipstick at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
06
2013: Beyonce

Fast forward twelve years and Beyoncé rocked little more than peach lipgloss and mascara at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show Press Conference.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
07
1995: Mary J. Blige

At the 1995 Billboard Music Awards, Blige sported contoured eyes, winged liquid liner and red lips outlined in dark liner, a tell-tale Nineties makeup move.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
08
2012: Mary J. Blige

Queen Mary still reigns although currently she’s doing it in more subtle makeup. At the Rock of Ages premiere, the soul diva sported a clean look with full lashes and nude lip gloss.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
09
2004: Jennifer Hudson

When Jennifer Hudson first stepped into the spotlight, the Chi-Town native kept a simple beauty routine in nearly no foundation and creamy, brick red lipstick.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
10
2013: Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson
Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
Getty Images
11
2001: Jill Scott

At the 2001 Billboard Music Awards, Jilly from Philly was all smiles in shiny burgundy lip gloss and a sweep of metallic shadow under the brow.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
12
2013: Jill Scott

Jill Scott dazzled in a more mature makeup look consisting of a wine lip, full brows and dreamy, wow-worthy lashes at HBO’s post Golden Globe Awards.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
Mark Sullivan/WireImage
13
2002: Alicia Keys

All eyes were on Keys at the 44th GRAMMY Awards, when she showed up rocking seriously sequined lids, one of the many head-turning looks she wore back in the day.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
14
2013: Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
Getty Images
15
2005: Rihanna

At the MTV Video Music Awards, Rihanna brightened her eyes with a subtle smudge of bronze eyeliner in the inner corners and individual false lashes.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
16
2012: Rihanna

Rihanna’s current-day beauty look is all about rich, rockin’ lips, such as the red pout she wore at the Battleship premiere.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
17
2002: Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah attended Premiere Magazine’s Women In Hollywood Luncheon with tapered brows, a tad of eyeliner and a glossy orange lip.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
18
2012: Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah still keeps her look soft and sweet. At the Los Angeles premiere of Joyful Noise she flaunted thick lashes with iridescent pink lip gloss.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
19
2004: Ciara

Ciara stepped on the scene in barely-there beauty looks with minimal foundation, a touch of coral eyeshadow and glossy lips.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
20
2012: Ciara

Ciara’s makeup mantra is still clean and clear, but nowadays she’s including a strong brow and heavier mascara — as in this look she flaunted at VH1 Divas.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
Getty Images
21
1995: Brandy

As a 16-year-old star, Brandy became a teen beauty idol wearing berry colored lipgloss and a touch of black eyeliner.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
22
2012: Brandy

Nearly two decades later, Brandy rocked a smoky eye that’s enviable, to say the least, at the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
Steve Granitz/WireImage
23
1990: Janet Jackson

In the early days of Janet Jackson’s career, the “Rhythm Nation” singer preferred strong brows, heavy eyeliner and a rich, matte lip.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
24
2012: Janet Jackson

Janet is still a beauty to be reckoned with who recently flaunted natural lashes and lip gloss at a museum opening in NYC.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
25
2006: Ledisi

At the 2006 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards, newcomer Ledisi sported gold and copper eyeshadow with a shiny orange lip.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
26
2012: Ledisi

Ledisi arrived on the red carpet of the NAACP Image Awards still rocking her shimmering eyeshadow but in a grown-up, über glam way.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
27
2002: Kelly Rowland

At the 2002 Grammy Awards, Kelly Rowland sported baby blue shadow and berry gloss to contrast her vivid red highlights.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
28
2013: Kelly Rowland

Ten years later, Rowland’s current beauty regimen calls for color-rich eyeshadow, lush lashes and flawless skin that has us in awe.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
Steven Lawton/FilmMagic
29
2001: Monica

Monica mesmerized us with her vocals as a 19-year-old singing sensation who loved to get glam in sultry smoky eyes and raspberry-tinted lips.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
30
2012: Monica

At the Welcome to Hotel Noir event at W Hotel in Atlanta, Monica again chose a bright berry-colored lip and fierce copper and gray eyeshadow. Megawatt lashes add an extra special touch.

Black History Month: Our Favorite Singers’ Beauty Transformations
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