Shailene Woodley, Before and After

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After being nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe and an Independent Spirit Award, it's safe to say that Shailene Woodley is one of the hottest young stars in Hollywood right now.

But it's not just her leading roles in Big Little Lies, Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars that have garnered her attention. 

The 26-year-old has become just as well-known for her unconventional approach to health and beauty.

In 2014, she famously told Into the Gloss that she eats clay, eschews shampoo and likes to sunbathe her vagina to get vitamin D. She also makes her own medicines and forages for wild foods, according to a 2013 interview with Flaunt.

More recently, she shared this red carpet beauty tip: “Just happiness, man!”

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So you wouldn't think someone like that would alter her appearance with surgical procedures—right?

Think again! (I'm as surprised as anyone about the findings of this Before & After investigation!)

Let's examine how Shailene's look has evolved over the years:

Shailene in 2006

Shailene Woodley at the 2006 CARE Awards.

What you might not know is that Shailene has been acting since she was 10 years old, and before that, she was modelling from age four. In this pic, she was 14… and I'm going to assume that you're seeing what I'm seeing. One feature in particular looks VERY different!

Shailene in 2007

Shailene Woodley at the 2007 Newport Beach Film Festival.

And here's Shailene's face from the other side. So I'll spell it out now—I don't think this is the nose she has now! What she also had back then was amazingly glowy 15-year-old skin, despite the onset of a few minor breakouts.

Shailene in 2008

Shailene Woodley at the 2008 Time for Heroes Celebrity Carnival.

Does anybody else appreciate knowing that Shailene was just as awkward as everybody else, as a teenager? Weird hair, zits, bad foundation… we've all been there. 

Shailene in 2009

Shailene Woodley at the Read Across America program launch in 2009.

By age 17, Shailene's skin had cleared up—and acquired some adorable freckles! Or maybe they were always there and we're only seeing them now, without makeup. It looks like she may have tinted her brown hair red, and is rocking an unfortunate style known as the “bang combover.” 

Shailene in 2010

Shailene Woodley at the 2010 Teen Vogue Young Hollywood party.

Now we'll start seeing Shailene—then the star of 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager'—looking a lot more polished. She traded the auburn hair for sun-kissed brunette waves, along with pretty, age-appropriate makeup. As you can see, she always did have beautiful eyes and perfect teeth. 

Shailene in 2011

Shailene Woodley at The Hollywood Reporter's Next Gen reception in 2011.

This looks more like the Shailene we know today, although I don't think she altered any of her features—yet. To me, she seems to be one of those beauties who can look like an entirely different person with eye makeup.

Shailene in 2012

Shailene Woodley at the 2012 ABC Family Upfront.

Just before she cut it all off, Shailene had the most gorgeous long, shiny hair. Also, see what I mean about the eye makeup? From this point forward, we won't see her without definition along the upper and lower lash lines, which is so transformative to her face.

Shailene in 2013

Shailene Woodley at the 2013 premiere of 'The Spectacular Now.'

You can always tell you need a haircut when you find yourself wearing a ponytail all the time. That's what Shailene seemed to be doing right before she got her dramatic, career-changing chop. However, there's another thing I'm noticing about this photo: it's giving us a clear shot of her old nose. There is no question in my mind that she altered it right after this!

Shailene Woodley at Elle's 2013 Women in Hollywood Awards.

And then, just like that, Shailene had short hair! Like so many starlets before her, this cut surely helped propel her to new levels of fame. (It seems to be a rite of passage in Hollywood, although it REALLY suits her well.) But if you noticed something else that's new here, you're not alone. It's not a coincidence that she stepped out with a pixie cut AND a more petite-looking nose. That's to trick you into thinking it's just the hair that has changed!

Shailene in 2014

Shailene Woodley at the 2014 premiere of 'The Fault In Our Stars.'

I don't know about you, but when most celebs chop their hair off, I can't wait for it to grow back. Not the case with Shailene. She looks INCREDIBLE with short hair. Of course, the new balance between her features helps as well. 

Shailene Woodley at the 2014 Paris premiere of 'White Bird in a Blizzard.'

I can't remember seeing this at the time, but when Shailene had short hair, she also had a brief moment as a blonde. (She was 23 by this time.) Maybe this should've been our first clue that she is not as “granola” as she seems! I do think she pulls it off, and it's amazing with her eye colour—but brown is way more striking.

Shailene in 2015

Shailene Woodley at the 2015 New York premiere of 'Insurgent.'

That's better! The following year, Shailene returned to her natural brunette, which allows her features to stand out, rather than the hair colour. Here, you really notice her eyes—which have such a unique shape, turned up at the outer corners. 

Shailene Woodley at the 2015 MTV Movie Awards.

And here's Shailene's solution for growing out a pixie cut. Lots of texture, and a reverse French braid! The hair is fine, but this isn't her best choice of foundation—it's too pink. That's probably because she only lets all-natural products touch her skin, and we all know those can be hit and miss when it comes to shades.

Shailene in 2016

Shailene Woodley at the 2016 New York premiere of 'Snowden.'

A year later, Shailene debuted another radical beauty transformation, stepping out with longer, darker hair (she had to get extensions for her role in 'Snowden'). I think the colour is way too solid-looking, although I like the rest—including her nose ring! What better way to show off a new nose!

Shailene Woodley at the 2016 InStyle Awards.

This hair look, I can get behind. After a month, the colour had faded nicely, and the cool braids are more Shailene's style. Notice how she is becoming more confident with her makeup, with gleaming cheeks, strong brows and expertly lined eyes.

Shailene in 2023

Shailene Woodley at the 2023 premiere of 'Big Little Lies.'

The sophisticated beauty vibes continued into 2023 with this pretty makeup and romantic updo. Whether she upgraded her products, her beauty team, or both, it's all paid off—she looks fantastic here! But then she switched things up AGAIN…

Shailene Woodley at the 2023 Emmy Awards.

After dabbling with highlights all summer, Shailene showed up at the Emmys with a brighter blonde than EVER! Too bright, in my opinion, but apparently it's for a role. (Otherwise, to see someone so into natural living become a bleach blonde is very… not what I'd expect.) That said, I'm a fan of everything else she's got going on here, especially the edgy eye makeup!

Conclusion

Shailene Woodley in 2006 (left) and in 2023 (right).

Shailene Woodley in 2013 (left) and 2014 (right).

Comparing Shailene's photos side by side, there's no doubt about it. Her nose is visibly different now, suggesting that she altered it with a rhinoplasty at some point in 2013. Who would've guessed!? 

Nobody noticed, because her timing was impeccable. Debuting a new nose at the same time as a radical pixie cut was a stroke of genius, frankly. Other celebs should take note! This is how you fly under the radar with plastic surgery. 

Shailene is also the LAST person you'd suspect of visiting a plastic surgeon, because of her high-profile hippie persona. 

For example, in Interview, she railed against Photoshopped images of herself in the media: “The reality is that I do not have those lips and my skin is not flawless and I do have a little bit of a stomach. It was not a proper representation of who I am.”

And on Into the Gloss, she talked about keeping it real, even on the red carpet: “Day-to-day, I don't wear makeup at all. I will get my makeup done for appearances and events. I think there is something to be said about switching up old paradigms, but you have to turn the wheels slowly. You have to pick and choose where you are going to represent you and the things you keep sacred, and then there are the things you have to do for the public…. I respect the establishment, but I don't sacrifice my own integrity. I wouldn't wear fake eyelashes or crazy extensions. It's always me—just maybe the public, pretty-in-a-Cinderella-dress me.”

We can only conclude that she doesn't consider a nose job to be an affront to her personal integrity! 

I will say that it was executed flawlessly—one of the best surgeries I've seen—and it certainly DID appear to help her career. 

And maybe Shailene had a bigger goal in mind than just personal fame. “[Stars] can make this about ourselves given the platform that we have or we can use it for a cause,” she told Global News in 2014. “Use all this attention for something that's greater than just an individual life.” As an avid environmental activist, it seems she is doing just that!

How do you feel about Shailene's beauty evolution?
Which of these looks is your favourite?
What “beauty work” do you think she's had done?