Fact: There’s nothing a beauty enthusiast loves more than an award show red carpet extravaganza, and rightfully so. What’s better than Hollywood’s most famous celebrities all gathered in one place, dressed to the nines, and dolled up by the industry’s top makeup artists and hairstylists? Arguably nothing. If you’re in need of some inspiration to hold you over until the 78th annual broadcast live on Monday, Sept. 14, reviewing the most iconic Emmy Awards beauty looks ever will do exactly that.
Ever since the first Emmy Awards premiered on Jan. 25, 1949, at the Hollywood Athletic Club, the highly anticipated evening has served up some of the most talked-about beauty moments of all time. From Joan Collins’ ‘80s-defining layers and Jennifer Aniston’s beach waves, to more recent moments like Zoë Kravitz’s adorably wispy pixie cut and Selena Gomez’s oxblood lip, the award show has offered up endless beauty inspiration through the years, while also showcasing all the of-the-moment makeup, hair, and nail trends.
Curious to see what Emmys looks have graced the red carpet since the first-ever ceremony? Below (and ahead of this year’s ceremony), take a walk down memory lane with the most iconic beauty moments at the annual award show.
Lucille Ball, 1953
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What’s more retro about this Emmys shot from 1953 — Ball’s iconic curly red hair (and matching lipstick) or the ashtrays at every winner’s table? When it comes to TV and beauty alike, it doesn’t get much more legendary than Ball.
Ella Fitzgerald, 1968
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Fitzgerald’s star power is so megawatt, she’s still on this list despite being an Emmys attendee rather than a nominee (not to worry, though, the musician is loaded up with Grammys). Her voluminous bangs are a timeless classic.
Julie Andrews, 1973
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Her rounded pixie cut and short bangs have always been Andrews’s aesthetic calling card, and this throwback shot from the 1973 Emmys shows its adorable evolution.
Joan Collins, 1985
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Collins’s glammed-up Emmys look, complete with glossy red lips, would look just as at home on her infamous Dynasty character. Between her gleaming makeup finishes, evening gloves, and feathered bangs, it’s the best of the ‘80s all swirled together.
Cindy Crawford, 1992
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Crawford proves all a makeup look needs is a bright red lip with her bold pout at the Emmys in 1992. The iconic supermodel opted to keep the rest of her makeup more streamlined by skipping eyeshadow and instead went with a few coats of mascara and a hint of black eyeliner.
Alfre Woodard, 1996
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Not only is Woodard one of the most acclaimed (and awarded!) actors of all time, but she’s also one of the most stylish. Her bleached curls would make a statement on their own, but the shade looks even cooler when paired with her glossy brown lipstick and matching nail color.
Jennifer Aniston, 1999
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Aniston’s beachy, twisted hair undoubtedly stole the show at the Emmys in 1999. To allow her cool ‘do to shine, the Friends actor went with a no-makeup makeup look.
Sarah Jessica Parker, 2003
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Sex and the City’s Parker went with a sleek bun hairstyle for the 2003 Emmys. Her makeup, which consisted of warm, glowing bronzer and glossy lips, was just as elegant as her hair. Not to mention, the fact that her character Carrie Bradshaw would certainly approve of the feathery pink gown.
Helen Mirren, 2006
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A cross-generational icon, Mirren’s short, layered bob and cool silver hair color are as luminous as her cap-sleeved gown — and the elegant jeweled collar just above it.
Blake Lively, 2009
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Lively deserves an award for her braided ponytail at the 61st Emmy Awards in 2006. The Gossip Girl star opted for dewy skin and light makeup, which didn’t take away from her extra-long braid.
Taraji P. Henson, 2011
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It’s hard to decided what’s better — Henson’s dewy, radiant complexion or her elegant side-bun. It’s a tossup, with both elements coming together to form her most elegantly ethereal red carpet looks in recent memory.
Claire Danes, 2013
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A short, jawline-cupping bob was a true Danes signature through the 2010s. When she scored an Emmy Award for her performance in Homeland, the close-cropped cut helped show off hr gown’s low back and its gleaming jeweled straps.
Kerry Washington, 2014
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Feel free to take a moment (or two, or three) to process Washington’s whole beauty moment at the award show back in 2014. Between the sparkling midnight-blue eyeshadow to her mid-length cut’s cool center part, the actor’s look was one of the buzziest of the evening.
Regina King, 2016
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Built around a classic length and shape, King’s long, sophisticated bob is dressed up by a few bespoke extras. There’s the deep, sleek side-part — perfect for showing off the delicate hoop through her ear cartilage — as well as the bit of extra volume in her bangs.
Zoë Kravitz, 2017
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Kravitz’s hair at the 2017 Emmys is the definition of pixie goals. On top of that, the Big Little Lies actor arrived with a perfectly precise cat eye, fluttery lashes, and her signature bold brows. Talk about an unforgettable beauty moment.
Sandra Oh, 2018
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Makeup artist Danielle Vincent was inspired by Oh’s red dress, thought about using rich Moroccan reds and golds on the actor at the 2018 Emmy Awards. The makeup artist explained to Refinery29 that, instead, “I wanted to do something modern on her and not something so matchy-matchy, so I popped on more of a rich burnt orange and magenta.”
Zendaya, 2019
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Ah, is there anything Zendaya can’t pull off? According to her gingery red locks at the Emmys in 2019, the answer is no. Thanks to celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen, her soft waves looked oh-so stunning with the vivid hair color. And the Euphoria star’s bold arches and on-point contour were just the cherry on top.
Yara Shahidi, 2020
Although A-listers were posted up in the backyard instead of the usual Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles for the award show in 2020, that didn’t mean their beauty looks were anything short of glamorous. Case in point: Shahidi’s cornrows (which featured adorable baby hairs), created by Fesa Nu.
HoYeon Jung, 2022
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Have you ever seen a more perfect hair accessory? Rather than go for a been-there-done-that headband or bow, Jung’s center-parted bob featured a cluster of shimmery sequins attached to a discrete clip. It’s like a tiny firework, and it’s so stunning.
Selena Gomez, 2023
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Technically, the 2023 Emmy Awards were held in the first few weeks of 2024, a holdover from the industry-pausing Writer’s Strike that took over the previous summer and fall. That said, Gomez delivered two years’ worth of glamour with this deep oxblood lipstick color.
Quinta Brunson, 2024
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Brunson channeled her inner flapper at the 2024 ceremony (also held in 2024, albeit in the traditional September). She paired her vampy, silent-film-worthy smoky eye makeup look with molded hair and a Betty Boop-esque pin curl perfectly placed at the center of her forehead.
Jenna Ortega, 2025
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Speaking of vampy: Ortega’s rich lip, contoured cheekbones, and dimensional smoky eye at the 2025 ceremony made a compelling case for “goth formal” as a glam category. The sultry, alternative makeup and loose braid were the perfect match for her Givenchy ensemble.
Carrie Coon, 2025
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After her scene-stealing, bob-wearing performance in The White Lotus, Coon switched things up for the Emmys, debuting a new Jean Seberg- and Mia Farrow-inspired pixie cut on the red carpet. The chic cut came courtesy of hairstylist Jenny Cho.
This article was originally published on Sep. 17, 2021
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