Keke Palmer Looks A Lot Different Than She Used To

Keke Palmer has been in the entertainment industry ever since she was a little girl, landing her first acting role in 2004's Barbershop 2: Back to Business. She then made waves in 2006's Akeelah and the Bee, which earned her the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (per The Hollywood Reporter). Two years later, Palmer landed the lead role in Nickelodeon's True Jackson, VP, which lasted three seasons. 

Unlike many child stars, however, Palmer established herself as a serious actress as she transitioned to adulthood with roles in Ice Age, Barbershop: The Next Cut, Scream Queens, and more. Furthermore, she became the youngest talk show host in television history when she launched BET's Just Keke in 2014, per USA Today. "I'm very excited! This is a dream come true," the actress-turned-host told Young Hollywood upon her show's debut.

The "Bossy" singer has since cemented her switch from VP to VIP with the release of her 2017 self-help book I Don't Belong to You and the 2018 launch of her own record label Big Boss Entertainment. In 2019, the multi-talented star joined hosts Michael Strahan and Sara Haines on the short-lived Strahan, Sara & Keke before her critically acclaimed film Hustlers premiered. And, as the cherry on top, Palmer was tapped to host the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards. 

With 15+ incredible years in the industry behind her, Palmer has truly grown up on camera. From sweet girl to powerful woman, here's Keke Palmer's stunning transformation.

Just as her career roles keep evolving, so does Keke Palmer's style. It seems the Illinois native always has the perfect outfit for every gig — but that hasn't always been the case. In fact, Palmer took to Instagram to laugh at one past red carpet look, writing in March 2019: "I've always been different, and loved that about myself but chieffff this wasn't it. Somebody said you're going to Comicon and I took it to HEART." 

Her style has always been unique, as she has taken to experimenting with a myriad of fabrics and hairstyles. This Instagram post, for instance, shows off Palmer's bold shaved head and fur jacket combo. However, when it comes to this quadruple threat's personal preference, she gravitates toward the "aspirational street style" that's become her signature. "I love '90s," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017. "That's my vibe."

As she transitioned from child actress to adult superstar, Palmer also developed the self-realization and confidence that led to her greatest style choices to date. "I got to the point of really accepting myself," she told THR about how she found her stylistic freedom. "That transition, mentally, really became an external transition as well. I started to become more free. When you accept yourself more, you become confident in your creative choices. You don't think twice about it, you just go for it." And we can't wait to see how Palmer's style will continue to evolve in the years ahead!