Tara Reid Is Nearly Unrecognizable In Throwback Photos From The '90s

It's hard to think of '90s high-school flicks without bringing up "American Pie." The 1999 blockbuster hit spawned three more movies with the original cast, not to mention five spin-offs throughout the noughties, and it made stars out of previously little-known actors. Among them were Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, and Tara Reid. Though she was playing a high-school student, Reid was 24 when "American Pie" debuted, and 23 when it was filmed in 1998. Snaps from this era are the ultimate throwback for fans, reminding us of how Reid was essentially just a baby. 

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The 1998 photo of Reid that really blows our mind and drives home how young she was during filming was taken at ShoWest in Las Vegas. In true '90s style, she paired a backless black top with body jewelry, leather hip-hugging bottoms, and a cute headband, one of the most iconic hairstyles of the '90s to recreate. While we're happy to have seen the end of the low-rise trend for now, the era's it-girls like Reid made it look easy to pull off. Reid is certainly great inspiration for rocking the '90s minimalism look that first made a comeback in 2023, but her ethos on aging in the public eye is also worth taking notes from. 

Although Tara Reid unsurprisingly looks different more than 25 years after she filmed "American Pie," it goes without saying that she's aged beautifully. In 2025, the "Cruel Intentions" actor attended the launch of Artisa Skincare, a medical-grade brand, and opened up about the importance of skincare and looking after yourself as you age. "I think anything about anyone taking care of themselves is fantastic," she told interviewer Jerry Christ. "Everyone wants to look good, feel good, feel young, and as we get older we get more and more beautiful." The star added that medical-grade skincare is "a science" that gives increasing benefits to wearers. Elsewhere on the red carpet at the launch, she told interviewers, "Skincare is very important for everyone right now" (via CelebMess). Reid noted that she doesn't have one favorite product but she likes to try new things and stick with what works for her skin. 

What may have prompted Reid's interest in and reliance on skincare was a negative experience with plastic surgery, which occurred around 2004. "I got plastic surgery two years ago, and it was kind of a nightmare," she said on a 2006 episode of "The View," adding, "I went to the very first doctor I saw ... There has to be a board-certified plastic surgeon, and in America, any doctor can give you plastic surgery." She explained that when she sought out a solution for her breast asymmetry, the non-board-certified doctor "butchered" her and left her scarred, so she had to get a second surgery to fix the damage. "I wish I didn't do it to begin with," she told the hosts. "There's no such thing as perfect, and trying to get there — look what happened to me, I'm the example that this went completely disastrous."

In 2023, Tara Reid joined the reality show "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test," and while doing promo, she revealed what irks her about aging in the public eye. "I hope they realize that I'm not just 21 anymore," she told the interviewer (via TikTok). "I'm 47. Stop judging me as a kid, and let me be the woman that there is now." In an interview with "Extra TV" that year, she confirmed that one of the toughest things she has dealt with as she has aged is bullying about her appearance. "They make up problems that don't even exist and then one person rolls on it and everyone rides on it," she said. "It's been going on for years, but there's no eating disorder."

For Reid, continuing to be her true self is the best revenge, but she is also open to treatments that help boost her confidence as she ages. In 2024, she got a smile makeover, which involved putting porcelain veneers on her lower and upper teeth. "At the end of the day, I think the most powerful thing you could possibly do is smile," she told Us Weekly. "The only one that's looking at themselves in the mirror every day is really you, and if you're not satisfied with the way you look, it doesn't matter what anyone else sees." The "Urban Legend" star is clearly happy with her choice, but there are still a few things to know before you get veneers.

If you need help with an eating disorder, or know someone who does, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).