22 Unrecognizable Celebrity Magazine Covers, From Vanessa Hudgens Copying Taylor Swift To Jennifer Aniston Going Way Glam

K. Stew is often criticized for her public scowl yet loved for her spot-on fashion sense, but her insanely retro W cover was her most major fashion statement to date. The mod makeup, which paired pale pink lips with heavy, inky eyeliner, was utterly stunning. The huge hair made her look like Priscilla Presley during the Elvis years. Talk about a throwback of the jaw-dropping sort.

Image: W

Brit Brit looked like she was wearing a wig on her Lucky cover, since her hairline was pushed forward. The singer has a “sexpot” strand in her DNA, but this cover was “safe” Britney Spears.

Image: Lucky

Facially, I recognize that this is Janet Jackson, but this big, silky waves were a change for the singer. Miss Jackson (if you’re nasty) is a gorgeous creature and she vamped it up here, but it wasn’t the Janet any of us were used to.

Image: W

Miley Cyrus got naked for W, wearing crisp white bedding and gobs of silver rings and bracelets. Thanks to the long, blonde hair and those bleached out brows, I had to do a double-take before I realized it was her.

Image: W

Katy Perry is known for her glossy black (or green or purple) locks, but this bleached blonde, pushed-back pixie, worn on her Wonderland cover, gave the singer a futuristic vibe. The shape and the shade were severe enough that I didn’t realize it was Perry until I saw her name.

Image: Wonderland

Huzzah! Check out the normally classic Jennifer Aniston vamping it up for W. Thank God for double stick tape. The heavy eye makeup, the false lashes… America’s sweetheart became a sexpot. This is one of my fave Aniston covers ever.

Image: W

A minimally made-up, strong-browed, and wet-headed Taylor Swift posed for Wonderland and it was such a makeunder that I had to look it at three times before accepting that it was T. Swift.

Image: Wonderland

This cover sparked controversy, with many critics lambasting Lucky for Photoshopping the gorgeous Scandal star beyond all recognition. Washington herself defended the cover, but the frosty lipstick and cool-toned highlighter certainly transformed her look and gave it an icy sheen.

Image: Lucky

Sexy! Nicole Kidman is the epitome of grace and class, so when she went majorly sexy and topless for V, it was like a thermonuclear event, for sure. With that crunchy, ’80s perm hair, the “come hither” stare, and that seriously mini skirt, Nic was an instant bombshell.

Image: V

Lady Gaga went super, well, normal for her Porter cover, with layered blonde locks, complete with bangs. It was such a ’70s presentation; think Joni Mitchell x Stevie Nicks, but Gagalicious. I am usually so blown away by Gaga’s outrageousness that I finally saw her natural prettiness with this image.

Image: Porter

OK, so Ariana Grande’s first Marie Claire cover wasn’t totally unrecognizable, but something was a bit off with the singer’s pose. Her signature half-up, half-down hair was pulled back and her eyes don’t look like they usually do. The mini diva was still pretty, though! Just… different.

Image: Marie Claire

Cameron Diaz rocked Kardashian kontouring for an Interview cover and the result was doll-like. Even wax figure-like. The actress — who is usually so, so lively — didn’t look… real.

Image: Interview

On her Clash cover, Rita Ora was stripped of her usual red lips and ultra glam street style in favor of a shaggy blonde ‘do, no makeup, no eyebrows, and a simple black slip dress. It showed off her insane natural beauty.

Image: Clash

No, that’s not Taylor Swift on the cover of Flaunt, but it sure looks like her, doesn’t it? With the shoulder-skimming hair, the sideswept bangs, and crimson lips, that’s Tay’s look to a “T,” borrowed by normally raven-hared and equally gorgeous Vanessa Hudgens.

Image: Flaunt

Cameron Diaz resembled Courtney Love x Debbie Harry on another of her Interview covers. Cam is usually so glam, so this was quite a welcome change for her. I loved seeing the Cali girl do rocker chic.

Image: Interview

Iggy Azalea’s face, features, and brows were white-washed for her Clash cover and as a result, the rapper looked like an alien of sorts. Her skin appeared translucent and called attention to her blackened eyes.

Image: Clash

Kim Kardashian’s LOVE cover featured boasted a lot of nudity, but I was more impressed by the fact that if I didn’t know this was Kimmy K., I wouldn’t have known this was Kimmy K.

Image: LOVE

Who’s this bombshell? Oh, it’s just a smoky-eyed Lauren Conrad for Allure. When is the last time you saw LC go with such heavy eye makeup? Her look is so polished and clean, so when she switched it up with a sooty, sexy eye, I did a double-take.

Image: Allure

Scar Jo’s blood-red lips, reverse cat eyes, and punk rock hair ‘do rendered her totally unrecognizable for W. She was a goth queen and I liked it.

Image: W

Dakota Fanning’s wide, expressive blue eyes are her signature, but she looked like the subject of a retouched, vintage photo from the ’30s with this retro snap for Wonderland, a mag known for transforming its cover girls.

Image: Wonderland

Kesha covered Teen Vogue with heavy bangs, white blonde locks, and her freckles on full display, leaving me going, “Who is this natural beauty? Is this a new model on the scene?” Nope, it was pop music’s onetime wild child and dirty girl, looking fresh-scrubbed and innocent.

Image: Teen Vogue