Side-By-Side Pics Show How Much Jennette McCurdy Has Changed Since Her Nickelodeon Days

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There's no doubt about it: Jennette McCurdy is a child star who has grown up to be gorgeous. When we compare photos of the "iCarly" alum from 2010 and 2026, it's hard to ignore her stunning transformation. However, it hasn't rendered her unrecognizable, as she still looks similar to her teenage self, only with more defined features. The biggest change in the photos seems to be the result of a hair and makeup makeover. As McCurdy has grown older, she's embraced her naturally curly hair while still keeping her signature bangs. 

Michael Buckner & Jason Howard/bauer-griffin/Getty

Still, rocking her natural locks didn't come easily to her. During a January 2026 appearance on NPR's "Wild Card" podcast, the former child actor shared that she was jealous of girls with straight hair in her teen years and would try to get rid of her natural curls to look more like them. After alternating between her natural blond and dyed brunette hair, she reverted to her natural color with pops of brown around her roots.

While chatting with Into the Gloss in June 2015, she revealed that she disliked the "caked-on" foundation that her Nickelodeon role required. She preferred a more natural look behind the scenes, and she also admitted, "I find it easier to act when I feel comfortable with how I look with the makeup on. It's such a vulnerable thing to have cameras in your face and a crew around watching you all day." Her doubts seem to have eased with time, as Jennette McCurdy has posted several snaps of herself looking flawless makeup-free. 

During a now-deleted 2021 episode of her "Empty Inside" podcast, Jennette McCurdy revealed that she bid farewell to acting because she had only pursued the craft in her younger years to provide financial security for her family (via Variety). Even when she reflected on her career, she mostly just felt embarrassed by the roles she'd played. Sadly, her decision to walk away from acting became even clearer in August 2022 when she released her best-selling memoir, "I'm Glad My Mom Died," which chronicled the abuse she'd suffered as a child actor. 

In an August 2022 Vogue interview, the "Sam & Cat" alum shared that writing had been her real passion in her childhood years, and she'd even written her first screenplay when she was very young. However, her mother had turned her away from the idea and pushed her into acting. McCurdy had ultimately only been able to return to her childhood passion when her mother was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. She went on to share how exploring her own passions had positively impacted her, saying, "Writing has helped me establish my identity; be in touch with myself; heal; grow." 

In 2023, Jennette McCurdy started her own book club to share her top novel picks with the world, and in January 2026, her debut novel, "Half His Age," hit bookstore shelves. Ultimately, it's safe to say that McCurdy's transformation never would've happened had she not been courageous enough to exercise her independence.