Can celebrities really manifest their dream roles through style choices?
Angelina Jolie's public perception has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. If we look back to 2001 she was a rumored drug addict wearing a vial of blood and kissing her brother. Forward to 2021, and she's a timelessly elegant mother of six and Special Envoy for the UN.
Spears famously had a breakdown in 2007, becoming a sad story to some and the butt of the joke to others. In the last decade, she has rebuilt herself as the queen of pop and became one of the most successful Las Vegas headliners in history. Nonetheless, we can't forget that the #FreeBritney movement continues to see fans fight for her to be free from her conservatorship.
Kim Kardashian used to be trolled for being famous for absolutely no reason, apart from the sex tape that was released early in her career. Some still scorn the Kardashians, but Kim K has propelled the family to meteoric success of a completely new kind. Love her or hate her, she's the queen of rebranding.
Today, Taylor Swift is owning her sexuality and producing anthems for female empowerment. She's not afraid to speak out on political issues either, and her music is more popular than ever.
Taylor Swift was a country music sweetheart who sang in dresses fit for a modern-day Disney princess. She was wildly successful, but has slowly rebranded herself as she's grown and matured.
When the show ended and Cyrus hit her twenties, she started to rebrand herself as a fully-fledged, sex-positive adult. Her music has gotten heavier, she has become more outspoken, and her unique and ever-evolving personal style has made her a whole new kind of idol.
Miley Cyrus had a pretty intense image to maintain in her teens. The 'Hannah Montana' star was an idol to young girls all over the world, and spent most of her time filming and promoting the show.
Jessica Alba has always been a successful actress, but many of the roles she received seemed to focus on her looks without challenging her much as an artist. These days, Alba is a powerful business woman. She co-founded The Honest Company in 2012, and it's currently valued at US$1 billion!
He struggled to deal with his meteoric success and got caught up in a few scandals as he stretched his adult legs. But he now seems to be more at ease with himself and has established his new role in the music world.
The baby-faced Bieber, with the sweeping bangs, is no longer the Bieber we see today! Anyone who makes it big as a minor has to deal with the challenge of rebranding as they age. Bieber's transition was a little rocky.
When Johnson first started getting into acting, no one would take him seriously. Yet he is now a kind of superhero who gets called in to save a failing franchise, like 'The Fast and the Furious' or 'G.I. Joe.' His presence instantly increases value and interest.
Kristen Stewart first reached mega stardom as the young, awkward girl who played the inexplicably annoying Bella Swan in the Twilight Saga and dated her co-star in real life. These days, she's an LGBTQ icon who owns her awkwardness and has nailed her personal style.
Snoop Dogg started out his rap career proudly asserting his gang affiliations. He was arrested under suspicion of first-degree murder in a gang-related shooting. He wasn't convicted, but the incident boosted his reputation as a gangster rapper.
Cut to the 2020s and Snoop Dogg is cooking with Martha Stewart and campaigning for gun control. An avid marijuana user, Snoop now promotes a more peaceful and loving lifestyle. He even released his own cookbook called 'From Crook to Cook.'
Ice Cube is another gangster rapper who applied his performative talents to a more wholesome pursuit! He went from N.W.A. to family-friendly movies like 'Are We There Yet?' (2005) and comedies like '21 Jump Street' (2012).
Melling is nearly unrecognizable these days! Not merely because of his changed appearance, but because he is taking on some extremely hard-hitting roles. He played a champion chess player in 'The Queen's Gambit,' as well as a chilling character in the movie 'The Devil All the Time' (2020).
Sources: (The Things) (The Richest) (What Culture)
See also: Celebrities who retired early
But in the last decade, he has completely changed this image. He started taking on more serious roles, even ones where we never see his abs! 'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013) was a serious turning point. McConaughey underwent a strict diet to drop 50 pounds (23 kg) for his role as an emaciated AIDS patient.
Anyone who played a role in a 'Harry Potter' movie, particularly if it was their first role, has found it difficult to escape that pigeon hole. Actor Harry Melling who played Dudley Dursely is no exception.
Celebrities with long-lasting careers are entitled to go through phases in their lives, just like any of us. The difficulty for them is that their personalities, artistic choices, and fashion senses are all part of their personal brand. There's a whole team of people working behind them who all have a stake in how they present themselves to the world. It's a little sad, but stars who want to pivot their careers or change their style have to do so rather carefully. But in the cases of the celebrities highlighted here, they managed to pull it off and it worked out for the best!
Click through the gallery to find out which famous figures completely changed their public image and personal brand.
Celebrities who completely rebranded themselves
These stars crafted some impressive new images for themselves
CELEBRITY New image
Celebrities with long-lasting careers are entitled to go through phases in their lives, just like any of us. The difficulty for them is that their personalities, artistic choices, and fashion senses are all part of their personal brand. There's a whole team of people working behind them who all have a stake in how they present themselves to the world. It's a little sad, but stars who want to pivot their careers or change their style have to do so rather carefully. But in the cases of the celebrities highlighted here, they managed to pull it off and it worked out for the best!
Click through the gallery to find out which famous figures completely changed their public image and personal brand.