Celebrity Transformations Lady Gaga's Beauty Evolution, From Aspiring Singer to Cultural Icon The Grammy-winning artist has cultivated her own quintessential style. By InStyle Editors InStyle Editors Our editors and writers comprise decades of expertise across the beauty, fashion, lifestyle and wellness spaces in print and digital. We prioritize journalistic integrity, factual accuracy, and also having fun with every story we share. InStyle's editorial guidelines and Krista Carter Krista Carter Krista Carter is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience working in beauty and fashion. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on January 9, 2023 @ 09:09AM Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Lady Gaga is a force. With 13 Grammy wins (so far) and collaborations with some of the biggest names in the music biz, she's more goddess than mortal. Perhaps even as impressive as her storied career is her indelible style, a mix of provocateur meets old-timely beauty. Whether Gaga's out for a casual stroll or posing on the red carpet, you're sure to find heads turning. To commemorate her standout beauty, we rounded up our favorite looks of hers to date. Behold: Lady Gaga's Most Gaga Looks Ever Keep scrolling for Lady Gaga's beauty evolution from the '00s to today. 01 of 34 2005 SplashNewsOnline.com The fresh-faced student at Convent of the Sacred Heart wrote that her dream was "headlining at Madison Square Garden." 02 of 34 2007 Retna As a songwriter and up-and-coming artist, Lady Gaga was mistaken for another strong-willed singer: "Actually the reason I dyed my hair blond is because I used to get Amy Winehouse all the time. I don't mind being compared to Amy, but I wanted my own image." 03 of 34 2008 Retna She released The Fame and accented her bone-straight bangs with a geometric headpiece. "I go onstage in origami dresses," she told People. "I'm inspired by that '70s glamour and decadence." Behold: Lady Gaga's Most Gaga Looks Ever 04 of 34 2009 Landov The creative star whipped up her style — setting hair bow from inexpensive extensions — and wore it 24/7. "Me and my hair bow, we go to bed together," she told reporters. "She sleeps where I sleep." 05 of 34 2009 George Pimentel/WireImage For the Much Music Awards in Toronto, Lady Gaga wore a coronet of braids atop a bowl-cut platinum wig. Combined with heavy eye makeup and red lips, it feels very Blondie — but with a Gaga twist. 06 of 34 2009 Florian Seefried/Getty Lady Gaga sported this crimpy, blown-out bob look during a trip to Berlin. It's structural and face-framing. The bubblegum pink lipstick lends some Barbiecore vibes. 07 of 34 2009 Retna "My fashion is my freedom," Gaga said. She played up her platinum Marilyn Monroe curls with a black lace mask. 08 of 34 2009 WireImage At the MTV Video Music Awards, she covered half her face with a House of Blue Eyes mask and added a spectacular blond and pink coiffure. 16 Brown Hair and Caramel Highlight Looks Inspired By Our Favorite Celebs 09 of 34 2009 Startraks Photo After releasing her second album, The Fame Monster, Gaga went to Blackpool, England to perform for Queen Elizabeth II. Her, uh, restrained look included lipstick and eye-framing crystals that matched her rubber ruff. 10 of 34 2010 Jason Merritt/Getty Lady Gaga wigged out for the Grammys, attaching a neon yellow and blond hairpiece to her Armani Prive bodysuit. Her bright pink lip and gray smoky eye prove that more is more. 11 of 34 2010 Andreas Branch/PatrickMcMullan/Sipa Press For the MTV Video Music Awards, the recording artist topped a pastel-tipped platinum wig with a slice of steak because, why not? Red lipstick stuck to the color palette of her meat dress. Talk about coordination. Behold: Lady Gaga's Most Gaga Looks Ever 12 of 34 2011 John R. Kennedy/Splash News Gaga has worn a variety of green and blue hues during her Born This Way press tour. Real? Not so much. "Staring at my wigs," she tweeted. "They're ready for their close-up." 13 of 34 2011 Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images Gaga got kawaii in Japan with anime-inspired eye shadow. The drawn-on beauty mark is a nice embellishment. 14 of 34 2011 Steve Granitz/WireImage Danny Zuko, meet Jo Calderone a.k.a. Gaga's male alter-ego who made an appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Of Course Drag Queens Make the Best Makeup Products 15 of 34 2011 SAV/FilmMagic In London, she debuted her self-described "mint blond" coif. Its fallen tendrils frame her face and thick-rimmed glasses, her eyes. Combined with a cat-eye, it all feels very '60s. 16 of 34 2011 Ramesh Sharma/India Today Group/Getty Images Rumored to be a nod to the orange, white and green stripes of the national flag of India, Gaga sported a three-tone beehive in New Delhi. Her full-on fringe does a nice job of drawing attention to her eyes. 17 of 34 2011 Venturelli/WireImage For the MTV Europe Music Awards, Gaga delighted us by pairing metallic navy lipstick with green glitter eyebrows and graphic liner. 18 of 34 2011 Stephan Schraps/Getty Images For the Bambi Awards in Germany, she wore an Alexander McQueen hood and a filigree of eyeliner that translate to a work of art. 19 of 34 2012 Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty Images Gaga rang in the New Year (and smooched New York City.'s Mayor Bloomberg) in a mosaic mask courtesy of Atelier Versace. 20 of 34 2012 Lester Cohen/WireImage For the Grammys, she anchored her two-toned chignon with a crystal-studded custom Versace veil. 21 of 34 2012 AP Photo/Charles Krupa Launching her Born This Way Foundation at Harvard University, Gaga seemed to be channeling Audrey Hepburn vibes with her LBD, red lip, and bouffant. Still, she couldn't help but add her own touch: a laser-cut confection by milliner Emma Yeo. 22 of 34 2012 EPA/Everett Kennedy Brown/Landov Making her usual entrance at the Tokyo airport, Gaga stood tall in a wild tangle of multicolored extensions. The 5 Best Hair Extensions: Clip-In, Tape & Halo for All Hair Types 23 of 34 2012 startraksphoto.com The superstar smiled in Vienna sporting a wavy yellow wig. Its chin length and tousled curls proved ultra-flattering. Black Women's Deep Relationship With Wigs Isn't What You Think It Is 24 of 34 2012 Greg Allen/Rex USA Gaga returned to her brown roots, topping them with a golden coronet for her Fame fragrance launch. "Definitely feeling less blond lately and little more progressive brunette," she tweeted. "I am Louis Vuitton Brown!" 25 of 34 2012 Kevin Mazur/WireImage Her brown locks stuck around for a while, as evidenced by her appearance at the launch of her "Fame" eau de parfum at Macy's Herald Square in New York City. Piled high atop her head, they pay homage to the '60s beehive. 26 of 34 2014 Taylor Hill/FilmMagic Hello, gorgeous! Lady Gaga took a chic turn and paired her newly minted bob with bright red lips, a tantalizing cat-eye, and bleached brows. 6 Essential Eye Makeup Looks for Women Over 40 27 of 34 2015 Anthony Harvey/Getty Images For her elegant arrival, the singer donned long, glossy waves to go with her wine-red lipstick and dramatic eyes (read: glitter and mascara galore). 28 of 34 2016 Anthony Harvey/Getty At the 88th Academy Awards, Gaga channeled Old Hollywood glamor wearing her hair in a wavy lob and opting for a soft, rose gold eye makeup palette. 29 of 34 2017 Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic The Grammy winner made a serious entrance at the award show with a rocker-chic ensemble that hinted at her performance with Metallica. She made it her own with pink pops of color, from her makeup to her hair. 30 of 34 2018 Steve Granitz / WireImage Sleek platinum tresses, dramatic glitter eyes, bold brows — these are the things that red carpet dreams are made of. How To Go Platinum Blonde Without Destroying Your Hair 31 of 34 2019 Steve Granitz / WireImage With a fresh face, tousled platinum waves, and dark roots, Lady Gaga arrived at the 61st Annual Grammys looking more California beach babe than Fame Monster. Interestingly, her stripped-down version created more shock value than any over-the-top look could have. 32 of 34 2019 Daniele Venturelli / WireImage At the 76th Annual Golden Globes, Gaga channeled her inner Disney princess offering us this riff on Cinderella. Donning an ice blue updo, sparkly eye makeup, and dripping in diamonds, she was the belle of the ball — or award show, rather. 33 of 34 2021 Samir Hussein / WireImage Lady Gaga nailed flashy Italian bravado when she stepped out at the UK Premiere of House of Gucci. Royal purple eyeshadow — to color match her outfit — plus pearlescent lips is nothing short of bella. 34 of 34 2022 Frazer Harrison / Getty Images At the 64th Annual Grammys, Gaga went retro with pinned-up curls. Toned-down makeup — a cat-eye and a swipe of color on her lips and cheeks — let her natural beauty shine. Foolproof Eyeliner Application for Hooded Eyes, According to Makeup Artists