7 Best Movie Makeover Scenes of All Time

By Alexus Mosley

Few things are more satisfying than a good movie makeover. You know the formula: questionable wardrobe, a friend who knows better, an impossibly convenient shopping montage, and a big reveal that leaves everyone wondering how they failed to notice the leading lady was gorgeous all along.

Sure, the makeover trope hasn’t always aged perfectly (we’ve since learned that glasses are not, in fact, a character flaw), but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t still love watching one unfold. From royal blowouts and Beverly Hills shopping trips to Chanel boots and staircase reveals, here are seven movie makeover moments permanently etched into our pop culture memory.

Mia Thermopolis —The Princess Diaries

Before Mia Thermopolis could become the Princess of Genovia, apparently there was one royal emergency that needed immediate attention: her eyebrows. Enter Paolo.

Mia’s transformation from frizzy-haired San Francisco teenager to polished princess gave us everything a great makeover scene requires: steaming hair, broken brushes, glasses sacrificed in the name of beauty, and Julie Andrews calmly overseeing the entire operation.

The final result was lovely, but it’s Mia’s horrified reactions throughout the process that made the scene unforgettable.

Tai Frasier —Clueless

Nobody loves a makeover quite like Cher Horowitz. When new girl Tai arrives at Bronson Alcott High, Cher and Dionne immediately decide to take her under their very fashionable wings. What follows is pure Clueless: hair dye, makeup, clothes, and three teenage girls having what appears to be the greatest sleepover of all time.

The makeover doesn’t completely change Tai (nor should it), but it does provide the confidence boost that helps launch her into Cher’s Beverly Hills social world.

As Cher herself explained, her main thrill in life is a makeover. We understand.

Gracie Hart —Miss Congeniality

Gracie Hart wasn’t interested in becoming a beauty queen. Unfortunately for her, the FBI was.

Preparing the decidedly un-pageant-like agent to infiltrate the Miss United States competition required an entire team, plenty of beauty treatments, and the very patient Victor Melling.

But the masterpiece isn’t simply the makeover montage. It’s the reveal. Gracie emerges from an airplane hangar in a little purple dress, perfectly blown-out hair and heels as “Mustang Sally” plays—and promptly trips. Still Gracie.

Andy Sachs — The Devil Wears Prada

“You have no style or sense of fashion.” Miranda Priestly certainly knew how to motivate a girl.

After realizing her journalism credentials weren’t going to be enough to survive at Runway, Andy Sachs finally enters the fashion closet and, with Nigel’s help, exits looking like she belongs there.

Cue Madonna’s “Vogue,” Chanel boots, fabulous coats, oversized sunglasses, and one of the chicest fashion montages ever committed to film.

And we absolutely still want every single outfit.

Laney Boggs —She’s All That

Ah, yes. The ‘90s… the magical era when Hollywood tried to convince us that removing a beautiful woman’s glasses was a radical transformation.

After Zack Siler bets that he can turn any girl at school into prom queen, his sister takes over Laney Boggs’ makeover. Off come the glasses, down comes the hair, and out comes that red dress. Then Laney descends the staircase as “Kiss Me” plays.

Not particularly realistic but unfortunately iconic.

Vivian Ward —Pretty Woman

Vivian Ward’s transformation in Pretty Woman gave us one of cinema’s most satisfying shopping sequences.

After initially being dismissed by the saleswomen on Rodeo Drive (Big mistake. Huge.), Vivian builds a sophisticated new wardrobe with a little help from Edward. Returning to the boutique that wouldn’t assist her reminds the saleswomen that sometimes karma is instant.

Sandy Olsson —Grease

And then there was Sandy. After spending most of Grease in cardigans, pastel skirts and good-girl ponytails, Sandy arrives at the carnival almost unrecognizable in black, off-the-shoulder clothing, red heels and a head full of curls.

Danny’s reaction said everything. Whether Sandy should have needed to change for Danny is a conversation for another day. As a cinematic reveal, however, it’s nearly impossible to beat. “Tell me about it, stud.”

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