Lil Kim has been one of the biggest influences in the world of rap music since her debut back in 1996. Lil Kim's debut album, 'Hard Core', remains one of the greatest rap albums from not only a female but from anybody!
The rapper dominated the 90s and early 2000s with hit after hit, scoring her first-ever Hot 100 N0. 1 in 2001 with 'Lady Marmalade'. From her eccentric looks, iconic red carpet appearance and stellar music, Lil Kim has without a doubt made a name for herself.
Despite her success, the rapper shocked the public after having had a few tweaks to her appearance done in the early 2010s. The transformation took many by surprise and left her looking quite unrecognizable. Without further ado, here are 20 photos that prove just how much she changed.
20 Trendsetter - 1998
When Lil Kim first broke out on the scene after her first-ever studio album was released in 1996, she instantly became one of the biggest female rappers in history and still is to this day. In addition to her iconic status, the rapper was always dressed to impress and what regarded as a major trendsetter during the late 90s.
19 90s Curls - 2000
As mentioned, Lil Kim knew exactly what she was doing when it came to her looks! The 'No Time' rapper attended the 2000 VMA's with her legendary orange jumpsuit and her bangin' curls that had the entire world talking about the next day! She knew how to make an entrance and she certainly never disappointed.
18 Iconic MTV Look - 1999
In addition to her legendary orange outfit, one of Lil Kim's most tantalizing ensembles was at the 1999 VMA's where she wore an all-purple outfit, with a mermaid shell pasty covering her left breast. This was quite the shocking fashion faux pas at the time and had everyone either living for it or wishing they'd never seen it.
17 Colourful Queen - 2003
If you have not already caught on from the orange and purple iconic looks Lil Kim gave us back in the day, then it's no surprise that she was without a doubt a colourful queen! The rapper always wore colour, including this stunning coral green and blue mix dress she wore to the 3rd annual BET awards back in 2003.
16 High Fashion - 2000
While she knew how to deliver some shocking looks, Lil Kim also posed for some high fashion shots as well! The 'Hard Core' rapper was photographed by the legendary David Lachapelle back in the year 2000, where her hair and makeup look were definitely beyond the time, proving yet again just how big a trendsetter she really was.
15 Hard Core - 1996
We are throwing it way back with this photo! This is definitely the Lil Kim that we all fell in love with 25 years ago. The rapper released her first-ever studio album titled 'Hard Core' in 1996, where she can be seen posing on the cover with nothing but a fur coat, black satin sheets and roses.
14 Lady Marmalade - 2001
One of the most recognized Lil Kim songs and her only Billboard Hot 100 hit is none other than "Lady Marmalade". The 2001 hit was easily the biggest song of the year and featured Lil Kim, Pink, Christina Aguilera and Mya. The music video alone is worth watching and will send you right back to 2001.
13 Kicking It Back - 1999
As Lil Kim rose to fame as a rapper, it is no surprise that she found herself becoming close with many other big names in the industry. Lil Kim and Jay Z attended the Tommy Jeans Mixtape Party back in 1999 and posed for this iconic shot of the two of them. Other massive names Lil Kim was friends with was Notorious B.I.G and P Diddy, too!
12 Lady In Red - 1996
While she could definitely play up any role she wanted, we are living for this very lady in a red elegant look that Lil Kim delivered back in 1996. After making it big from her solo album release, the star posed in a head to toe Chanel ensemble that is giving us major "diamonds are a girl's best friend" vibes.
11 Makeup-Free - 2004
As time went by, Lil Kim would found herself in some legal troubles that ultimately led to her serving time in prison. During this fiasco, Lil Kim would often show up to events or her court cases sans makeup, showing off a completely fresh face. While he may have been going through it at the time, at least she looked great!
10 The Transformation Begins - 2007
In 2007, the time where Lil Kim was a judge on 'The Search For The Next Pussycat Doll' alongside Robin Antin, fans were noticing a few changes to the rapper's face. It appears she had a few minor procedures done to "liven herself up a bit", however, this was only the beginning of what would soon become a major transformation.
9 LA Pride - 2012
Flash forward nearly 5 years, and Lil Kim looked like a completely different person. While she still loved herself some colour, the rapper no longer looked like her 90s self. Despite ageing, it appears Kim had some major work done to her face, leading to fans of hers question the new look at her 2012 LA Pride appearance.
8 Expecting - 2014
In 2014, Lil Kim ventured into one of the most beautiful journeys, pregnancy! This marked the first child for Kim and the only child of hers to date. While she still kept up with her monthly visits to the plastic surgeon, Kim managed to make her baby bump look like haute couture in her very avant-garde outfits.
7 Nights Out - 2013
It was in 2013 that man fans of Lil Kim had a lot of trouble swallowing her newest look. The rapper went farther this time around allegedly making further alterations to her nose, cheekbones, brows and lips, rendering her quite unrecognizable from when she first stepped out on the scene in the mid-90s.
6 Total Transformation - 2016
As 2016 came around, Lil Kim was no longer the rapper we once knew and loved 20 years ago. While she was still out and about performing all her rap hits, wearing out of this world attire, her look still took many by surprise as it appeared to not have stopped! Further areas of her body appeared to have been augmented, leading many to believe that she was not stopping anytime soon.
5 Mommy Duty - 2017
During Lil Kim's appearance at the 2017 VH1 Hip Hop Honours, she graced the red carpet with someone in her arms! Kim brought along her daughter, Royal Reign, to the event, dressing her up in a gold ensemble that we weren't surprised to see, considering who her mom is. This was the first time Lil Kim was joined by her daughter, making for quite the memorable red carpet moment.
4 Hip Hop Honours - 2019
Two years later, Lil Kim found herself not only attending the VH1 Hip Hop Honours but also performing. The BET event will always remain close to Lil Kim's heart considering it was the first major awards show that shed her in a light that she deserved to be in considering all she had done for the world of rap.
3 Instagram Shots - 2018
In addition to red carpet appearances and performances, Lil Kim also has become quite big on Instagram. The rapper enjoys posting shots of herself in a new outfit, getting her hair and makeup done, or showing off her bling, and quite often at that! While it can be a bit much at times, we aren't complaining at all.
2 Diamond Ball - 2017
While her drastic change in look may have come as a surprise to many, we must admit that Lil Kim's look at the 2017 Diamond Ball was without a doubt one of her best to date. The hair and makeup are absolutely perfect and when paired with her stunning outfit and jewelry, you've got yourself a true queen!
1 The Procedures Continue - 2019
While many of her alterations have been hit or miss, there is one thing that we know for sure, Lil Kim does not appear to be stopping with them anytime soon. While her music will always reign at the top for us, we can't help but notice how big a transformation Lil Kim underwent from her 90s self to today.