Debbie Gibson Was 16 When She Broke Through In The '80s - What She Looks Like Now

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Decades after her rise to fame, Debbie Gibson still looks gorgeous. Long before Taylor Swift became a household name, Gibson was paving the way for future generations as a teenage singer sensation. In 1986, at the age of 16, she wrote her first hit song, "Only in My Dreams," which climbed up to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, Gibson's song "Foolish Beat" made it all the way to No. 1. This was a huge accomplishment at the time, since being a teenage singer and songwriter was a rarity in the 1980s. 

Not only was Gibson famous for her catchy pop songs but she was also known for her spunky '80s fashions, from her denim jackets to her large hoop earrings and brightly colored scrunchies. She was also known to rock some of the most iconic '80s hairstyles. Gibson wore her favorite '80s staples, pictured above, when she co-hosted the 2nd Annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 1988. 

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Talk about "Electric Youth" — just like her hit 1989 song, Gibson still has the same youthful energy she did in the '80s. At the age of 55, Gibson glowed at the "Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular" opening night gala in New York City in July 2026 (pictured above). Her curtain bangs were swept into a side part, while her blond locks were blown out in loose, face-framing waves. Her subtle rosy cheeks, bold black eyeliner, and mauve lips made the perfect statement along with her gorgeous black gown.

How has Debbie Gibson maintained her youthful glow into her mid-50s? For Gibson, who has dealt with Lyme disease since 2013, true beauty starts from within. "I do think there is a beauty to being real ... I say you do the best with what you have and you rock what you got," she told Shop Today in 2018. We love that she's still rocking her long blond locks, just like other celebrity women over 50 who have refused to cut their hair super short.

As for products, Gibson said she doesn't discriminate when it comes to brands. In fact, her favorite mascara, Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara, just so happens to be a drugstore bargain. Gibson's also finding ways to work with her skin as she ages, like opting for different shades of makeup (and understanding why reaching for a brown mascara over a bold black might be better). "I find, as I get a little older and I do have more lines, I go more for the browns these days in my mascara, and it really just helps keep things soft. I go for the inner upper waterline, as opposed to a thick line at times. That too just gives me a more open look," she told NewBeauty in 2025. Even after 40 years as an artist, Gibson has stayed true to her music and herself, and we can't wait to see what she takes on next.