Artist Uses A.I. To See What Celebrities From The '80s And '90s Might Have Looked Like As Kids
"I love to mess with the images of celebrities. I have a lot of fun doing it!"
Some celebrity makeovers are all about glamour, but this one goes in the opposite direction, straight back to childhood. Digital artist Hidreley Diao used artificial intelligence and photo-editing tools to imagine what famous faces from the '80s and '90s might have looked like as kids.
He drew on nostalgia, Photoshop, FaceApp, Remini, and Gradient to create playful portraits of stars like Whitney Houston, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and more. The project turns familiar icons into something softer and stranger at the same time, which is exactly why it is so fun to look through.
And once the images start, it is hard not to keep scrolling to see which celebrity transformation feels the most convincing.
1. Whitney Houston
So cute! Also, is it just me, or does little Whitney look a lot like North West?
Hidreley Diao2. Meg Ryan
So pretty! I can imagine Meg looking just like this as a little girl.
Hidreley Diao3. Michael J. Fox
I feel like this is precisely what MJF would have looked like as a child. I mean, just look at that perfectly groomed hair!
Hidreley Diao
4. Sigourney Weaver
Those lips and cheekbones are perfectly Sigourney. I'm not sure about the eyes and nose, though.
Hidreley Diao
5. Tina Turner
THIS! If I saw this photo published anywhere else, I would swear it must be Tina's granddaughter!
Hidreley Diao
6. Geena Davis
To be fair, I'm not totally sold on this one. But what a pretty little girl, regardless!
Hidreley Diao
7. Andie Macdowell
It's all in the eyes. Oh, and the nose!
Hidreley Diao
8. Madonna
This one is not entirely convincing for me. But the lips are definitely Madonna's!
Hidreley Diao
This also has the same playful, flirty vibe as Machine Gun Kelly’s message to Megan Fox with bold Instagram images.
9. Boy George
I can't be sure, but I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that Boy George wouldn't have worn makeup as a little boy. However, I could be wrong; in which case, this one is great!
Hidreley Diao
10. Diana Ross
So adorable! Those eyes!
Hidreley Diao
11. Demi Moore
I feel like this is just Demi with short hair and Demi with long hair. Either that, or she hasn't aged at all.
Hidreley Diao
12. Brooke Shields
Gorgeous! If I saw this little girl on the street, I would absolutely think she must be Brooke Shields' daughter!
Hidreley Diao
13. Cyndi Lauper
I'm struggling with this one. It's very cute, but it's just not Cyndi.
Hidreley Diao
14. Michael Jackson
I feel like this one is too similar. As in, little MJ looks too old—what do you think?
Hidreley Diao
15. Kathleen Turner
Wow! Yes, definitely!
Those eyes and the eyebrows—beautiful!
Hidreley Diao
16. Jennifer Grey
Nope. The nose just isn't right.
Hidreley Diao
17. Olivia Newton John
This is adorable. That smile and that button nose are Olivia all over!
Hidreley Diao
18. Annie Lennox
I'm going to say I don't think that was Annie's natural hair color. But, hey, I could be wrong.
Hidreley Diao
19. Debbie Gibson
Oh, yes. I definitely see it!
Hidreley Diao
20. Nastassja Kinski
Those eyes are unmistakable. So are the lips!
Hidreley Diao
So, what do you think? Do you feel as if you've just looked through the childhood photo albums of your favorite '80s and '90s stars?
Well, let's be honest: no matter how good technology is, there are some things we might just never know. I think Hidreley did a pretty fantastic job with these, don't you?
My personal favorite would have to be Olivia Newton-John. I mean, come on, that button nose and that beautiful big smile, it's all Olivia!
There are many more celebrity recreations to see and enjoy!
Want more celebrity-style “makeover” energy? Check out 77 Old Masters portraits that became the original influencer playbook.
