Early 2000s Emo Kids Then and Now: Throwback Photos and Transformations
Legally Blonde
Here is an old emo fit that many girls rocked back in school. This emo girl poses in what we consider a typical emo fashion by holding up a camera to the mirror. Catie also wore a shirt for her favorite band under her school uniform, and let’s be real, we all did that too because self expression and whatnot, among other things.
Some donned bracelets, some died their hair all the crazy colors of the rainbow, and some went even further with body piercings under that big hair! And more recently this girl came of age, but remained the same girl with a more reset, 2021 vibe. She lightened the hair, toned down the makeup, and is just glowing!
Looking Up
This little emo girl is a lot more confident in front of the camera than this woman 20 years in the making. Bigger emo move—take a picture but act like you didn’t know the camera was there so it looks like you have some bad awkward face. We are getting so many look at me but also don’t look at me vibes from it. Fortunately that was a phase that she outgrew.
Well, today she is grinning directly at the cam, we have to say she looks hot and got a lot of confidence. She really bore a transformation! That plays a big part in how your head leans down or up so I hope she knows how timeless she looks.
From Purple To Professional
In quick succession this woman had several fashion incarnations. From super bright purple dreadlocks to a more manageable updo, to a spontaneous yet chic bob. Then she went through a back-to-black phase, before hitting upon a more neutral aesthetic. We should credit her for slaying these looks, but we are definitely her one-shouldered look from today era fan.
It is certainly a long process, and but it goes to show that as humans we can alter our appearances and make adjustments to try it out for all we want and it merely has no impact on our identity. We’re just doing our best, in any moment, and that’s alright. Everyone is figuring it all out as we go and nobody needs to feel pressure to do anything.
Like Night And Day
Yeah, it’s an understatement to say that this woman has changed her style over the years. On the left here, is someone you probably don’t want to mess with. A full-fledged emo kid, mad as hell. The rainbow streaks in her hair, the death stare, and the coal-black eye shadow mean only one thing.
The woman on the left in the before photo and the woman on the right in the after photo look like total opposites. A bright and bubbly ray of sunshine, ready to take on the world. Can you believe these two opposite ends of the spectrum are the same person?
Emo At Heart
This teacher who had a history of angst-ridden ching herself tapped into her emo experience to help guide her students who are also facing the tempest of adolescence like she did. Having a teacher like that at school would be an awful lot easier for us. School is scary and finding friends is crucial. The presence of a caring teacher-impact the world!
Props to her for remembering her emo roots and keeping it real, and what a transformation. You can tell here that she is very much at ease in her own skin nowadays. It gets better, and her life is evidence of that.
Moody To Marvelous
Emo kids are moody and over emotional and they believe they have to hide their joy in order to keep up a facade. The girl solider here on the left is most definitely one of those, pouting with that ‘I really don’t care a bit’ expression in her selfie. We know you care, girl. You’re not fooling anyone. Fortunately, she grew out of it, as seen on the right.
All smiles over on the right. She spreads happiness like nobody else, and even though her eyes are cateye covered by dark glasses, we know she’s a lot happier than when she was an emo. That attitude change is very exciting and I would imagine a new perspective on life
Pink Hair, Don’t Care
From an emo teen rocking electric pink locks to being a walking gallery of incredible body art, this woman did nearly a full 180. The pink hair was her way of rebelling back then, she said, as she didn’t feel like anyone understood her – so she needed to express that to the world. Who among us has not been in this situation? But gone are the days of her pink hair — she has come a long way since then!
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She seems a lot more confident in her own skin, complete with flawless makeup and an oozing persona. It’s a complete 180 from as a teen where she’s trying to hide from the world to a woman who is embracing the world with her whole self.
Artistic Emo Photoshoot
There are many things to know of emo kids. For handbags, creative and artistic backdrops are one of those thngs that go by photoshoots. The teen pictured left followed suit by posing for the camera in what appears to be an empty building covered in brightly colored graffiti. An alternative emo signature look is gazing up into the heavens as though you’re oblivious to the fact you’re being photographed.
The guy on right is not him. Shades of a wearing a suit with a well-rooted hair regime — and he absolutely looks the part of someone moving up in the world. He’s also still doing the i didn’t realize you were taking my picture face.
Meant To Be
These pair is coming all forms of couple goals! Two confused emo kids who made it through to adulthood together, and now they give us the feels. They just seem to go together (both in their emo days and now). We are so happy that they did, for a better hair and life with self confidence.
Those who pass this test among the people you love get some bonus points just for existing and living life. You are both growing together and going through crazy life things which makes you both better individuals and better together as a couple. Do we need to say it, but couple goals for sure for these two. Yes, they are!
The Girl In Gray
This ex-emo chick claims she is still totally emo at heart, but a lot has changed over the years. This formerly devil woman is now an office administrator and has shed her fishnets, black eyeliner, blue bow, and bangs that covered one eye. Her adult self is absolutely a way hotter version of her teen self, and she seems so much more comfortable in her own skin, no longer using all that hair as a literal cover.
While the left side image is literally the perfect Myspace picture we all attempted to recreate waaaay back in the day, we kinda hate to say it but age looks better on this woman. Bye bye Myspace Days, let it go for the sake of all that is Holy.
Changing It Up
These dudes went from one end of the spectrum to the other! His emo hair in his teen years was the shit. It had been dyed jet black and blow-dried until it was flawless — a look many guys strived for. Sure, his fit is far different from what a ’90s Julian would probably have worn, but it takes just as much commitment and we are here for it.
This fella who added some visible tattoos to his arms, stopped dyeing his hair and reverted to blonder locks, and who wears this tank top that her erstwhile teenage self would never have been the caught dead in. Another reminder that we all do change, and nothing stays the same forever.
Emo 4Ever
This woman is a little emo, but a much more adult version of it. Gone are the dark clothes and the tousled bangs-over-one-eye look, but this generation has the same attitude, just more chilled out and modernised. Not everyone can rock lilac hair and cat ears, but she sure can.
Now, if you know who you are from the get-go, then cool. You turn up trying to cover yourself with your hair and dark clothes then unfold like a damn flower.
Glow Up Alert!
Whatever you want to say about emo kids, they grow up to be at least interesting, chic adults, right? Getting the hang of being you takes time and while this person is serving major glow up, the emo look she was rockin’ back in the day is big swoon. It took some dedication to achieve that: the bright orange hair, the bold black eyeliner, the lip piercing, and so on.
Her orange hair is long gone, swapped for a more trendy hue, the lip ring was removed in favor of a septum, and her makeup has changed completely. Two great looks that are bang on for earlier phases of the life of this woman.
Looking Up
In classic emo style, look down and not at the camera at all — see left here. We thank this woman for finally realizing for years now that at least the camera adds 10lbs to her appearance. She looks radiant! It also represents her way of living, going between black and blonde hair. Here is a person who’s grown.
We think that every emo kid has a time when they have looked up at a camera and for the first time seen how beautiful they are, and thought they need to stop being so awkward. It’s cool to see some of it where people practicing their right and claiming their space in the world cause they do deserve it.
Always In Style
Clear a space for this next fashionista! Very few people can wear these two very unique looks, and still look great doing so. Whatever the next step for this woman, we’d imagine she would look as individualised. That’s something, because with these new hair colour pics she has us keen on doing the same with our strands — forest green, that is.
krisDEMON via www.dailymail.co.uk
A sense of personal style is key, and she appears to have found hers. Kudos to her for keeping it real and not walking across the aisle from the dye and pretending that everything is okay. She always had the courage but now, she looks a lot less like she is trying to hard like when she was younger.
Once An Emo Kid, Always An Emo Kid
While she matured from teenage emo kid to adult woman, thie emo kid has developed a unique sense of style, to say the least. We might be here for this hair volume from its teen years, but we have to say, we prefer her modern-day style (yes, there’s still a little bit of emo in there, too) a whole lot more!
We can only imagine, what her younger self must have thought of this platinum-blonde someone. Would she like her or would she feel threatened by her confidence and badassery?
Still Pretty In Pink
Remove Ad X Rare ContentThis woman is unrecognisable! X Share: Read more on ‘Austin3h’ About the Author Austin Wiggins 80 posts 0 comments Subscribe for more KMR WRITTEN Happenings SEND ME HOT PRAISE As a kid she was clearly into pink, but evidently not into self confidence as she was obviously masking behind her bright hair. With baggy pants, a pink top and dressed as emo as they come. Well, her love of colour never left entirely, but these days, she’s a lot more casual about it.
These two pictures, however, couldn’t be more different – On the left — leave me alone. However, she comes across as extroverted and lively on the right. Well, we love that you found yourself girl!
Wedding Bells
Well, this your prince of darkness had a complete change of heart. She went from broody teen to smiley adult, and managed to find the love of her life along the way. Many congratulations to the happy couple, and billions and billions of years of joy and happiness to them, golden face-smiley. Makes us feel all feels watching our emo teen all grown up and content!
Nice to see someone that at first was struggling with who they were, but worked through it, and found happiness in there life. The guy on the left looks like the farthest thing from happiness — now look what he’s become! The picture on right says otherwise, things have a way of working out, just need some faith.
Too Emo For Pets
Every parent fears for where their kids are headed, and when your little angel is a moody emo teen, I can only imagine how that heightens the anxiety for a parent. Don’t fret, though. With a little work (and lot of work for that other parent), even the most rambunctious teenager can grow up to be a model citizen with a fulfilling career, like this person, who grew up to be what (getting honest, folks!) might be an entirely honest veterinarian. Lastly, it is a good thing to learn to put up your hair — it can be chaotic!
Cut the bullsh*t bangs and the whole broodiness. She seems happy now and successful, and we hope that her family all have lots of pride as well!
Death Glare To Glowing Smile
Coming in at number this dude who could throw a seriously icy death stare anytime a camera came out. It was your average emo look, and we aren’t sorry to see it go. We know you wanted your photo snapped, buddah. You likely requested your friend to take it because you were looking cute that day in your hoodie and scarf.
okkido via www.dailymail.co.uk
He still wears the earrings, but really everything else has changed with him as an adult. Wait, not everything. He is still wearing plaid clothes! But this time he is wearing them as a badge of pride, and not hiding under them. We’re feeling it!
A Style Shift
This ex-emo donned an outfit that swapped the black garb and product-riddled, flattened-out hair for something less entirely. Now that man is a lumberjack, and he is going to chop some trees down. Eyewitnessing anyone making a transformation is incredible, however this is another thing.
You have an average emo kid — doing the books, everything a stereotypical emo does — that at one point in their life changed everything about themselves and comes back as this buff woodsman. That’s quite a leap between extremes here. Not complaining, just a bit puzzled in the open.
Taking Back Vests
As the lead singer of one of emo culture’s biggest rock bands, Taking Back Sunday, Adam Lazzara, The band had a signature style that set the tone for how emo kids were gonna dress in the early 2000s and the music gave teens something to identify with.
www.fanpop.com | Mat Szwajkos/Getty Images
Still heartskin-melting-worthy, Adam seems not as emo, but a little more contemporary. He had grown his hair long and been clearly more comfortable in his own skin — such is the job requirement of a frontman.
Emo To Life Saver
This is one change we are going to cheer for and will rise up a standing ovation. This former emo kid turned around and became a fireman. Take this person, the most shy 15-year-old in the entire universe could become a hero, literally saving lives. His emo days were pretty sweet, however.
That hair though! We can’t stop looking at it. So shiny and healthy, and that length. All those emo friends of his must have hated the guy with those long dark locks. Unfortunately, it’s not a firefighter-y look, so we had to get rid of the mane.
From Angsty Teen To Cop
It was another emo bitch turned hero, because this guy was a cop. We don’t usually get a look at a cop’s emo years, so there is something strange in seeing this pic this cop plastered. Our hopes are that this emo kid is still within this leader and that he remembers his roots.
Nothing like a band member’s style to make you question everything. He even had that mop flopping in front of his right eye (hopefully he was able to see straight). Can you believe that kid turned into this cop. Glad he got over that and got himself a decent haircut!
Finally Comfortable In His Own Skin
Another hero on our list. And this time we got ams one of the enlisted soldier. The emo heartthrob turned into one buff soldier, and we just can’t stop staring at him. The sideway bangs, partially covered with a hoodie, and, of course, the pouting, peer into our souls of the malcontent. This emo kid knew he was good looking and he GLADLY rubbed it in your face.
We’ve gotta admit, as a soldier, major glow-up vibes that we love. Our hearts desired his beautiful smile and his buzz cut served us everything. Hats off to this soldier and we hope that he made it home safely. Seriously though, what a privilege for parents to have emo children. They’re not too bad, right?
Morticia Addams Wannabe
This woman is extraordinary. First, she translated her look into an awe-inspiring emo kid, with bee-stripe highlights and a chunky-shorn hairdo, and actually used slightly less makeup than you might expect for an emo kid. Secondly, you just know that with the emo image she was getting a lot of action in school.
Now she, brace for it, is in mortuary school, training for what is really her life role as a mortician. Doesn’t she resemble a modern day, younger version of the iconic Addams Family matriarch, Morticia Addams? We think so.
A Portrait Of A Former Emo Kid
This woman appears nothing like her older appearance as a teen. Over the years she changed, of course grew up, and let her emo kid phase melt away. Now without her one eye to see the world, we are pretty sure she and us do not know the people in these two pictures above.
It is frightening for anybody to grow up. Well, even this emo kid has actually worked it out. Fortunately, some things can’t go away — the tattoos she still hopefully wears proudly. They are visible on her upper right arm.
Emo Kid Turned Emo Dad
Wow! Well, that’s one heck of a makeover! That emo kid with the really bad hair product, wearing ear piercings and lip piercings, who had a total look of grunge-punk has grown into a charming dad taking his little girl out to the docks.
Does this mean that little girl is genetically predisposed to being emo? Could she eventually change her blonde tresses a deeper black? Someone should really study this for us and give us the answers! Whatever the case, its good to see an emo kid grinning, and this is a grin that could almost be mistaken for a full-blown smile.
There’s Still Fire Inside For Sure
In the early 2000s, AFI’s Davey Havok pushed emo and rock-music icon status to its limits with his fashion, hair, and persona choices. In the photo right, the emo energy is bursting out in flames.
Christina Radish/Redferns/Getty Images | Paul Redmond/WireImage
He hardly resembles his previous self at all today, opting for a far tamer suburban house father-type look and owning it, which is fine by me. His zesty young self, we love him, we love his old self. But under this new veneer, the emo frontman persona lives on; he still rocks just as hard as he did 20 years ago.
Reaching New Heights
We seem to be picking up a theme here with famous rock band lead singers going totally schizo over the years. An example of this is JT Woodruff, the singer of the band Hawthorne Heights. Another example of emo clothes and hair, done so correctly to the right.
Then JT adopts a new lifestyle, more hipster, whole foods, and recycling kind of dude. To see these rock and emo icons become, these people, who are so average without the emo-ness–or the rock behavior, is surreal to us.
Boy Becomes Dad
Quinn Allman gets us back on track the trend of pop-punk/emo stars growing into father figures instead of being sad boys. The guy on the right with the blonde hair, red plaid shirt has aged a few decades and has morphed into a dad.
sleepingwithmychemicalgreenday.tumblr.com | Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images
Everybody loves a good glow up, and we don’t mean to suggest that a more casual look is a bad thing, it’s just a sign of becoming a grown-up and caring less about optics. Overall, the facade for the world can be tiring and messy for everyone, so to see Quinn chill on the right is meaningful since that took time for her to reach.
Not A reject Anymore
You thought we were finished? Not yet! Following him is Tyson Ritter, leader of the group All American Rejects. He gained prominence in the early 2000s and became iconic in the rock scene. It wasn’t emo per se — his approach hadn’t tipped that far over the edge yet — but the angst and the angst was clearly present, and he let loose on each track.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images | David Livingston/Getty Images
Believe it or not, his style is more or less as it was two decades ago, but contemporary, fresher, and, as you can spot in the right-side image, a hell of a lot more luminous. Time has been extraordinarily gentle with him. He looks much better than in his first appearance! How? What’s your secret, Tyson?
Finally Seeing The World
Give emo teens a shit and they will love, and I mean love to hide behind bangs and usually lose a bit of their eyesight on the way, too, as you may have noticed. A teen, open for you to see, went ahead & straightened out her hair & set it on the side & made her bang that block her site.
10 years later and she can finally see try to see the whole world again, and she’s stunning. We love she kept the black eyeliner — maybe she’s paying homage to herself. The odd part though for us is she’s smiling back in her emo days, and in this photo, there’s a little emo pout happening.
Code Blue
Code Blue means that it was an amazing one! Here we have a former emo, who topped off her emo look with a tiara, perhaps she was the princess of darkness, but nowadays she’s definitely a queen! She went from darker colors to fun, bright, and light colors, and she looks radiant and gorgeous.
As we’ve said before, we’ll say it again! Emo kids grow up to be interesting people, and she’s one of them. She’s a baker and she breeds aquatic snails in her free time. She’s currently planning her wedding. Congratulation, Queen!
This Emo Girl Has Left The Building
This woman doesn’t seem to be embarrassed by her emo days, we don’t think she should! That was the way for her to express herself when she was younger, and she seems like a lot of fun from those after-school photos. She went all out with the dark and chunky hair and her a pair of fingerless gloves, even though she admitted at times, she wore them in August. What a mistake!
Over almost two decades later, this woman loves her emo self and herself. We have to agree with her — almost two decades later, and it feels like we have lived a few lives in one. We love her emo self as well as her toned look, and she looks great in both pictures.
A Scientific Emo
From shy emo princess to bad-ass scientist — take the science world by storm, girl! These two selves of this woman look a lot the same but my gosh do they give off very different vibes, night and day if you ask me, bangs make such a difference!
When we talk about two different energy one is quiet, and burned into herself and other is a sun goddess who does marathons on the weekend and the biggest questions in science. We like it when the growth happens and this is a huge one. We salute you guys along the way!
Turn That Frown Upside Down
We need to pause for a second and discuss the pout. It was a thing every emo kid accomplished at least once in their dark times. They are maybe the way that they make clear through almost any opportunity they get — more often than not through a photograph — that existence is intense and benefits an angsty and grave pout.
This dude came out delightful, left his sad emo situation in the past, flipped that frown and showed he was hiding a smile all along. If the image on the left was placed upside down, you would get the image a right.
Dad Still Has Great Hair
This dad is about to teach his kid two things: what emo means and number two, the image on the left. One answer for both of them, same! This definitely was a turnaround from being an emo gloomy teen, so wore his black and white pics and was unable to smile at all, this dad definitely did a 180.
The gent in the photo on the right is a different person. Now he’s a dad and things are brighter and he can smile! That’s important! And everyone loves a dad who can grin ear to ear with his children. What if our parents were emo? It would not be a good way to raise children.
Even Winona Had An Emo Phase
Everybody loves Winona Ryder! Everyone’s favourite actress, a staple you saw from your years off reading at the big screen in films like Edward scissor-hands, Beetlejuice, and more recently the hit Netflix show, Strangers Things. Winona went through a phase wearing all black, dying her hair black and creating many emo kids in the process.
Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images | Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Now her hair is natural, her clothes are lighter and a little less tight and comfy and she’s chill. Winona is, and always will be, in our hearts, and she deserves every ounce of love her fans and non-fans can muster up. A queen is a queen, and Winona forever is emo, royal.
Christina Ricci Was An Emo Kid’s Dream Girl
A queen of her own as well! Christina Ricci stole our hearts decades ago with her role as the original emo teen, Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family (1991), and we are finally ready (or not ready?) to take her out of our hearts and put her in our house. Wednesday was the ever-dark brood that seeks to enjoy life by brighter, more mischievous, and more twisted paths.
Leon Bennett/Getty Images | Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
Christina reminded us today Wednesday Addams was only a character, and she is much much more beautiful than her death-dealing counterpart. Christina got a haircut and has been a blonde for a while, addressed other roles a little more full of funny essence after that, meanwhile we still hold to her emo queen, one we love.
Wednesday’s Legacy
So we wrote Wednesday Addams is a role, and not a reflection of the actress. However, Wednesday made an impact on whole generations, both then and today. You can see for yourself, she’s inspired some of these modern looks to Prada.
Wednesday was – and is – an emo icon, and her outlook on life made people see the world the same way. When a fictional character leaves a phenomenon-like situation in her wake, you know this is something else. It is immortality. It is Wednesday’s legacy.
The Craft Of Being Emo
Fairuza Balk is an actress who kept us on the edge of our seats and always on the other side of the screen in The Craft, Master of Horror, and The Island of Dr. Moreau. We wished we could be her because of her on-screen role in The Craft, where she plays Nancy, a high schooler who discovers magic and is corrupted by power.
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Nancy is all sorts of relatable for emo kids who have accumulated a fair bit of rage against the world and people in it. Fairuza embodied her so perfectly, it was as if it were fated, and she became our emo queen, and we her casual citizens.
A Black Rose
Rose McGowen is a fantastic actress. These include Charmed, Grindhouse, Deathproof, The Black Dahlia and many others. To this day Rose occupies our hearts nearly three decades on, and we’re ok with that. Rose is an icon, a hero, and a champion for women everywhere.
Everett Collection/Shutterstock | DFree/Shutterstock
Now Rose is an activist for women’s rights and the MeToo movement and has courageously spoken out about her experiences in show business. We stand more behind, love this woman more & admire this woman more than anything else. She is royalty, and we bow down before her.
Hair Down, Hair Up
We love change, we love growth, we love people — people changing, people growing. At this point we doubt that we need to clarify our point any further. That guy switched it up a different look. Gone the emo angsty teen, now a contemporary hipster. This guy has ditched the dyed bleached blonde fringe, the leave-in hair product that helps raise the hair on the back of his head, and the cartoonish shirts.
To us, the guy on the right is someone different. He seems much more contemporary and looks super stylish. We can like both men — and we do. All we can ask is when this evolution happened to get to this next phase?
Always In Style
This bitch has always been out of her fuckin ass, but she proved it with style. Possibly from the emo teen, with black eyeliner and black and white stripe shirt, and photos from high angles, to a slightly more mellowed down, still ultra fabulous, version of herself. She knows what’s up.
She did modify herself from tip to toe. There’s no doubt about it. Hey! She also learnt how to take good photographs. It’s far more natural than it used to be. Psycho Obese Emo Teen → Fashion Queen Sensible ⏰! Two thumbs up from us!
From blood On The Dance Floor To Taylor Swift
That lady left no stone unturned with style! The emo teen that used to be in her disappeared and replaced with this person, smiling, bubbly, with what looks like a Taylor swift concert shirt on. And I mean the picture on the right practically came directly out of her MySpace account!
Though the left-side picture is making us more Insta vibe. This is a fact of life: People change sometimes, and in order to end up at one point—one must first travel through a series of other destinations. She had to be an emo teen first before she become the young lady sitting on those step like here.
Hair Makes All The Difference
Sometimes, all you need is a hell of a haircut, this boy demonstrated. Tuckered bangs on the emo teen on the left, as well, and again, losing an eye in the process. Classic emo move. And then years later, the same chap after he trimmed his locks and we love the way he has them now.
They look nothing alike! Shout-out to the difference that hair makes! From a sad emo teen snapshot in his mirror to this green-eyed prince. Also have to add we love the piercings being included. Lip piercings just make everything in life way cooler.
Beard Away!
We love beards! We said it! Well glad we got that out of our system, let’s check out our final emo 4 life ex-teen. He was a happier emo teen. (An oxymoron?) but still the essential elements remain, black dyed hair, plaid shirt, and how can he not, an eye missing from the bangs
Not only did he get himself a pair of glasses, he grew a beard and, in essence, transformed himself into a completely different person. We will always have a place in our hearts for emo culture and you never know when emo culture could roll up right here in a billowy white button-down silk shirt.
