These 10 Awkward Children Turned Into Ridiculously Beautiful Celebrities

So, here's the glimmer of hope that anyone can change for the better. We've watched these stars transform from their once awkward pasts into incredibly beautiful celebrities, wishing upon our own shooting stars that someday it could happen to us. We've all had a phase where we just didn't quite look right. These celebrity transformations prove that we are not alone.

Taylor Swift

At 14-years-old, Taylor moved from Pennsylvania to Tennessee to pursue a career in country music. Three years later she released her first self-titled album and established herself as one of the newest and most popular country artists to join the genre in the last ten years. Four albums later and she has become a phenomenon in the music world.

Neil Patrick Harris

His career started as a child actor with his titular role in the comedy-drama show, Doogie Howser, M.D. His role on the show brought him even greater opportunities after winning a Golden Globe. Recently, Neil portrayed the character of Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother which earned him Emmy nomination after nomination, and he's also starring in a new 1-hour variety show this year on NBC.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer began her career in several commercials and a two season appearance on the Disney Channel show Kids Incorporated. Her rise to super-stardom didn't set in until she portrayed Sarah Merrin in Party of Five, as well as her character of Julie James in the slasher horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer and it's sequel. Jennifer continued to work mainly in television as she played the main character in both The Ghost Whisperer (2005-10) and The Client List (2012-13).

Josh Peck

Josh is widely known for his role in the Nickelodeon live-action sitcom, Drake & Josh as well as his appearance on The Amanda Show (another Nickelodeon sketch-comedy show). He took a few years off before re-emerging a few years later with a completely changed physique and taking major film roles.

Zac Efron

Zac burst onto the Hollywood scene after becoming everyone's heartthrob thanks to Disney Channel's High School Musical, as well as the WB series Summerland. Zac has also graced the Broadway stage in Hairspray before focusing on his film career with several big budget films.

Emma Watson

Emma, the girl who nobody knew. That at least until she blossomed into the bombshell we see now. Emma began her acting career in school plays before being cast as Hermione Granger in the eight Harry Potter films. She followed up her acting success in Harry Potter with several other feature films, and recently portrayed Belle in Beauty & the Beast.

Taylor Lautner

Taylor is from my hometown here in Grand Rapids, Michigan and took up Martial Arts before moving into roles on The Bernie Mac Show, My Wife and Kids as well as voice roles on What's New, Scooby-Doo? and Danny Phantom before reaching super-stardom with his role as Jacob in the Twilight Saga. Taylor is set to have a role in the upcoming Adam Sandler comedy The Ridiculous Six.

Alexa Vega

Alexa started her Hollywood career as a guest star on several television series before gaining name recognition for her role in the family action-comedy Spy Kids, as well as the following three sequels. Alexa continued to rise in Hollywood as one of the sexiest upcoming actresses. She has had countless roles in movies over the last 5 years and she is set to appear on the newest season of Dancing with the Stars.

Natalie Portman

Natalie started her acting career at the age of 13 when she stared opposite Jean Reno in the action thriller Leon: The Professional. Although her critical success and notoriety came years later when she portrayed Padme Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Over the years Natalie has taken on incredible films and shined in blockbusters such as Thor, V for Vendetta and Black Swan.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph was a young child star, appearing in the films A River Runs Through It, Angels in the Outfield and 10 Things I Hate About You, and as Tommy Solomon in the TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun. After taking a short break to attend Columbia University, Joseph returned to acting and hit it big with several movies including 500 Days of Summer, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Don Jon and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.