What The Leading Ladies Of Glee Look Like Today

The musical comedy drama series "Glee" premiered on Fox in 2009, introducing a genre we rarely see on television. After six seasons, the series wrapped up in 2015, and more than a decade later, news of a Disney+ and Hulu reboot brought joy to fans worldwide. Many of the hit's leading ladies have left their mark on the project, and news that Lea Michele and Heather Morris may reprise their roles has certainly made our day. But it's been over a decade since the series wrapped, and many of the leading ladies have changed.

From those who kept their signature hairstyle to those who went for an entirely new look, the female cast of "Glee" has transformed. The women behind the iconic characters have all grown, and side-by-side photos from the Fox series and today show that time has passed. Well, in some cases. Some of the women have not changed at all, making us feel like it's the early 2010s and we should dye our hair ombré and download Instagram (Amber Riley and Jenna Ushkowitz, we're looking at you!).

As Quinn Fabray, Dianna Agron has been known for her blond hair, often styled in a high ponytail. In 2026, Agron looks just as youthful, but her appearance has completely changed. The actor ditched the blond for a light brown bordering on brond, adding more contrast to her look. Agron has also embraced dewy skin, a stark contrast to the matte finish we saw in the 2010s. "Everybody feels better when their skin is smooth and radiant," she told Vogue in 2018. Agron also rocked money-piece highlights in 2023, even though she's ditched the look since.

Known for playing Coach Sue Sylvester, Jane Lynch delivered one of the most memorable performances on "Glee." The character was known for her signature grown-out pixie, and Lynch is still rocking it in 2026 — however, this time, with more layers and texture. Lynch also wears glasses now, which add a polished and preppy appearance to her look. While her character mostly rocked tracksuits, Lynch's style is much more adventurous. "I love having the makeup artist come over to get all dressed up and decide what you're going to wear," she told E! in 2020.

Jessalyn Gilsig portrayed Terri Schuester on "Glee," and since her time on the series, the actor has changed only slightly. Sticking to blond but lightening it with blended highlights, Gilsig still has long hair with side-swept bangs. Makeup-wise, the actor usually sticks to a look we've seen her rock as Terri, with accentuated eyes and a nude lip. Gilsig keeps her style simple and sophisticated, often sticking to classic black pieces.

Thanks to her copper-red hair, Jayma Mays was instantly recognizable as Emma Pillsbury on the hit Fox series. More than a decade after "Glee" wrapped, Mays still rocked the copper look, now leaning into a dark strawberry-blond shade. In fact, the actor is easily another one of the red-haired celebs who make us want to try the flaming-hot look, especially as a bob. Fashion-wise, Mays loves a bold and colorful look, but when it comes to her makeup, the actor keeps it simple and dewy.

Lea Michele, who played Rachel Berry on "Glee," is one of the series' most recognizable stars. Off-screen, Michele loves experimenting with beauty, not shying away from dramatic smoky eyes or bold red lips. Through the years, Michele has talked about the beauty pressures of the industry, telling Today in 2017, "Everyone always told me I wasn't pretty enough, needed to get a nose job." Like her daring makeup looks, the actor also doesn't shy away from fun fashion. That, however, can backfire, which is why she ended up among the worst-dressed celebs at the 2026 Tony Awards.

As Mercedes Jones, many came to know Amber Riley, whose beauty and talent remain at the forefront. The actor is among the "Glee" stars whose fashion choices are daring and unexpected, but she also had some faux pas, like the one that landed her on our list of worst-dressed stars at the 2024 CMT Awards. Riley is also among the ladies of "Glee" who look like no time has passed, as her youthful appearance shows. But while Riley's face card might look the same, her makeup, hairstyle, and fashion choices have evolved over time, making her look more and more beautiful.

Jenna Ushkowitz, who played Tina Cohen-Chang on "Glee," is yet another leading lady who barely looks a day older than she did when the musical series was on air. That said, Ushkowitz does have a completely different style from her character. "Season one I had those blue highlights and really long, straight black hair, and the makeup was lots of blues, black, and lots of heavy eyeliner," the actor told PopSugar in 2021, stressing that Tina's goth style was completely opposite of what she goes for. Today, Ushkowitz is a warm-toned brunette with balayage highlights and dewy, natural-looking makeup.

Among the Glee stars who seemingly haven't changed much since their days on set is Heather Morris. The actor played the lovable Brittany Pierce, and photos of the actor and the character side-by-side show that Morris' contagious smile is just the same. The actor also stuck to blond hair, which is somewhat shorter than her character's. While Morris loves a pair of good falsies, the rest of her makeup tends to be minimal, subtly enhancing her natural beauty.

We certainly can't help but wonder what the secret of the "Glee" ladies is, as pretty much all of them not only look fabulous, but could also fool us into believing the series was shot recently if we didn't know better. Side-by-side pics of Melissa Benoist as Marley Rose in the Fox series and in 2026 show just how little her appearance has changed. Apart from the fact that Benoist rocks natural-looking makeup, the actor has kept her signature brown hair and long haircut — after almost a decade of rocking a blond look while portraying Supergirl in the series of the same name.

Becca Tobin, who played Kitty Wilde on "Glee," has been open about her skincare journey, sharing that taking care of herself is a priority in her life. "I'm obsessed with skin care and I'm obsessed with treatments. I think I've tried everything under the sun as far as lasers, microneedling, and all of that goes," she told New Beauty in 2021. And the effort certainly shows, as Tobin looks stunning today. Thanks to her blond hair, often styled in an updo, the actor still looks like the character she portrayed, but her style is much more elevated and chic compared to Kitty's.