The '90s were an iconic era filled with nostalgic moments. There were countless legendary shows and movies that premiered during this decade and a great deal of celebrities made their debuts as adorable child stars. The transition from child star to Hollywood icon can be difficult for many people, and levels of success vary from person to person.
Unsurprisingly, these popular Hollywood kids from our childhood have flourished with age. We've witnessed breathtaking transformations over time and many highly favored performers from the past grew up to be gorgeous. Considering that most child stars are adorable when they start their careers, it makes sense that the majority of them mature in to good-looking people.
There are a few stars that you may not recognize from nearly three decades ago. While some of them are still in showbiz, others have simply faded from the spotlight. Fans really seem to enjoy astonishing glow-ups from their favorite celebrities.
Here are the 15 Child Stars From The '90s Who Look Amazing Today
15. Kirsten Dunst (Jumanji)
In 1995, Kirsten Dunst was in the original Jumanji. As a young girl, she quickly made her way to becoming a shining star. That same year, a 12-year-old Dunst won MTV's Breakthrough Performance award for her work in Interview with the Vampire.
Kirsten is 35 now and strikingly beautiful. The actress is now engaged to her Fargo co-star, Jesse Plemons, who recently appeared in the season premiere of Black Mirror. The couple announced that Dunst is newly pregnant with their first child.
Dunst's most well-known performance was playing Mary Jane Watson in 2002's Spider-Man. The infamous upside-down kiss established Dunst as a ravishing hottie. She received her first Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance in the space drama Hidden Figures. Some of her most recent films are Woodshock and The Beguiled.
14. Eric von Detten (Brink!)
Disney's favorite skater-boy was a heartthrob in the late '90s. Erik Von Detten was known as a cool cutie. He captured hearts with his piercing blue eyes and guiltless face. The young von Detten entered the industry at age ten on the daytime drama Days of Our Lives.
When Brink! debuted in August of 1998, is seemed as if the actor had nowhere to go but up, as he starred in one of the best Disney Channel Original Movies. Von Detten also provided the voice of Sid in 1995's Toy Story.
Von Detten has since transitioned into a handsome man, but not much has changed for The Princess Diaries actor. Although von Detten has remained low-key on the acting front, he is still holding on to his good looks.
13. Kel Mitchell (All That)
All That became the comedy sanctuary for kids in 1994. Nickelodeon introduced 15-year-old Kel Mitchell as one of the hilarious cast members. His naturally funny expressions and personality made him a household name.
Mitchell's fame skyrocketed after he collaborated with his co-star Kenan Thompson on the spinoff show, Kenan & Kel. The pair didn't stop there as they also made 1997's Good Burger.
The Nickelodeon star has aged very well. He went through a rough time following his divorce in 2005. Mitchell told the Chicago Tribune he found peace through his faith. The actor is now married to musician Asia Lee and they recently welcomed a baby girl in July of last year. Mitchell looks happy and healthy as he approaches the age of 40.
12. Joshua Jackson (The Mighty Ducks)
The classic Mighty Ducks trilogy was directed by Stephen Herek. From 1992 to 1996 the Disney film did outstanding box office numbers. Joshua Jackson played the role of Charlie Conway, a passionate young hockey player.
His character is the unofficial leader of the team, who ends up scoring the goal that wins his team the championship. NBA star Russell Westbrook was trending last July when he appeared at the Kid's Choice Sports Awards, rocking a custom jersey from the classic hockey movie.
Jackson grew up to be a 6'2 hunk. He was listed on People's Sexiest Man Alive list in 2008. Jackson has built a solid body of work over the years, including films like Cruel Intentions, The Skulls, and Ocean's Eleven.
11. Keshia Knight Pulliam (The Cosby Show)
Keshia Knight Pulliam played the darling role of Rudy Huxtable when she was just five years old. The Cosby Show ran until 1992, making its mark as a classic family oriented sitcom. Rudy was beloved for her adorable personality. At age six, she made history by becoming the youngest actress nominated for an Emmy award.
Pulliam graduated from Spellman college in 2001 with a sociology degree. She has recently appeared in several Tyler Perry projects, such as Madea Goes to Jail and the sitcom House of Payne. The former child star also appeared on season seven of The Celebrity Apprentice in 2015.
Pulliam looks stunning today and recently gave birth to a baby girl fathered by NFL star Ed Hartwell. Sadly, the couple have since divorced.
10. Joey Lawrence (Blossom)
Blossom aired in the summer of 1990 on NBC. It starred Mayim Bialik as Blossom Rousso, a bubbly young girl growing up with her divorced father and her 15-year-old brother, the latter played by Joey Lawrence. Viewers came to love him for his popular catch phrase "Whoa"!
The Brotherly Love actor rocked a signature hairstyle when he was a kid and has since blossomed into an attractive 41 year old. Lawrence went on to do some movies, worked as a game show host, and even appeared on Dancing with the Stars.
During a recent interview with Steve Harvey, Lawrence said there's been serious talk about a Blossom reboot. The cast did a reunion shoot and everyone looked great.
9. Danielle Fishel (Boy Meets World)
In 1993, Boy Meets World premiered on ABC. Fans familiar with the '90s show watched the cast grow over a course of seven seasons. The show followed teenager Cory Matthews as he faced issues with school, family, and friends.
What made the sitcom special was Cory's iconic romance with Topanga Lawrence, played by Danielle Fishel. Showrunners had initially intended for Topanga's character to be a guest on the show. However, Fishel had a certain spark, and quickly became a regular cast member.
The spin-off, Girl Meets World, ran on the Disney Channel from 2014 to 2017. Fans of the familiar got to see Cory and Topanga married with kids and dealing with life. Fishel is still active in Hollywood and looking amazing.
8. Mason Gamble (Dennis the Menace)
Mason Gamble played the mischievous six year old in 1993's Dennis the Menace. The comedy was a smash hit when it hit theaters. Dennis was a lovable troublemaker who antagonized Mr. Wilson.
Throughout the '90s, Gamble appeared in films such as Rushmore, Bad Moon, Gattaca, and Spy Hard. His last role was playing Michael Murphy in the drama Golf in the Kingdom, which debuted in 2011.
Gamble is all grown up today, as he in his early 30s. He has since chosen a different career path. In 2008, he graduated from UCLA with a degree in Marine Biology. Although he's faded from the cameras, Gamble turned out to be a great looking guy. Perhaps we will see him make a return to acting in the future.
7. Michelle Trachtenberg (Harriet the Spy)
Michelle Trachtenberg is from New York City and she started her acting career at three years old. In 1994, she landed a role as Nona in the comedy The Adventures of Pete and Pete. She followed that up with the 1996 mystery movie, Harriet the Spy when she was eleven years old.
The film was Nickelodeon's first major release and is also based on the popular 1964 novel. The film received many Kids Choice Awards and it seemed like Trachtenberg had carved out her path to stardom.
She later appeared in other hit shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when she played Sarah Michelle Gellar's little sister, and Gossip Girl. In 2004, she starred in one of her most memorable roles, Jenny from EuroTrip.
6. Tatyana Ali (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air dominated television screens in the '90s. The sitcom starred Will Smith as he learns to adapt to his wealthy, extended family. Tatyana Ali played Will's talented little cousin, Ashley, who evolves extensively over the span of seven seasons. During the early days of Fresh Prince, she was just ten years old.
Tatyana has had a remarkable transition. She continued to capture hearts with her big smile and singing voice. Her latest appearances in the past few years have been in movies such as Second Sight, Zoe Ever After, and a Lifetime holiday film that aired in December called Wrapped Up In Christmas.
Ms. Ali is now known as Mrs. Rasberry, after marrying Vaughn Rasberry in 2016. The actress is also a Harvard graduate.
5. Tia and Tamera Mowry (Sister, Sister)
Sister, Sister followed the the adventures of twins Tia and Tamera Mowry. After being separated at birth, the twoare reunited as teenagers. The comedy series created a huge fan base after airing in 1994. Other notable co-stars included Marques Houston, Jackie Harry, and Tim Reid. The twins are best known for saying “Go home Roger!"
The Mowry sisters have flourished in the time since their hit show. Tia now hosts the daytime talk show The Real and is currently six months pregnant with her husband, American Sinner actor Cory Hardict.
Tamara also has a family and she's recently appeared in the show Hollywood Darlings with other childhood stars. There have recently been exciting rumors about a Sister, Sister reboot.
4. Elizabeth Berkley (Saved by the Bell)
Elizabeth Berkley played Jessie on NBC's Saved by the Bell. The teen sitcom ran until 1993 and was Berkley's breakthrough performance. Viewers loved Jessie's bright and entertaining character. She was the intelligent and ambitious one in the Bayside crew.
As a young girl, Berkley quickly became part of the Hollywood spotlight for her phenomenal performances. Over the years, Berkley appeared in films like Showgirls and The Real Blonde. She is married to Greg Lauren, actor and nephew of the famous fashion designer, Ralph Lauren.
Berkley has also appeared in few popular crime shows like CSI: Miami and Law & Order. In 2015, she reunited with her former Saved by the Bell cast members on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
3. Lacey Chabert (Party of Five)
Young Lacey Chabert was a finalist on the Star Search talent show in 1991. A handful of her early acting performances were in Children's Palace and Child World. However, she really hit the big time when she was cast as Claudia in the 1994 sitcom Party of Five. She went on to earn critical acclaim for the role.
Chabert has also appeared in movies such as Anastasia, Daddy Day Care, and most memorably, Mean Girls. Chabert has actually found quite a bit of success in animated series as she has had roles in shows like Family Guy and The Wild Thornberrys.
The multi-faceted actress has made a shocking transformation since the '90s. Fans were stunned to see the 35-year-old Mississippi native all grown up.
2. Leonardo DiCaprio (Growing Pains)
Leonardo DiCaprio is an Oscar-winning performer, best known for his roles in films like Titanic, Catch Me if You Can, and The Great Gatsby. The young DiCaprio began his career in the '90s and shot to fame after appearing in Growing Pains as Luke Bower.
A few years later, he went on to portray Romeo in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet. By this time, he was a certified dreamboat. DiCaprio is no stranger to being called good-looking these days. He's graced many headlines over the years .
In 1998, he appeared on the front cover of Nickelodeon Magazine with the caption, Leonardo "DiGreat" due to his superstardom. The Wolf of Wall Street star went on to do several award-winning films. He maintains a spot as one of Hollywood's most attractive A-list actors.
1. Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire)
The kid with the quirky glasses and adorable personality stole countless hearts in the 1996 film, Jerry Maguire. Ray Boyd was the unforgettable character that made Lipnicki into a Hollywood star, alongside his co-stars Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, and Cuba Gooding Jr.
The young Lipnicki was also known for his role in the 1999 fantasy adventure movie, Stuart Little. He went on to do other projects after his debut with films such as Like Mike and The Little Vampire.
Jonathan Lipnicki has recently resurfaced, appearing in films like Altitude and The Lake. He recently opened up about childhood fame, being bullied in school, and battling with depression. The 27-year-old took to instagram to encourage others to chase their dreams and thanked his supporters.
---
Did we miss any child stars from the '90s who look amazing today?