Mariah Carey's Complete Weight-Loss Transformation

Mariah Carey has always cut a striking figure since she first came out with her eponymous album in 1990. Back then, her signature look was voluminous, bouncy curls and LBDs that hugged her curves, but the Y2K era saw the diva significantly glammed up in glittery outfits. The "Heartbreaker" singer maintained her toned bod throughout her career, but it wasn't until she became pregnant with her twins, Monroe and Moroccan Cannon, whom she shares with Nick Cannon, that she gained some weight that she wasn't happy about.

While it's natural to gain weight while pregnant, Carey also suffered some health issues, such as edema and gestational diabetes. "My legs looked three times the size of what my legs do right now. I thought I would never be the same person again," she told USA Today (via Mariah Carey Network). "I was walking around the house, pregnant and miserable, looking at mirrors and saying: 'Why did I put so many mirrors in my house?'" With the help of a diet program and exercise, Carey slowly regained her figure, and while her weight fluctuated over the years, the mom of two proved that she looks amazing, regardless of her size.

Just six months after giving birth to Monroe and Moroccan Cannon, Mariah Carey revealed a dramatic weight-loss evolution. In a 2011 appearance on "The Rosie Show," the "Obsessed" singer shared, "I lost 40 pounds in a week of just water." And, while it's safe to lose about eight pounds a month (not including water retention), following a Jenny plan (formerly Jenny Craig) allowed Carey to lose more than 30 more. "The whole point of this is not just like: 'Oh, hey, look at me and my weight loss, I'm fantastic.' It's really health. Like I said, I learned it when I became helpless and felt so vulnerable like never before in my life," she stated. She added that she wasn't restricting herself and made sure to snack. And scales were out of the picture, with Carey telling Rosie O'Donnell, "I never weighed myself. I did not weigh myself. People will think I'm a liar, but it's true ... This is another cliché phrase, but I'm a big boned girl ... I'm tall and stuff, and so I always weigh more."

Carey was such a fan of Jenny Craig that she teamed up with the weight-loss program as a spokesperson. She told Us Weekly (via Today) that while pregnancy was a "blessing," carrying twins wasn't easy on her body. On the Jenny plan, Carey was on a 1,500-calorie-per-day diet and worked out three times a week. "I mean, for people who have struggled with this their whole lives, I feel for them so much more now just as a human being, that I want to do something that helps," she said of her partnership with Jenny Craig.

Six years after the birth of her children, Mariah Carey gained some weight again, and this time, she reportedly took medical measures. A source revealed to ET in 2017 that the vocalist had a gastric sleeve surgery, stating, "She's happy with this new chapter in her life." Another insider shared, "She always fluctuates, and it makes her upset, but it's hard for her to manage." Sadly, Page Six shared that the reason Carey turned to surgery was because of all the criticism she faced online about her weight. "Mariah has always been proud of her curves, but this summer, as her Caesars Palace residency came to a close, and then she went on tour with Lionel Richie, she noticed it became harder to dance, and she was getting a lot more criticism online from body shamers," a source told the publication. The unnamed person added, "Mariah underwent the procedure about a month ago, and she is already seeing some good results, and she feels a lot better."

In 2018, ET reported that Carey lost over 30 pounds with the help of the gastric sleeve surgery and a diet that included salmon and chicken broth. "She is very confident about her appearance now. The change to her diet was an adjustment at first for her, but she's doing really well keeping up with it. She's in a very good place with her health and her life," a source spilled. We're sure Mariah Carey also treated herself to her favorite self-care activity — the most soothing baths.

There's no better motivation to get fit than having your very own Las Vegas residency, which Mariah Carey proved when she announced "The Celebration of Mimi" early in 2024. Carey shared pics of her performing on opening night on Instagram, and she looked super toned in a body-hugging dress adorned with crystals. In the next shot, Mariah Carey made a return to her Y2K hair with a sleek 'do that fell down to her waist. The pop star was completely glammed out, which was fitting for a Las Vegas stage.

"The Celebration of Mimi" did so well that Carey not only extended her residency, but she also took the concert worldwide. In May, she posted a carousel of pictures wowing the crowd in China with her various body-hugging 'fits. "Xie xie Shanghai!! Thank you for all the love!!" the "Fantasy" singer wrote. "You look SO GOOD," a fan replied. Another wrote, "So pretty queen! Loving these moments!" From her Y2K-inspired bandage dress to a floor-length silver gown, Carey looked every bit the diva that she will always be, no matter her weight. 

Now, for the low-down on another star's journey, here's Lizzo's complete weight-loss transformation.