Ariana Grande’s incredible transformation from red-haired teen to tanned pop princess – as fans express concern over super slim star in Wicked role

Ariana Grande has burst back into the spotlight after the highly-anticipated release of the film adaptation of Broadway musical Wicked last Friday. 

Transformed into the elegant blonde Glinda, which the popstar previously confessed was her dream role, the star, 31, looks worlds away from the young actress who began her career over on Nickelodeon. 

The singer first rose to fame aged 16 starring as Cat Valentine in the 2009 sitcom Victorious before going on to star in the show’s spin off Sam & Cat alongside Jennette McCurdy. 

Like many child stars, Ariana then made the transition from acting into singing and has amassed a phenomenal 86 chart entries on the Billboard Hot 100 including nine number one hits. 

After the red hair of her Nickelodeon days, the star became known for her dark brunette high ponytail and cat ear headbands as she toured across the world. 

The star shocked fans back in October 2022 when she debuted her blonde hair as she prepared to transform into Glinda for Wicked filming.

The star pictured in 2008 prior to her popstar career as she displayed her natural dark ringlets 

The singer first rose to fame aged 16 starring as Cat Valentine in the 2009 sitcom Victorious before going on to star in the show’s spin off Sam & Cat alongside Jennette McCurdy. In her early days of fame (pictured in 2010) she went through a redhead phase 

However during the film’s press tour, Ariana has sparked concern with her new blonde, slimmed down look with fans expressing fears she looked ‘very fragile’. 

Here MailOnline takes a look back at the star’s incredible transformation from red-haired teen to tanned pop princess to super slim screen idol. 

After wowing people first on cruise ships then Broadway, the Florida-born shot to stardom as a barefaced sweetheart on hot Nickelodeon show Victorious in 2009.

Just 16, there was no sign of her signature voluminous ponytail, instead the teen sported dark glowing curls and dimples.

However, cast alongside Victoria Justice and a predominantly all brunette female cast, the young star was transformed into a red head. 

Reportedly the executive producer of the hit show, Dan Schneider, did not want all the girls to have the same hair colour, so Ariana had to dye her’s red every second week. 

Excessive dyeing led to the star’s hair thinning and she later revealed her hair fell out due to the products.  

As her pop career exploded Ariana’s high ponytail, which she sported while performing on stage, at red carpet appearances and during interviews, became synonymous with her individual look.   

Ariana has admitted to having ‘tons’ of cosmetic procedures throughout her decade-long career but no longer has filler (pictured left in 2009 and right in 2023)

After the red hair of her Nickelodeon days, the star became known for her dark brunette high ponytail and cat ears as she toured across the world (pictured 2015)  

In 2018, she had adopted a signature cutesy look with over-the-knee boots and a high swishy ponytail – as well as tanned skin 

In December 2019, she addressed allegations that she had gone under the knife and gotten a nose job (pictured 2018) 

Constantly under the spotlight, for years speculation has swirled over whether or not the star has undergone under plastic surgery thanks to her continuously changing appearance.

In December 2019, she addressed allegations that she had gone under the knife to have a nose job. 

She responded to a fan who theorised she had it surgically enhanced on Twitter, writing, ‘Hey, this my birth nose what tf did I log onto today. Lemme have a cute nose damn.’

However four years later in September 2023, the singer admitted to having ‘tons’ of cosmetic procedures throughout her decade-long career.

In a video shared by Vogue Beauty Secrets she candidly confessed that she used to get a lot of lip filler and Botox – but stopped in 2018 because she felt like she had gone too far.

‘I had a ton of lip filler over the years and Botox, but I stopped in 2018 because I just felt so — too much,’ she shared in the fiercely honest clip.

She added as she became emotional, ‘I just felt, like, hiding, you know. For a long time, beauty was about hiding for me, and now I feel like maybe it’s not since I stopped getting fillers and Botox.’

Ariana encouraged her followers to embrace their natural looks, especially as they age. 

‘For me, I wanna see my well-earned cry lines and smile lines,’ she continued. ‘I hope my smile lines get deeper and deeper and I laugh more and more. I just think aging can be such a beautiful thing.’

But she admitted that she might change in her mind in the future – but explained that what’s important is ‘transparency.’

‘Maybe I’ll start again one day. I don’t know. To each their own. Whatever makes you feel beautiful, I do support,’ she stated.

‘Now might I get a face lift in 10 years? Might, yeah. But these are just thoughts I feel like we should be able to discuss. If we’re talking about beauty secrets, f**k it. Let’s lay it all out there.’

Ariana has also admitted she used to ‘use makeup as a disguise’ when she was younger, as she was often seen with accentuated cat eyeliner and long lashes (pictured 2017) 

‘I had a ton of lip filler over the years and Botox, but I stopped in 2018 because I just felt so — too much’ (pictured 2020)  

 Ariana has admitted that she was ‘eating poorly and at the lowest point of her life’ when she ‘looked the way people consider healthy’ 

While the star was known for her long eyelashes and dark smokey eyeshadow, she has now adapted a more bare-faced look. 

Also discussing how she used to ‘use makeup as a disguise’ when she was younger, she explained that ‘as she gets older,’ she has started to use products to ‘accentuate what is there’ instead.

Ariana also addressed speculation over her slim figure in a TikTok video, after some fans shared side-by-side images of her early on her career and her recently, while expressing concern over her weight. 

But the pop star insisted that she was at her ‘unhealthiest’ in the old photos that people were using, and that she’s doing much better now.

‘I just wanted to address your concerns about my body and talk a little bit about what it means to be a person with a body [that’s] seen and paid such close attention to,’ she began. 

‘I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter what.

‘There are so many different kinds of beautiful,’ she said. ‘You’re beautiful if you have cupcakes and you’re beautiful if you do a juice cleanse. You’re beautiful because of who you are’

Ariana pictured during her an interview on the Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon in 2018 (L) and 2024 (R) 

While the star was known for her long eyelashes and dark smokey eyeshadow, she has now adapted a more bare-faced look (pictured 2022)  

Ariana also addressed speculation over her slim figure in a TikTok video she said: ‘I just wanted to address your concerns about my body and talk a little bit about what it means to be a person with a body [that’s] seen and paid such close attention to’

Ariana Grande’s incredible transformation from red-haired teen to tanned pop princess as star becomes svelte screen idol for Wicked starring role

‘If you think you’re saying something good or well-intentioned, whatever it is, healthy or unhealthy, big or small, this or that, sexy or not sexy, we should really work towards not doing that as much.

‘I think we should help each other work towards just being safer and keeping each other safer.’

As for her changing appearance, she added, ‘I just want to say: one, there are many different kinds of beautiful. 

‘There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful, and personally for me, the body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body.’

She explained that she was ‘on a lot of anti-depressants’ and ‘drinking on them,’ which is usually not recommended because of dangerous interactions. 

She also admitted that she was ‘eating poorly and at the lowest point of her life’ when she ‘looked the way people consider healthy.’ 

‘I know I shouldn’t have to explain that, but I do feel like maybe having an openness or vulnerability, something good might come from it,’ she added. ‘Healthy can look different.’

Ariana has continued to spark concern from fans throughout the Wicked press tour as she showcased her petite figure at a selection of red carpet events. 

The actress dazzled as she attended the Los Angeles premiere in a gingham-patterned, 50s-inspired swing dress.

Ariana has continued to spark concern from fans throughout the Wicked press tour as she showcased her petite figure at a selection of red carpet events 

Ariana opted for a pale yellow dress for the premiere in London (L) before slipping into a pink silk gown for the New York event (R)

Taking to social media concerned fans wrote: ‘Ariana looks unhealthily skinny,’ agreed another user, while a third asked, ‘Has Ariana always been this damn thin?’ 

But the ensemble left the singer’s particularly petite figure on full display, and some social media users took to X, formerly Twitter, afterwards to share their worries over her weight.

‘She’s skin and bones,’ one person replied to a video of her arriving at the event.

‘Ariana looks unhealthily skinny,’ agreed another user, while a third asked, ‘Has Ariana always been this damn thin?’

‘I love Ariana and I don’t think people should comment on other people’s bodies at all, but there’s no way you can look at her and not think she’s not healthy,’ said someone else. ‘I really hope she’s OK.’

‘I know she has been slim all her life but seeing her now is worrying, she is so small,’ another read.