We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to show us their 2009–2019 glow-ups. Here are their astonishing transformations:
1.
"Age 12 vs. age 22. Thank you Jesus AND puberty."
2.
"16 vs. almost 26. I learned what a good haircut is, got in shape, and look younger now than I did then!"
3.
"Me at 14 vs. me at 24. I figured out makeup and good lighting."
4.
"Ten years and two genders, but blue is still my color. I've never been happier than I am now, living authentically as the man I was meant to be."
5.
"2010: Awkward kid who still wore Justice and didn’t know how to style her hair quite right. 2019: College student who figured out what makeup and hair products are."
6.
"Same day, nine years apart: age 8 to 17. It’s been rough, mentally, emotionally, and physically, but I just got into college and I’m living my best life."
7.
"Ten years ago, I'd just graduated from college and was living off of wine and cigarettes. Today I'm happily married with a beautiful daughter and am much more focused on my health so I can be around to see my baby girl grow old."
8.
"In '09 I was wearing a brand-new My Chemical Romance shirt and was somehow National Honor Society president in high school, and today I have learned how to dress!"
—Anna Kopsky
9.
"Can't grow up without a glow-up."
10.
"From class clown to teacher! In '09 I had no direction or confidence whatsoever, so I used comedy as a distraction. I never talked about college with my parents and almost dropped out of community college during my second year hoping to avoid failure and disappointment. Today I’m a full-time teacher, and I’m heavily involved at that same community college, providing support and leadership for their global education program. This was all thanks to one person reaching out at the right time; simple actions can make a difference!"
11.
"2009: I really, really liked the color pink. 2019: I really, really like the color black."
12.
"A lot has happened. I was diagnosed with a form of arthritis in 2013, but most of all, I learned that super-short hair with bangs was not a good look."
13.
"2009 me could not physically post a picture without my thumb in the air and an extreme amount of editing it in Photobucket."
14.
"From being in the closet and graduating from high school to being out of the closet and performing for a living."
15.
"14 to 24, still the crazy horse girl."
16.
"Out of the pool and out of the closet ✌️"
17.
18.
"Another side-by-side, horrifying photo of my 10-year glow-up. I was truly terrifying and did not know how to smile."
19.
"In 2009, I was an angsty 12-year-old just trying very hard to make emo happen for me, but now in 2019, I can fully understand that emo was a look I was NEVER meant to pull off!"
—Lauren Garafano
20.
"In the last decade, I've completely changed as a person. It's been the most challenging years of my life, especially the last five years. But I've discovered who I am as a person instead of being who everyone else thought I should be. I've discovered I love the single life and spending time doing the things I love, and I've even started a photography business. Overall, I'm happier with who I am."
21.
"From 10 to 20."
22.
"2009 meant Justin Bieber hair, a New Moon–cast T-shirt, and fake 'glasses' (aka the plastic 3D glasses I got from seeing Avatar with the lenses poked out). 2019 means stubble, a great boyfriend, and an absolute wardrobe overhaul. Bless the glow-up! I'm living proof that it gets better."
23.
"Not much has changed, really — I just figured out how to use makeup properly!"
24.
"2009 tomboy to 2019 glow-up."
25.
"Age 17 left, 27 right."
—David Morgan
26.
"Prom 2009 to a September 2019 wedding."
Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
