Kristi Noem Looks Like A Totally Different Person In Her Wedding Photos

Between her current role as one of the worst "Mar-a-Lago face" offenders and the Y2K conservative-mom aesthetic she debuted early in her political career, we thought we had the full timeline of Kristi Noem's transformation. But the Secretary of Homeland Security's newly resurfaced wedding photos prove her earlier changes were even more drastic.

These days, the former governor's signature look includes long, brunette extensions, heavy makeup, and what many believe are obvious fillers. But back when she first entered politics as a fresh-faced representative, her style included side-swept bangs, a shaggy bob, and a darker brunette shade that complemented her 2000s "mom on the go" vibe. Noem's pictures from that era are completely different from what she looks like today, but not nearly as surprising as her wedding photos.

In them, Noem is blond — and not just blond but full Dolly Parton country-bride blond. Her tight, voluminous curls, her cowboy hat, and her veil look straight out of a '90s county fair, and we can almost hear the Reba McEntire soundtrack in the background. To be fair, this look was probably on brand for a small-town country girl three decades ago, but blond Noem in full pageant curls wasn't on anyone's bingo card this year.

Kristi Noem's bridal look highlights just how much wedding fashion has evolved over the past few decades. In the '90s, wedding gowns largely fell into two camps: sleek minimalism, like the quiet luxury style worn by fashion icon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in her 1996 wedding, and over-the-top maximalist outfits that didn't buy into the less-is-more fashion trend. Maximalist wedding dresses like Noem's embraced volume: Think puffed sleeves, full skirts, dramatic embellishments, and cathedral-length trains designed to grab attention. That didn't mean personalization within the mold was off the table. Celine Dion, for instance, married René Angélil in 1994 wearing a classic maximalist gown topped with a bejeweled headpiece that reportedly weighed over six pounds.

Kristi Noem's take on the customizable headpiece trend was a cowboy hat and veil combo that leaned into the country-western fashion aesthetic and still fit the maximalist mold. But that's where the '90s flair and today's bridal standards differ. In the 2020s, we've entered the individualist era of bridal fashion. Brides now personalize every detail, including color, cut, silhouette, length, and fabric. Many looks are less niche and more versatile, so they can be reworn to other events. By comparison, Noem's wedding look feels firmly rooted in a one-time fantasy. It's certainly not a gown designed with repeat appearances in mind.

Kristi Noem's tight, curly blond hair was on full display on her wedding day. The style looked perfectly quaffed but was still delicate and feminine against Noem's youthful features. Since then, Noem has taken several opportunities to experiment with different hairstyles and shades, leaving her wedding-day look firmly behind. More specifically, her light-colored, oversized head of hair was in tune with the high hairstyles of the 1990s but has softened over time.

In the early 2010s, Noem latched onto a trending style that wasn't meant to stand the test of time. She dyed her hair a dark shade of brown and sported a short bob cut with side bangs. The Kate Gosselin-inspired style was a misguided attempt to look put together but also maintain some edge. But the unfortunate hair trend was favored by moms and gave off the impression of being uptight and out of touch (and it looked like she was on "Dance Moms" if we're being honest). The only benefit of the infamous bob was that it looked easy to maintain, explaining why it was a favorite among busy moms who were juggling work and kids.

Noem got used to having dark-brown locks and has kept the color long term. In recent years, Noem has relied on extensions to make her hair long and wavy. Her brunette tresses can occasionally be seen with blond highlights that hearken back to her bridal hair color, but otherwise, Noem's hair and fashion couldn't be more different than when she got married.