IT’S hard to imagine a time when these celebs were anything less than worldwide superstars.
But here they are in all their pre-fame glory – gigging and hustling before they hit the big time.
Baby-faced and years before getting a glam Hollywood-style makeover – can you recognise any of these global icons?
TV FAME
This young starlet is known for her four-octave vocal range[/caption]
This teeny tiny popstar can be seen hitting the high notes at just 8-years-old warbling out the US National Anthem.
She first rose to fame when she joined the cast of Nickelodeon‘s Victorious show in 2009.
The Florida-born star has since scooped nominations for Brit, Grammy and Billboard Music Awards and is a global phenomenon.
The megastar attracted plenty of praise following her successful One Love tribute concert in 2017, which raised more than £2million for the victims of the tragic Manchester terror attack.
It is, of course, a young Ariana Grande.
Ariana first rose to fame when she joined the cast of Nickelodeon’s Victorious in 2009[/caption]
MICKEY MOUSE CLUB
This star began her career in the early 90s on a TV show[/caption]
This 10-year-old can be seen belting out Love Can Build a Bridge at Star Search in 1992.
She rose to fame in the 1990s, becoming a global pop icon after starting her career with The Mickey Mouse Club alongside future stars like Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.
She became the reigning Princess of Pop when she made her explosive solo debut in 1998.
Since then, she has been idolised as a global superstar with six No. 1 albums and a successful Las Vegas residency.
Following her teen superstardom, in 2007, her troubles boiled over and she had an infamous public breakdown, during which she shaved her head.
It’s been Toxic for superstar Britney Spears.
RELIGIOUS BEGINNINGS
This pop icon started out as a gospel singer[/caption]
Before achieving global fame with “I Kissed a Girl” in 2008, this former Christian music artist released a gospel album in 2001 under her birth name, Katy (Katheryn) Hudson.
Born in 1984, her father was a preacher and she wasn’t allowed to listen to rock music while growing up.
The Teenage Dream singer is set to star in a Prime Video behind-the-scenes documentary to be made about her time on the road.
The warts-and-all special will act as a follow-up to her 2012 film, Part Of Me.
The pop star was invited by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos‘ girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, to join the first all-female trip into space on Blue Origin.
She shares a child with her ex Orlando Bloom.
This baby-faced singer is of course Katy Perry.
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson aka Katy Perry[/caption]
STYLE CHANGE
This star used to work at a Chicken Express as a teenager[/caption]
This American rapper from Syracuse, New York, can be seen wearing a blue ‘Bad Boy’ tracksuit top and leopard print bandana.
The US star can be seen in a video alongside an 80s-inspired track called Why Don’t You Love Me.
Fans commented: “It’s so weird watching this knowing he becomes one of the greatest and most humble musicians of all time.”
A second noted: “He said he did all types of genres. He sure wasn’t wrong…”
“If you watched this back when it dropped you’d never think he would blow up,” penned a third.
It’s none other than Austin Richard Post aka American singer, songwriter, actor and rapper Post Malone.
US singer Post Malone – born Austin Richard Post[/caption]
GLOBAL SUPERSTAR
The 35-year-old is worth an estimated 1.6 billion USD[/caption]
This pop supremo can be seen singing during a Sixers game in 2002, aged just 11-year-old.
She started as a country singer in 2005, gaining fans with relatable, self-penned songs like “Teardrops on My Guitar” and “Love Story”.
Earlier this year, Channel 4 commissioned a show which will look at how she rose to be the biggest singer on the planet, worth an estimated £1.2BILLION.
Its documentary on the Shake It Off hitmaker is likely to look at how the girl from Pennsylvania started her journey in the world of country music before becoming a huge mainstream artist who went on to sell 114 million albums.
Shake off any doubt, it’s Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift during The Eras Tour in 2024[/caption]
MR SMOOTH
The singing superstar back in the 90s[/caption]
This mini Elvis impersonator can be seen in Hawaii back in the early ’90s.
The pop star has amassed a fortune during his time in the spotlight.
He is worth a massive £77million through his music and touring.
It’s Peter Gene Hernandez, otherwise known as Bruno Mars.
American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer Bruno Mars[/caption]
R&B QUEEN
This little belter, aged 7, found mega fame at 19[/caption]
This global superstar can be seen aged just 7-years-old performing “Home”.
As part of a girl group, she went on to win a Grammy within two years thanks to mega-hit Say My Name.
The group scooped awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and she was just 19 years old at the time.
Everyone’s Crazy In Love with her. It’s Beyoncé.
Superstar Beyoncé has gone from strength to strength in her career[/caption]
GOLDEN BOY
The budding star with his old band pre The X Factor[/caption]
This schoolboy can be seen singing with his old band White Eskimo.
The future One Direction star took the stage in Manchester on September 19, 2010, in front of judges Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh.
He auditioned for The X Factor at age 16 but was rejected from the show as a soloist, along with Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson — but the five lads were called back and told they could stay on as a group.
The lads finished only third on the talent show but soon became one of the biggest boy bands in the world.
That’s What Makes Him Beautiful, it’s Harry Styles.
Harry Styles has gone on to have huge success following One Direction fame[/caption]
COUNTRY KING
This star began his music career when he auditioned for a reality show[/caption]
This star rose to fame when he competed on The Voice in 2014.
Born in Sneedville, Tennessee, on May 13, 1993, the country singer and songwriter gained media attention as one of the competitors in the sixth season.
He initially competed as a member of Usher‘s team before later competing as a member of Adam Levine’s team.
After his elimination in the playoffs, he signed with Panacea Records.
In 2015, he released his debut EP, Stand Alone.
Get the Whiskey Glasses out. It’s Morgan Wallen.
Morgan Wallen performing 98 Braves at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards[/caption]
MAD FOR IT
This singer began performing as a teenager under her real name, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta[/caption]
This star has sold more than 322 MILLION records worldwide since her 2008 debut.
The singer began performing as a teenager under her real name, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.
The Italian-American started taking piano lessons at the age of four.
She rose to stardom following her debut album, The Fame in 2008, and its chart-topping hit singles Just Dance, Poker Face and Love Game.
The album has been named as one of the 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All-Time by Rolling Stone in 2013 and 2022.
Alert the Paparazzi, it’s Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga is known for her image reinventions and versatility[/caption]
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
This star’s rise to stardom has been 10 years in the making[/caption]
This star previously auditioned for The Voice before finding fame – and did NOT make it on show.
The hitmaker is currently topping the charts and staying prominent on radio airwaves with her various funky hits.
The star, whose real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, won her first Grammy Award for Best New Artist in February 2025 at the 67th Grammy Awards.
It’s Pink Pony Club singer Chappell Roan.
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, better known as Chappell Roan[/caption]
