Who was the ultimate teenage 'It Girl' the year you were born, and where are they now?

Brooke Shields started modeling when she was just 11 months old. By 1981, she had appeared on the cover of New York magazine and starred in the controversial film Pretty Baby (1978). Brooke was everywhere in the '80s. The model went on to coin the famous tagline: "You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing," and starred in the hit film The Blue Lagoon.

These days, Brooke is still an it girl in her own right. At 61, she is married to director Chris Henchy and is a mom of two. She's released two books, founded the beauty and wellness brand Commence, and is currently starring in Acorn Tv's You're Killing Me.

Like Brooke, Phoebe Cates started modeling when she was just a kid. At 19, Phoebe landed a role in Paradise (1982) alongside Willie Aames. The film was notably similar to Brooke's The Blue Lagoon and included a controversial full-frontal nude scene. That same year, Phoebe appeared in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which she has since called "the most fun."

The teen actress retired from the business in 1994 after tying the knot with her husband Kevin Kline and welcoming two kids, Owen and Greta. These days, Phoebe lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and owns a boutique store called Blue Tree.

After appearing in a string of Broadway productions as a child, Diane Lane became a Hollywood it girl in the '80s. But, 1983 was really her year. Diane appeared in The Outsiders and Rumble Fish alongside the next generation of leading men – Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, and Rob Lowe.

At 61, Diane is still an A-list actress. Next year, she will star in The Exorcist: Martyrs alongside Scarlett Johansson. She is a mom to daughter Eleanor Lambert, who she shares with her ex-husband Christopher Lambert.

In 1984, Elisabeth Shue made her film debut in the hit film The Karate Kid alongside Ralph Macchio. The actress became an instant star and went onto appear in the beloved Disney Channel Original Move Double Switch.

Four decades later, Elisabeth, 63, reprised her Karate Kid role in Cobra Kai. Outside of her acting career, she is married to film director Davis Guggenheim who she shares three kids with.

The Brat Pack was just the beginning for Demi Moore. The actress's career took off when she starred in Blame It on Rio in 1984. Demi went on to act in Ghost alongside Patrick Swayze, A Few Good Men with Tom Cruise, and Indecent Proposal with Robert Redford. 

Demi, 63, is still one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. In 2025, she was nominated for Best Actress Oscar after starring in The Substance. The actress and her ex-husband Bruce Willis are parents to three daughters together: Rumer, Scout and Tallulah.

Molly Ringwald rose to fame for her career-defining roles in Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink; a star was born with her eye-catching red hair and incredible acting. The actress was beloved and was everywhere.

After the Brat Pack was no more, Molly, 58, continued to work steadily in the industry, pivoting to parental roles later in her career for Riverdale and The Kissing Booth trilogy on Netflix. Outside of her work on screen, Molly is married to writer Panio Gianopoulous. The couple are parents to three children.

Debbie Gibson rose to fame in 1987 when she released her original song "Only in My Dreams." The single landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number four. That same year, Debbie set a record when she became the youngest artist to write, produce and perform a Billboard number-one single.

At 56, Debbie is still performing. She released the album The Body Remembers in 2021 and is touring internationally with her Newstalgia Live Tour.

Alyssa Milano started acting when she was just seven years old and she starred in the touring company of Annie. But, she broke onto the scene in the '80s as Samantha Micelli, the teen daughter in the hit sitcom Who's The Boss? 

Now 53, Alyssa is an actress and writer. She released her book, Sorry Not Sorry, in October 2021 and three years later, she appeared as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway. Alyssa married David Bugliari in December 2008. The couple are parents to two children.

Winona Ryder gained notoriety in the late 1980s when she starred in Beetlejuice and Heathers. A few years later, Winona was an A-lister, appearing in films alongside Johnny Depp and Cher. By 1994, the actress received back-to-back Academy Award nominations.

At 54, Winona is still a goth queen. Her career took off again when she starred as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things and alongside Jenna Ortega in the 2025 film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Winona has a longtime partner, Scott Mackinlay Hahn.

Kelly Kapowski was everyone's crush in the '90s! Tiffani Thiessan was just 15 when she landed the role and became an instant star. She portrayed the high school cheerleader in the spinoff Saved by the Bell: The College Years and two TV movies, Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style and Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas.

Three decades later, Tiffani is still acting. She is starring as Miss Graves in the supernatural drama series Coven Academy, which premiered on October 1, 2026. Off screen, Tiffani married actor Brady Smith. The couple have two children, Harper, 16, and Holt, 11.

Drew Barrymore has been famous since she was a child. In the '80s, Drew appeared in the beloved film E.T. and hosted SNL when she was just seven. By the '90s, the actress was a teen idol. Drew went through some hard times – she was placed in rehab at 13.

Years later, Drew is one of the most beloved actresses in Hollywood. Now 51, she is the host of The Drew Barrymore Show, founder of the production company Flower Films, and is worth some $85 million. The actress is a mom of two daughters – Olive, 14, and Frankie, 12.

For millennials, Christina Ricci is synonymous with black and goth fashion. Christina is the original emo kid, thanks to her roles in 1991's The Addams Family and the 1993 sequel, Casper, and later Sleepy Hollow. By the time she was 15, Christina was a staple of red carpets.

At 46, Christina is still everywhere in Hollywood. She starred as Misty Quigley on Yellowjackets and received a Primetime Emmy nomination. The actress is married to hairstylist Mark Hampton and is a mom of two.

There would be no "it girl" without Kate Moss. The model started walking the runway when she was just 14 and completely took over in the '90s, being known as the "anti-supermodel." Kate appeared alongside Mark Wahlberg in a now iconic Calvin Klein ad and walked for the hottest brands.

Kate is now 52 and still modeling. At the Gucci Fall/Winter 2026/2027 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week, she closed the show. Kate's daughter, Lila, 24, is a model too, walking for brands like Miu Miu, Fendi, and Versace.

Clueless launched the career of Alicia Silverstone in 1995 and has since become one of the most loved films of that decade. That same year, Alicia starred in three Aerosmith music videos, and in three other films, Le Nouveau monde, Hideaway, and The Babysitter.

Recently, Alicia, 50, starred in the mystery drama series Irish Blood and in the Academy Award nominated film Bugonia alongside Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. She is mom to son Bear Blu, who she shares with her ex-husband Christopher Jarecki.

Aaliyah helped redefine contemporary R&B in the '90s. The singer was discovered on Star Search when she was 10, and released her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, at 15. By 1996, Aaliyah released her second studio album, which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200.

Tragically, when she was just 22, Aaliyah died in a plane crash after leaving the Bahamas. 30 years later, the singer is still remembered for her inspirational voice.

By 1997, when Kirsten Dunst was just 15, she had already received a Golden Globe Award and starred in a blockbuster film. The actress's breakthrough came in Interview with the Vampire alongside Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, before starring in Jumanji with Robin Williams, and in the hit medical show ER.

Now 44, Kirsten is an Academy Award nominated actress and is set to star in The Housemaid's Secret, the sequel to The Housemaid (2025), alongside Sydney Sweeney. Kirsten is married to fellow actor Jesse Plemons, with whom she shares two sons.

Brandy Norwood is multitalented. During the early '90s, she released her debut album and received two Grammy nominations. By 1997, she was also starring in the sitcom Moesha and appeared as Cinderella alongside Whitney Houston.

Brandy is now 47 and is touring on her The Boy Is Mine Tour, co-headlining with Monica. Brandy is also a mom to daughter Sy'rai, who she shares with her ex-boyfriend Robert "Big Bert" Smith.

The Y2K era was defined by Britney Spears. After starring on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, Britney embarked on an impressive career that is still lauded today. In 1999, she released her debut album …Baby One More Time, which has sold over 10 million physical copies worldwide.

At 44, Britney is still a cultural icon. After releasing her memoir, The Woman in Me, in 2023, she helped spark dialogue around conservatorships. Britney has not released new music since 2023, but just shared a previously unrecorded song "She'll Never Be Me" to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her 2001 album Britney.