Chrissy Teigen, Before and After

“Everything about me is fake except my cheeks,” says Chrissy Teigen.

At the recent launch of her Becca Face Palette, the 31-year-old model and TV host pointed to her forehead, nose and lips as she proclaimed: “fake, fake, fake.”

Hold up—it's the first time this has happened in Before & After history! As you know, most celebs refuse to admit they've ever had work done, insisting they are all-natural despite glaring evidence to the contrary. (Even, in the case of Khloé Kardashian, calling naysayers “bitches.”) So for Chrissy to speak so candidly is VERY refreshing.

Or did she? A few days later, she claimed she was only joking:

Clearly, it's time we investigate! 

Keep scrolling to see how Chrissy's look has changed over the years…

Our first pic is from Chrissy's yearbook. This is probably close to her natural hair colour and texture. But those definitely aren't her natural eyebrows… they're straight from Cholafied! Even still, she's stunning—and had impressive eyeliner skills for a teenager.

Chrissy in 2009

Moving right along to 2009, Chrissy was starting to become a red carpet regular on the arm of then-boyfriend (now-husband) John Legend. At 23, her beauty look changed a lot since high school, thanks to the lighter hair colour, big waves and deep spray tan. (“I'm very fair-skinned without a spray tan,” the self-proclaimed “spray tan addict” has told People. She was getting them every two or three days!) Either she was born with incredibly perfect teeth, or she also got a little help from veneers and bleaching.

Chrissy in 2010

The following year, Chrissy darkened her hair colour again and wore it in conservative, side-swept waves. Her skin is a few shades lighter (and oh-so-flawless), with pinky makeup that would look just as gorgeous today. If these are indeed her real cheeks, they truly are amazing. That said, her lips definitely look fuller, so this may be when she first started to dabble with injections.

Chrissy in 2011

Funny how Chrissy's styling from 2011—which is not that long ago!—already looks kind of dated. She went back to the spray tan for this event, pairing it with a loose, bouffant updo that we'd never catch her in now. The makeup is heavier, featuring smudgy shadow, darkened brows and dramatic false lashes. 

Chrissy in 2012

The tanned look continued through 2012, when Chrissy was 26, with an updo and minimal makeup. In this pic, her cheeks are popping like crazy! That may be because of a lower body weight; keep in mind that this was pre-pregnancy and at the height of her swimsuit modelling days. Her lips have returned to their normal size, and her over-tweezed brow tails have mostly grown back in.

Chrissy in 2013

She wasn't kidding about being very fair without a spray tan! Chrissy looks completely different with dark hair and pale skin in this 2013 photo. We can also see some subtle styling upgrades to go with her rising profile: her updo and makeup are suddenly much more refined, with cool touches like the navy blue eyeliner and matte pale pink lips. And her complexion is absolutely glorious!

Chrissy in 2014

In 2014, Chrissy got herself on the celebrity beauty map with this new set of blunt bangs (which turned out to be a wig). However, they're not the only new development I'm noticing here. Her lips are bigger than ever! Even though she's duck-facing a bit, they look different from when she had the same pose in 2011. I wonder if she got a little filler in her cheeks at the same time?

So the previous pic was in May; by September of the same year, Chrissy's pout had deflated again. (One more reason to suspect injectables, which are temporary.) This time, her look was all polished and ladylike: a neat updo, understated nude makeup, au naturel brows and glowing skin. 

Chrissy in 2015

Chrissy went blonde in 2015, and her long, brushed-out waves remain some of my favourite “hairspiration” photos ever. As you've probably noticed by now, she usually favours nude lips, so this particular event is notable because she rocked a rare glossy berry. (The vampy colour is even more impactful because of her new larger lip size.) Thanks to an ashy pencil, her brows are becoming fuller and more angular, which is a visual trick to define a round face shape.

Here's another amazing hair look, no doubt assisted by lots of extensions. The blonde is even lighter and the texture is even more beachy. To go with it, Chrissy returned to her go-to combo of false lashes and nude lips (played up with over-lining, natch). Her brows are the thickest we've seen them, and super-ashy.

Chrissy in 2016

Chrissy mixed things up with a top knot and fine highlights in 2016. Her brows also got darker and more precise. But the main thing grabbing my attention in this photo is her upper lip. Not only has it doubled in size since high school, but the bumpiness along the lower edge is a telltale sign of Restylane.

Instagram was clearly having a big influence on Chrissy's beauty style during this year. We've got the strobing, the contouring, the matte beige lips and the exaggerated brows. But, being a model, she can pull these things off better than mere mortals can. Although her hair looks fried from the light blonde, I really like this shorter cut. 

Chrissy in 2023

And just like that, Chrissy's two-year flirtation with blonde was over. This deep brown is the most natural-looking hue she's had yet! The same goes for her brows, which are finally the perfect colour and don't look obviously filled-in. The makeup is actually perfect overall—even the tan. I rest my case with regards to her upper lip.

Our last and most recent shot features Chrissy with slicked-back roots, smoky eyes and bolder brows. If you look closely, one eye is bloodshot, so either the makeup is intended to hide that or it's really irritating her! Notice how smooth her forehead is, and how she doesn't have any crow's feet—despite being at the age (31) when most celebs start to consider Botox for fine lines. Her teeth are also beautifully even and white. It's too bad her under-eye concealer is so light, but hey, she's a new mom!

Conclusion

I don't know about you, but Chrissy looks pretty real to me!

This is one instance where I just can't see any evidence of actual cosmetic surgery, at least from the shoulders up. Unlike the dozens of celebrities we've analyzed in the Before & Afters, she doesn't appear to have undergone rhinoplasty (the most popular procedure).

I can't see any cheek implants, either, which Chrissy has been accused of getting. Her face was always round and full, even back in high school! “Women are like, 'those fake-ass cheeks,' and I'm like, 'No! This is my real face,'” she said at her Becca event. On Twitter, she added:

So we can agree on that. But do I think Chrissy has made the most of non-invasive cosmetic work with no downtime? Yes, yes and yes. Besides the obvious hair colour changes and brow reshaping, I'd say her list of procedures has included hair extensions, spray tans, porcelain veneers and teeth whitening, fillers and Botox. Many of these she has admitted to already (see links), although the Botox was supposedly only for her jaw-clenching habit.

Here's what Dr. Rachel Narazian thinks:

• “Botox helps prevent wrinkling during facial expression, and even though she's smiling in the photos, her forehead is smooth and her crows feet are diminished.”

• “[Her lips look] fuller and more plump, which likely means she had hyaluronic acid injections done for enhancement.”

• “Although she specifically states she's never done anything to her cheeks, her cheeks look much fuller as she's gotten older, which is usually not typical for aging.”

Okay, I'd believe that! If Chrissy is doing fillers in her cheeks, they look believable because she already had the bone structure to support them. But when someone with less natural volume suddenly inflates that area—say, Courteney Cox or Uma Thurman—it's straight into Wildenstein territory.

This is why Chrissy's lips don't scream “fake,” either (even though they obviously are). Full cheeks, full lips—they make sense together. Am I right?

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