Although she has such an iconic image, Ariana Grande claims that how she looks isn't so important to her. She's gone so far as to say that if it was possible, she'd rather be a singer that nobody ever looks at.
"If I could, I would not do anything else. I'd just be in the studio for my whole life," she said, according to Elle. "I would never go to parties, events, and red carpets. I don't even care. Nobody has to know what I look like. I just want to make music."
The reality is that Ariana attends a lot of events, goes to a lot of parties, and steps onto a lot of red carpets. At least, she did before getting stuck inside her house like everyone else these days. Did that inspire the title of her new tune with the Biebs, Stuck (With U)? Anyway, we all know what she Ariana looks like - or, at least, we think we do.
Ariana's looks have changed drastically since her baby days as a curly-headed cutie. Now, she's very much the glamorous pop star. It's time to discover just how different Ari looked way back when, before winning any Grammys, licking any donuts, or dating any comedians. Read on to see just how much she's changed.
14 Missing A Tooth
How cute is this? A pic found by some of Ariana's biggest fans (and shared on Tumblr) shows baby Ariana looking so happy - and gappy - that she might just have been visited by the Tooth Fairy. Celebrity baby pictures aren't always easy to identify. However, in this case, the big brown eyes and single-cheek dimple give it away. She's Ari for sure!
13 Looking Happy With Straightened Hair
Ariana is a little bit older here, and her natural curls have been smoothed into the standard 'early 2000s' style: the fully flat-ironed look. As we know now, it's extremely rare for this pop star to appear in public with curly hair. Judging by this pic, Ariana has been straightening her curls since before she hit double digits (unless instructed otherwise by casting directors...more on that later).
12 Seeing The World Eith Frankie Grande
The Grande family must have some pretty spectacular genes. They've produced not one superstar, but two - Frankie Grande has his own fair share of fame - he's appeared on shows such as Rupaul's Drag Race and Big Brother. Here he is, posing for a vacation pic with young Ariana. Even though they're nine years apart in age, these siblings seem like they've always been tight.
11 Out for Dinner With Her Fam
We'd never have guessed that the girl in this picture would receive more than 10 Grammy nominations within five years, but she did. Here's Ariana, looking completely pre-teen at a restaurant with her family. This pic was taken in Boca Raton, Florida. That's the city where she was born. How young does she look here? Wild!
10 Taking A Scene Selfie
We've all been there. If you lived through the early 2000s, you probably experienced some level of 'scene' or 'emo' moments along the way. From the total emo aesthetic of Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz to the subtle scene-ness of lipsync queen, Ashlee Simpson, everyone was doing it! This pic is proof: Ariana wasn't an exception to the rule.
9 Singing On YouTube
Ariana says she didn't start taking singing seriously until around the time these stills were taken. "Growing up, I was listening to Whitney Houston all the time, The Bodyguard soundtrack, a lot of Judy Garland and oldies, and divas," she explained in a 2013 interview with Complex magazine. "I've always loved music, but I was 13 when I started taking it seriously." We're glad she did!
8 Letting Her Natural Hair Grow Out
At 14 years old, Ariana was cast to play a cheerleader in the Broadway musical, 13. That role catapulted her into the public eye for the first time. Here she is with her glorious, naturally curly brown hair. She was being interviewed after beating out thousands of other hopefuls at the 13 auditions. She kept her hair curly for the duration of the show's run.
7 Singing On Broadway
13 was the first of many major roles for Ariana, and it taught her loads of things that she carries with her to this day. "We were belting our brains out, and in the beginning it was super challenging," she told Complex, while remembering the 13 experience. "But then when I was taking care of my voice, and I was breathing, and I was singing properly, my range expanded so much."
6 Promoting Her Broadway Show
On the red carpet for 13's premiere, Ariana looked very different than she does when she hits the red carpets these days. No strapless gown here! Pale skin, minimal makeup, and natural hair that ISN'T in a ponytail? Is this really the Ariana Grande we know and love? Believe it or not, this is our girl.
5 Taking A Mirror Selfie
With her Broadway debut complete and her curls straightened out again, Ariana is starting to resemble her more recent 'Dangerous Woman' self. Here she is after moving to LA to pursue an acting career. Always true to her time, Ari's got her digital camera out for this mirror selfie moment. iPhones were not a thing yet, okay? We're not sure what the deal is with the big foam head, either.
4 Sitting In Mismatched Socks
If you've seen Ariana's video for, 'Santa Tell Me,' you already know that this songstress is so into the knee-high sock look. That preference might have originated right here in her messy California bedroom! Who's to say? As luck would have it, she's got one with stars and one with stripes, like the true American icon she is. Aww.
3 Going Red For Nickelodeon
Her looks totally transformed when Ariana landed a lead role on Nickelodeon's Sam and Cat. "I loved Nickelodeon growing up and I wanted to audition," she later explained to People. "I think that Cat is a role that I was meant to play. There are roles that people are just right for and I think Cat is mine." It meant keeping her hair fire truck read, but she did it.
2 Starting Her Signature Ponytail Journey
The TV transformation took its toll and prompted Ari to wear her hair up. "People give me such a hard time about my hair," Ariana posted to Facebook. "I had to bleach and dye it red every other week for the first 4 years of playing Cat... as one would assume, that completely destroyed my hair." We can get how that limited her hairstyle options for years afterward.
1 Waiting Tables For Charity
In 2010 Ariana used her newfound fame for good, volunteering for a St. Jude's Children's Hospital initiative. She waited tables at a Chili's to promote their "Create a Pepper" fundraising campaign...and looked cute doing it. "I think that everyone should give back," she said, inspired by the campaign’s charitable spirit. That is pure #sweetener if we ever heard it.
Sources: J-14.com, TeenVogue.com, Twitter.com, Tumblr.com, WomensHealth.com, Complex.com/music, IMDB.com, People.com, YouTube.com, Elle.com