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Fashion

Ariana Grande's Style Evolution, From Nickelodeon Star To Red Carpet Powerhouse

High ponytail included.

by Erika Harwood

Ariana Grande's style is now known for its signatures: a high ponytail, a short skirt (or mini-dress or sweatshirt), and thigh-high boots. While she knows what she likes when it comes to red carpet dressing, there was once a time when Grande's style looked much, much different. Check out the singer's fashion evolution, from kid actor to red carpet powerhouse.

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2011, Grammys

For her first-ever Grammys red carpet, the singer went for a simple white dress.

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2012, Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards

During her Nickelodeon days, Grande wore a yellow strapless dress to the Kids' Choice Awards.

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2013, MTV Movie Awards

As her signature hairstyle started to evolve, she opted for a short lace dress for the MTV Movie Awards.

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2013, American Music Awards

She upped the red carpet glam in a floor-length sequin gown.

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2014, Grammys

Back to her strapless silhouette for the 2014 Grammys.

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2014, VMAs

The red carpet look from Moschino marks the beginning of Grande's short dress/tall boot era.

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2015, Grammys

She wore a white Versace gown with chain metal detail to attend the 2015 Grammys, which nominated her second album My Everything for Best Pop Vocal Album.

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2016, Grammys

The following year, she matched the Grammys red carpet in a Romona Keveza gown.

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2016, Time 100 Gala

She wore a billowing black Christian Siriano gown to the Time 100 Gala.

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2016, Billboard Music Awards

For the Billboard Music Awards, Grande opted for a cutout Atelier Versace gown.

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2016, VMAs

She switched up her style game later that year, opting for a black Alexander Wang look (and bangs!).

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2018, Met Gala

Grande wore Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel on a Vera Wang gown to her very first Met Gala.

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2018, VMAs

She wore a metal-plated mini-dress with her signature thigh-high boots to attend the 2018 VMAs, where she won the Pop Video award for "No Tears Left To Cry."

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2018, Billboard Women In Music

As Billboard's 2018 Woman of the Year, her look boasted Ariana Grande staples all around: high pony, short dress, and tall boots.

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2020, Grammys

For her most recent red carpet appearance, she pulled out all the stops in a huge Giambattista Valli ballgown and on-trend evening gloves.

See more jaw-dropping style evolutions from Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, and Gwen Stefani.