Seeing reality TV stars evolve into bonafide superstars is wild — but that’s why we love it. Some of them just have that star power that we can spot right away, but some take us by surprise (Emma Stone was on reality TV? Yup.).
Whether they’re household names or reality TV staples, these stars had the ultimate glow ups.
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John Hamm
Believe it or not, Handsome McHandsomeface once (rather fittingly) competed on a dating show — and lost.
He promised his potential date “an evening of total fabulosity.” So it’s pretty clear why he wasn’t chosen on The Dating Game.
Lady Gaga
Gaga is no stranger to reality TV.
You may remember her being zipped up by Lauren Conrad on The Hills, but Gaga’s reality TV career goes farther back than that.
She appeared on prank show Boiling Points and lost for refusing to eat salad with garbage on it.
Chris Hemsworth
The real-life Thor spent a good chunk of 2006 competitive dancing on Australia’s version of Dancing With the Stars. Back then, he was a soap opera actor.
Now? Well, you know the rest.
Lucy Hale
Remember that short-lived American Idol spinoff, American Juniors? Yeah, me either.
However, auditioning to be on that exact show is how Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale got her start.
Bella Hadid
Before she was a model (and a supermodel), Bella Hadid and her equally famous sister, Gigi, appeared in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and were only known as housewife Yolanda Hadid’s daughters.
Jamie Chung
Back in 2004, we were all about The Real World.
It’s no surprise that a few celebrities came out of that obsession. Jamie Chung appeared in a spinoff of the show, The Real World: San Diego.
Kesha
At the height of tiny purses, bootcut jeans, and the phrase, “That’s hot.” came a little show called The Simple Life, with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.
In 2005, they visited Kesha’s house for an episode.
Kristen Wiig
Sure, you know Kristen Wiig from SNL, but do you know she was on unscripted TV before that?
Two years before she joined the SNL cast, she appeared on prank show The Joe Schmo Show.
Heather Morris
While she got famous singing and dancing on Glee, Heather Morris was dancing long before that.
She auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance in season 2, but didn’t make it past the first few cuts.
Jennifer Hudson
Alright, maybe you knew this one, but it doesn’t hurt to visit a legend’s history, does it?
Jennifer Hudson famously got her start on American Idol, where she placed seventh.
Emma Stone
Before she was famous, Emma Stone appeared on In Search of the Partridge Family.
She competed to nab the role of Laurie Partridge on The New Partridge Family, which she wound up winning. The show never went beyond the pilot.
David Giuntoli
A Million Little Things and Grimm star David Giuntoli originally debuted on television in Road Rules on MTV.
It was a spinoff of The Real World, where six strangers are thrown together in an RV and must live in it. It actually lasted fourteen seasons.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck
I’m old, so I actually remember this.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck participated in one of the most iconic Survivor seasons, Survivor: The Australian Outback. She came in 4th in the #1 rated show of 2001.
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert came onto the singing scene during the singing competition show Nashville Star.
Though she came in third, it launched a massive career that has netted her Grammys, ACM Awards, and Country Music Association awards.
Laverne Cox
Once upon a time, Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox dreamed of being…Diddy’s assistant.
Yup, she competed in I Want to Work For Diddy. Thank god she didn’t win — she was meant for way more.
Gigi Hadid
Supermodel Gigi Hadid joined her sister Bella on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where they appeared alongside their mother, Yolana Hadid. Now, the two are bonafide superstars, with millions of Instagram followers each.
Aaron Paul
Aaron Paul has an amazing career — so where did it start?
Well, believe it or not…on The Price is Right. He was so successful at the game that he made it all the way to the Showcase Showdown, where he overbid and lost.
Kelly Osbourne
She and her family shared the behind-the-scenes moments from their lives while filming The Osbournes for four seasons. Does anyone else remember this iconic show???
Steve Martin
The legendary Steve Martin started just like many actors: at the bottom.
In Steve’s case, he appeared as a potential suitor on an episode of The Dating Game, and then became everyone’s favorite TV comedian, dad, and all-around cool dude.
Johnny Knoxville
It’s easy to associate Johnny Knoxville with where he started, which is MTV’s Jackass. (For the YouTube crowd, it’s basically what Logan and Jake Paul wish they were doing.) Now, he’s a big-time actor.
Janel Parrish
You probably know Janel Parrish from Pretty Little Liars, or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
But before she was acting, she was singing. She auditioned for Star Search at 14 before moving on to acting.
Jackie Cruz
You know her as Flaca on Orange is the New Black, but Jackie Cruz’s history before that is somehow crazier than Flaca’s whole backstory.
See, Jackie used to be friends with Kourtney Kardashian. Yup, she appeared on Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami for 2 episodes before the two parted ways after kissing on camera.
Katharine McPhee
Well, of course Katharine McPhee would make this list! After auditioning for American Idol in 2005, she advanced all the way through the competition and eventually came in second. Now, she’s on Broadway!
Taryn Manning
Another Orange is the New Black star started out in reality TV: Taryn Manning.
She auditioned for Popstars in 2001, but switched to acting and has been killing it ever since.
