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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 · February 4, 2013October 28, 2020
01
1996: Mariah Carey

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

02
2012: Mariah Carey

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

10
2013: Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson
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.

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.

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.

14
2013: Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
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.

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.

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.

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.

19
2004: Ciara

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

25
2006: Ledisi

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

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.

27
2002: Kelly Rowland

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

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.

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.

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.

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