'90s Star Tia Carrere Is Still Such A Bombshell Today

Pop culture enthusiasts of the '90s can't draft a list of the hottest celebs of the day without mentioning Tia Carrere. It was after the Hawaiian bombshell's breakout role as Cassandra in the "Wayne's World" franchise that she first captivated Hollywood with her stunning beauty and undeniable talent as an actor and singer. Carrere's decades-long career has included roles in films like "True Lies," "Rising Sun," and the series lead in "Relic Hunter." By 2002, Carrere returned to her Hawaiian roots, starring in Disney's animated film "Lilo & Stitch" and its sequels. However, unlike some other famous '90s actors who look practically unrecognizable now, Carrere is every bit as gorgeous as she was back in the day.

Paul Archuleta/Getty

Two Grammy wins, and over three decades later, Carrere is still glowing and sharing her love for music and her Hawaiian roots. In June 2026, she lent her voice to the 26th annual Los Angeles Smile Gala: A Luau for Hope, where she performed and shared some Aloha spirit. The actor looked radiant at the event wearing a silky, strapless brown dress with an orange-and-white tropical pattern (just the sort of tropical print we want to add to our wardrobes). She accessorized the look with an open lei-style necklace made of gold leaves, and the outfit perfectly hit the mark of not too casual and not too formal. 

Carrere shared photos of the event on Instagram and gave a shout-out to the nonprofit that hosted the gala, Operation Smile. "You brought the aloha spirit to the @beverlyhilton last night! I loved singing my song 'I'm Still Here' in celebration [of] your 40+ years," she wrote. The actor's "Lilo & Stitch" co-star Maia Kealoha also danced hula for the guests, which Carrere "loved seeing," she shared.

Tia Carrere's Hawaii roots are very important to her, and her tropical upbringing has had an impact on her fashion. Even when she opts for more traditional glam instead of tropical styles on the red carpet, she still tends to favor bright, bold colors and floral prints, which still carry a hint of island vibes.

Carrere's background in Hawaii has factored just as much into her career as it has into her style, and the actor not only voiced the role of Nani, Lilo's older sister, in the animated "Lilo & Stitch" franchise, but she also returned for the live-action version of the film to play Mrs. Kekoa, a social worker who serves as a mentor to Nani. Carrere spoke to ABC Audio in 2025 about how the roles mirrored her own journey and how maturing changed her life and career. "I love that I got to play this role in this movie all these years later, and sort of grow individually as a human being and then as a character in the film." 

Carrere talks about growing older and maturing, but you wouldn't know it by looking at her flawless skin. When asked for her beauty secrets, the actor credits her youthfulness to doing "everything in moderation." In a video for Daily Mail Australia in 2025, Carrere extolled the virtues of the three Ls — live, laugh, love — and added, "Sleep well, drink lots of water, you know. Be joyful, I think being joyful is underrated." The "Wayne's World" star believes true beauty comes when you "find your joy and your grounding and your, I don't know, whatever it is that keeps you straight in this world." Based on Ms. Carrere's advice, we'll be adding "joy" to our list of things everyone over 40 should have in their beauty routine.