Lauren Sánchez Is Almost Unrecognizable In Throwback Yearbook Photos

Lauren Sánchez has come a long way from her childhood roots in New Mexico. The former news correspondent and pilot has transformed into an author and media personality. She's getting ready to walk down the aisle with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos despite the red flags in their relationship. The pair often attend huge events together and rub shoulders with famous families like the Trumps and the Kardashians. But before Sánchez was socializing with the elite, she was a young girl from Albuquerque who could not be ignored.

During a trip to her hometown in 2024, Sánchez looked back at the little girl she was years ago. "Nothing better than coming home. Went down memory lane," Sánchez captioned a photo carousel on Instagram. "Even one of my old teachers showed up and brought a yearbook." 

One picture in the decades-old yearbook was of a young Sánchez who looked like she was just a preteen. She touted a big smile and long, voluminous dark hair with side-swept bangs. The black and white photo does capture elements that can still be seen today when Sánchez shows off how she looks makeup-free. Yet the biggest surprise isn't her change in looks, it's her change in name. According to the yearbook, Sánchez used to go by her middle name: Wendy!

The world took notice of Lauren Sánchez when she started dating billionaire Jeff Bezos. However, it turns out that Sánchez was already used to having people's attention even as a teenager. She was a cheerleader and competed in beauty pageants back when she was still going by the name Wendy. Her former classmate Kevin Gant told The Times, "She was one of the most energetic and exuberant people at the school." So it's no surprise that Sánchez looks so comfortable being in the public eye. 

Sánchez is known for wearing dresses that are ostentatious, and often sheer or low cut. She has worn her share of inappropriate outfits that have been dubbed too short or too sexy. Remember the lace bustier she wore to the Presidential Inauguration? Other times, she'll wear long ensembles with an influx of fabric to really show off high glamour. Sánchez loves to have a dramatic fashion moment with a long train or puff sleeves, usually in a bold color or with lots of shiny details. She also doesn't mind sharing the spotlight with her future husband. The pair have occasionally matched on red carpets, making it obvious that Bezos has learned fashion tips from his lady love.