Halle Berry's Beauty Evolution From Pageant Queen to Oscar Winner

The former Bond girl has been known to turn a few heads.

Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Halle Berry may have gotten her start competing in beauty pageants, but she had bigger ambitions in sight. In 2002, Berry became the first Black woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress. Since then, she has gone on to land a number of accolades, among them, a Golden Globe and an Emmy. But when she's not busy working, this former Bond girl — who's still super fit and taking sexy selfies at 56, by the way — is having fun with her ever-evolving style, whether that's purple curls and a plunging top for date night or costume bin dressing beachside.

Keep scrolling for Halle Berry's beauty evolution from the 1980s to now.

01 of 26

1985

Young smiling Halle Berry with a natural, tousled bob
Yearbook Archives

After graduating from Bedford High School in Ohio, Berry won the Miss Teen All-American pageant. We're guessing that her natural beauty and contagious smile had something to do with it.

02 of 26

1986

Halle Berry with a voluminous tousled lob and bangs
John Eggitt/Landov

"In the '80s it was all about big hair, lots of makeup, and trying to look older than you really were," Berry once told us. After winning the Miss Ohio USA title, the well made-up pageant queen placed second in Miss USA and sixth in the Miss World competition.

03 of 26

1993

Halle Berry with a chic pixie, impeccable arches, and mauve lipstick in '93
Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Debuting what would become her signature crop, Berry promoted her role in the Queen miniseries.

04 of 26

1996

Halle Berry red-hued flipped-out bob with bangs
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

The Race the Sun actress briefly returned to shoulder-skimming strands. Curtain bangs and flipped-out ends add some '90s pizzazz.

05 of 26

1997

Halle Berry coily cropped hair and frosted makeup
Ron Galella/WireImage

"I have very curly hair — this is its natural texture," Berry said of this look. For those with a coily hair type, incorporating strategic layers is key in lending structure to your style. Complement with frosted makeup to nail Berry's ice-queen beauty.

06 of 26

1998

Halle Berry with cornrows, shimmery lipstick, and dramatic lashes
S Granitz/WireImage

With tight cornrows drawing focus to her flawless face, the Bulworth star played up her baby browns with false lashes and soft eyeliner.

07 of 26

1999

Halle Berry caramel-blonde spiky pixie
Armando Gallo/Renta

Berry rounded out the '90s by going short, sweet, and blonde. "I just see myself as a short-hair, spunky kind of person," said the Introducing Dorothy Dandridge lead.

08 of 26

2002

Halle Berry spiky tousled pixie, defined brows, and taupe lipstick
Mike Nelson/Getty Images

The actress earned an Oscar for her risky role in Monster's Ball. Less risky? A lightly tousled version of her favorite pixie.

09 of 26

2002

Halle Berry feathered crop with shimmery makeup
SGranitz/WireImage

Growing out her short cut ("There's only so much you can do with a pixie!"), the Die Another Day Bond Girl worked in a fluffed and feathered style.

10 of 26

2004

Halle Berry long curly hair, defined arches, and mauve-pink lipstick
Kurt Vinion/Getty Images

Berry attended a Catwoman premiere with newly-lengthened locks. "These extensions were great," she told InStyle. "I would just wash and go."

11 of 26

2006

Halle Berry center-parted bob with tucked-in ends
Access E/WireImage

For the Tokyo premiere of X-Men: The Last Stand, Berry kept it simple with neutral makeup and a straight chin-length bob. By slightly tucking in ends, you can add instant oomph (read: volume) to thin or fine tresses.

12 of 26

2007

Halle Berry long, dark, glossy waves with fringe
Jim Spellman/WireImage

Berry framed her flawless features with long glossy waves and a fringe that hits just at the eyes — and highlights them. To get her mane's high-octane shine, apply a little hair oil.

13 of 26

2007

Halle Berry with radiant skin and voluminous, side-parted hair
Lester Cohen/WireImage

Awaiting daughter Nahla Aubrey, Berry discovered the benefits of pregnancy: "My skin is aglow from all the hormones. I actually wear less makeup now."

14 of 26

2009

Halle Berry honey-highlighted layered bob with shimmery shadow and lips
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

The actress met motherhood with a chic new look: a honey-highlighted layered bob. Its warm-toned color goes perfectly with her skin's warm undertones.

15 of 26

2011

Halle Berry spiky, tousled pixie with shimmery eyeshadow and lip gloss
Jemal Countess/Getty Images

How many ways can Berry wear a pixie? This longer-on-top version with its tousled texture feels at once edgy and chic.

16 of 26

2012

Halle Berry curly bob with bangs
Amanda Schwab/Startraksphoto

The Revlon spokeswoman changed up her hair for a role in The Hive. "I look at hair as an accessory, just like a handbag or a pair of shoes," she told People. "It's something you can put on, play with for awhile and then take it off and try something different."

17 of 26

2012

Halle Berry, soft, spiky pixie with smoky eye and peach lips
Thomas Janssen/PacificCoastNews

Berry went with a sexy smoky eye for the L.A. premiere of Cloud Atlas. "To keep the feeling strong on Halle's modern, yet romantic, Dolce & Gabbana lace dress, I created an eye look with blended charcoals and shimmery silvers to complement the silver colors in the dress," said her makeup artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua. "Her lips and cheeks were kept subtle in soft peaches."

18 of 26

2013

Halle Berry spiky pixie with highlights, nude lip, and smoky eye
Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Berry's gravity-defying 'do was a fun complement to her colorful Atelier Versace gown at the Golden Globes. Its subtle highlights add a nice color contrast, plus dimension. A smokey gray eye and nude lip finished off he red carpet look.

19 of 26

2014

Halle Berry pixie with long piece-y bangs
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

Piecey bangs gave her trademark pixie an edgy twist at an Oscars after-party. Meanwhile, her glossy pink pout adds a tinge of softness.

20 of 26

2015

Halle Berry with a sun-kissed long bob with beachy waves
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Berry opted for a sun-kissed lob made up of beachy waves to attend the 2015 ESPYs. To score her tousled texture, we recommend investing in a curl-enhancing product, like Briogeo Superfoods™ Banana + Coconut Hydrating Soft Wave Texture Spray.

21 of 26

2016

Halle Berry with loose, shoulder-length waves, bangs, and a smoky eye in 2016
Larry Busacca/Getty Images

The actress's shoulder-length hair was styled in loose curls at the 2016 MTV Movie Awards. Her go-to smoky eye and nude gloss finished off the sultry look.

22 of 26

2017

Halle Berry with a loose updo, curtain bangs, and glossy lip in 2017
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Berry pulled back her highlighted locks into a loose updo with curtain bangs framing her face. She completed the look with a glossy lip and bronze eyeshadow.

23 of 26

2018

Halle Berry long, straight, caramel-highlighted hair and "no-makeup" makeup

Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic

Berry showed up to the much-anticipated Vanity Fair Oscar Party looking like a 10 out of 10. By keeping her makeup to a minimum, she lets her long, stick-straight strands do the talking.

24 of 26

2019

Halle Berry loose updo with face-framing layers and neutral makeup

Rodin Eckenroth / FilmMagic

Berry is effortlessly cool with her "no makeup" makeup and tousled waves. Looking for a low-maintenance way to style long hair? Simply tie it back into a loose updo or tuck it into your collar for an instant faux bob.

25 of 26

2021

Halle Berry half-up, half-down bouffant style with soft waves

Alberto E. Rodriguez / FilmMagic

Berry gives the '60s bouffant a modern-day makeover and we're taking notes. From its soft waves to its perfect shade of bronde, this style is utterly romantic.

26 of 26

2022

Halle Berry with a two-toned undercut, drop earrings, and earth-toned makeup

Steve Granitz / Getty Images

Berry served up Storm vibes at the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards. Her two-toned asymmetrical undercut is equal parts edgy and mod.

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