She Was Famous In The 1990s, This Is What She Looks Like Today (What Happened To These ’90s Stars)
For many of us, the '90s seem like they were just around the corner, but the decade started almost thirty years ago. The stars of Charmed, hip-hop, and Vogue are all grown up. Some of them remain in the spotlight, while others have faded into the background.
The '90s were a fun era of letting loose and relaxing, which prompted some amazing female talent. Although Sabrina the Teenage Witch is no longer airing, and butterfly clips are no longer being worn, many celebrities from the '90s are still hard at work. Learn what your favorite musical, TV, and runway stars are up to today.
Sarah Michelle Gellar THEN
To kickstart the '90s, Sarah Michelle Gellar acted in the soap opera All My Children, a role that won her a Daytime Emmy Award. But most people know her from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her depiction of Buffy Summers earned her five Teen Choice Awards and a Golden Globe nomination.
In the late '90s, Sarah also starred in a few movies. These include Scream 2, Cruel Intentions, and I Know What You Did Last Summer. She also received several awards for her roles in horror and slasher films.
Sarah Michelle Gellar NOW
Sarah Gellar has not only continued acting but also released her own food crafting brand and cookbook. Her business, Foodstirs, makes organic baking kits for families and is sold in over 8,000 stores. In 2017, Sarah published her cookbook, Stirring Up Fun with Food.
Sarah married Freddie Prinze Jr. in 2002, and the two are considered one of Hollywood's strongest couples. They have two kids together and live in Los Angeles. She has starred in the movies Scooby-Doo and The Grudge along with the TV shows Ringer and The Crazy Ones.
Gwen Stefani THEN
No doubt, Gwen Stefani became a household name for her performance in...well, No Doubt. While the band didn't achieve fame at first, their single from their third album, "Don't Speak," put them on the Hot 100 Airplay of 1997. The album, Tragic Kingdom, sold 16 million copies worldwide and was nominated for a Grammy.
During that time, Gwen struggled through her rocky relationship with Bush's frontman, Gavin Rossdale. It made her feel insecure about settling down and having a child. Even so, she continued to make great music such as "Hey Baby" and "Underneath It All."
Gwen Stefani NOW
After dropping her first solo album in 2004, Gwen Stefani has remained busy. In 2003, she debuted her clothing line, L.A.M.B. She expanded the collection in 2005 to encompass Harajuku Japanese fashion. Gwen is currently an often recurring judge on The Voice and is dating her former co-judge, Blake Shelton.
As a solo artist, Gwen has won three Grammy Awards and been on VH1's "100 Greatest Women in Music" list. In 2002, she married Gavin Rossdale, and they had three children. The couple divorced in 2016 due to "irreconcilable differences."
Melissa Joan Hart THEN
Everyone who was watching TV in the '90s has seen Melissa Joan Hart's face at least once. She famously played the title role in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Before that, though, she starred in the Nickelodeon comedy Clarissa Explains It All.
Joan continued on Sabrina the Teenage Witch until 2003. In between filming, she contributed to a couple of projects. She had a small role in Can't Hardly Wait, and worked on her own theatrical production, Next to You. Britney Spears made a remix of her song, "(You Drive Me) Crazy," so the film's title changed to Drive Me Crazy.
Melissa Joan Hart NOW
Since Sabrina, Joan Hart hasn't starred in many works. She played Mel Burke in Melissa & Joey, her first main role since Sabrina: The Animated Series. In 2009, Joan opened a candy shop in Sherman Oaks, California, claiming that it was her childhood dream. It closed permanently in 2015 after a lawsuit and transfer of ownership.
That year, Joan and her husband, musician Mark Wilkerson, began a fashion line called King of Harts. The two have three sons and live in Westport, Connecticut. In the 2012 and 2016 elections, Joan has openly supported Republican candidates.
Brandy THEN
Brandy, or Brandy Norwood, delivered the entire '90s package. She acted, sang, and modeled. In 1993, she released her hip hop album Brandy, which earned three top ten hits and several music awards. By 1996, Brandy was on her own show, Moesha, which got so popular that it launched the spin-off series The Parkers.
Her second album, Never Say Never, included a single that was a duet with Monica. "The Boy Is Mine" became one of the most successful titles in U.S. history, spending thirteen weeks atop Billboard charts. In that time, Brandy dated Kobe Bryant and the lead singer of Boyz II Men, Wanya Morris.
Brandy NOW
In 2006, Brandy acted on the show One on One, but she couldn't continue due to a fatal car accident. She recovered and jumped back into business in the 2010s. She continued to produce music while competing on Dancing with the Stars and acting in the comedy show The Game.
After The Game ended, Brandy moved on to play Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical, Chicago. In 2016, she created, co-executive produced, and starred in the sitcom Zoe Ever After. As of 2019, Brandy has announced that her seventh studio album is in the works.
Alyssa Milano THEN
Alyssa Milano began her acting career at seven years old. However, most remember her as Tonya Danza's daughter on Who's the Boss? Years later, Alyssa embarked on her second most famous role as Phoebe Halliwell in Charmed. The series ran for six seasons and ten years, ending in 2006.
Otherwise, Alyssa acted in several films, including Commando, The Canterville Ghost, Poison Ivy II: Lily, and Where the Day Takes You. She also produced and acted in the 1997 independent film, Below Utopia. From 2001 to 2003, she dated her Charmed co-star, Brian Krause.
Alyssa Milano NOW
Alyssa Milano still acts today. In 2018, she was praised for her role as Coralee Armstrong in Insatiable. She has also written a comic book, Hachtivist, which was well-received. In 2009, Alyssa married an agent for Creative Artists Agency, David Bugliari. They have a son and a daughter.
Alyssa has also worked as a Democratic activist. She has donated to several charities, including the Sabin Vaccine Institute. She spoke on behalf of UNICEF and the 2018 Women's March. In 2017, she re-launched the #MeToo movement which was originally started by Tarana Burke.
Cindy Crawford THEN
In the '90s, Cindy Crawford was one of the most popular supermodels. She frequently appeared on Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, and People. During the 63rd Academy Awards, she wore a red Versace dress that drastically influenced fashion. Cindy has also appeared on the Super Bowl and hosted MTV's House of Style.
Cindy married the actor Richard Gere in 1991, but they separated in 1995. Three years later, she married former model Rande Gerber in 1998, and the pair have two children who also went into modeling.
Cindy Crawford NOW
Cindy Crawford quit full-time modeling in 2000. She occasionally models and provides celebrity endorsements. Since then, she launched a line of beauty products and even furniture.
In 2011, Cindy returned to modeling, later posing for Vogue Mexico and Vogue Paris. She co-authored a book about her life, Becoming, which released in 2015. In 2019, Cindy and her husband announced that they bought the Hollywood deli, Nate 'n Al, to keep it open after three generations of family ownership. She also continues to support charities for leukemia patients.
Jenna Jameson THEN
Jenna Jameson first hit the big screen in 1993 after an early career in Sin City. She began with dancing and soon moved into adult videos, a role that would eventually earn her the title "Queen of P*rn." She even won a few awards for her work, including four AVN Awards and two Hot d'Or Awards in the '90s alone.
When Jenna started, she struggled with an eating disorder and drug addiction. By 1994, she overcame these trials enough to move to Los Angeles and continue her career. She earned $60,000 for making a single DVD.
Jenna Jameson NOW
Jenna Jameson has not been in adult films since 2007. Instead, she has made minor appearances in mainstream roles. She voiced characters in video games such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. On top of that, she also played a major role in the low-budget horror film Samhain.
Jenna runs her own site, ClubJenna, and has purchased a strip club. She has co-written an autobiography and a fictional adult novel called Sugar. After three failed marriages, Jenna announced that she would convert to Judaism to marry her Israeli boyfriend, Lior Bitton.
Tyra Banks THEN
Tyra Banks was one of the most famous supermodels from the '90s. During her first runway season in 1991, she booked 25 shows in Paris Fashion Week. She was the first African-American woman to pose for the covers of GQ and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.
Tyra advertised for Nike, Pepsi, H&M, Victoria's Secret and Calvin Klein, among many other brands. In 1993, she launched advertising campaigns for CoverGirl. At the same time, she acted in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and her first film, Higher Learning. She also wrote a bestselling book, Tyra's Beauty, Inside and Out, in 1998.
Tyra Banks NOW
Tyra Banks has remained busy in her business ventures. In 2014, she founded the cosmetics brand Tyra Beauty, a multi-level marketing company. In the 2010s, she dated Norwegian photographer Erik Asla, and they had a son together.
Tyra continues to make guest appearances on TV shows, such as Glee and Gossip Girl. From 2005 to 2010, she hosted her talk show, The Tyra Banks Show. She hosted FABLife in 2015 and America's Got Talent in 2017 and 2018. Banks also hosted Dancing With The Stars for seasons 29, 30, and 31. She also brushed off her modeling skills in Victoria's Secret's 2024 fashion show.
Heather Locklear THEN
Heather Locklear was the girl next door throughout the 1980s and 1990s. A beautiful blonde with amazing acting chops, fans might remember Locklear from starring in popular television series such as Melrose Place, Dynasty, and Spin City.
For the former performance as Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place, Locklear received a whopping four Golden Globe nominations. Sadly, she did not go home with any of the coveted trophies.
Heather Locklear NOW
After her heyday as an 80s and 90s actress, Heather Locklear stuck with Tinsel Town, finding herself appearing in numerous television shows as well as some movies. One of her more recent films was released in 2013, Scary Movie 5, where she plays the role of Barbara.
Locklear also appeared in the revival CW series Melrose Place, bringing back the beloved character of Amanda Wormwood. Unfortunately, unlike the 90s hit, the revival was not popular and only lasted one season on the network.
Tara Reid THEN
Who can forget the cult classic, The Big Lebowski? Tara Reid acted in the 1998 movie as her first breakout role. Before then, she had acted in over 100 TV commercials, including Jell-O, Crayola, and McDonald's. She also acted in American Pie and American Pie 2, elevating her status as a classic '90s star.
Tara had smaller roles in a couple of '90s hits such as Cruel Intentions and Urban Legend. In the early 2000s, her roles declined in popularity. Her appearance in My Boss's Daughter got nominated for Worst Screen Couple and Worst Supporting Actress at the 2004 Golden Raspberry Awards.
Tara Reid NOW
Most people recognize Tara Reid from the Sharknado series and Alone in the Dark. Unfortunately, Tara underwent several botched surgeries, which damaged her skin. She has been in several alleged relationships but has not married anyone.
In 2005, Tara launched her own travel show on E! called Taradise. The show ran for one year before it ended. In 2011, she was a housemate on the British reality series Celebrity Big Brother 8. Tara continues to act in horror films, the most recent being Ouija House in 2018.
Kate Moss THEN
Kate Moss was the "anti-supermodel" of the 1990s. She modeled for influential brands such as Calvin Klein and Levi's. Kate had a mixed reputation back then, as she became known for her drinking and drug use, but also her unforgettable magazine covers.
In 1996, Kate began modeling the fashion heroin chic. Day described her photographs as "dirty realism" and "grunge," reflecting the ragged fashion sense that swept through the '90s. Her modeling erupted into scandal when H&M dropped her from their campaign because of drug allegations.
Kate Moss NOW
Kate Moss continues to model, and according to Forbes, she's one of the highest-paid models of all time with a whopping net worth of more than $50 million. She has appeared on the cover of British Vogue 30 times, as well as many magazines in the U.S. and France. The 42-year-old still gets invited to the biggest fashion events.
In 2007, Kate designed clothes and bags and released them in Topshop stores throughout the U.K. She helped write and produce music for the band Babyshambles and has influenced four perfume lines: Kate Moss (the perfume), Lila Belle, Love Blossoms, and Vintage Muse.