These 19 Emo Kid Glow-Ups Will Blow Your Mind

The left is me at 17 and the right is me now, at 28. I was obsessed with all things emo back in the day. It's still one of my favorite times in my life. Now I’m an adult who has an adult job and has to pay adult bills.

—lolap47dea032a

While I spent a decent amount of my young days going to punk shows, these days I spend most of my time in class. Being an emo kid taught me to never limit myself in what I could enjoy, in what I could do, and in who I could be. And now I’m really happy with myself and where I am in life!

—vanessav4e34090ba

But I'm still going hard on my emo throwback playlists after all these years!

—rheamarieprincesaprimaveras

Even though the huge Q-Tip hair days are over, I still indulge in a good 2008 screamo binge now and again. Oh, and I’ll always miss Myspace!

—brittanyh4d28a6e22

On the left is 10th grade me featuring the MCR fingerless gloves that I wore every day (yikes), black nail polish, and a bit of a raccoon eye vs. college senior me. Still, I listen to MCR on the daily, no shame!

—alexe4ff5a27c4

Here's teenage me in high school, hair dyed blue with Kool-Aid, never showing my full face in photos. Like, this is literally the best picture that exists from this time in my life.

—alexbc2

I was at my peak emo phase while in college on Long Island. While a lot has changed, I still pre-ordered (and loved) Fall Out Boy's last album and Mayday Parade will forever be on my playlist.

—rickyw4779a636b

The top two are me during my 8th and 9th grade years. I've grown up quite a bit!

—catalinaanna

Back in my sophomore year of high school, I cut my bangs into the “scene” style, was obsessed with teasing it everyday, and was ALWAYS repping these Black Veil Brides tees. Eventually I cut (almost) all of my hair off and started wearing brighter colors.

—chasel43a53c703

Back then I was just a college student who loved black eyeliner and weird camera angles.

—amyl4148b97bd

Back in 2007 when I was a groupie of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, doing a vast majority of my clothes shopping at Goth-n-Go shops (Hot Topic), and blasting Tsunami Bomb on repeat. Cut to 2018, now a semi-functional adult/international volunteer who STILL listens to "The Best Damn Thing" on repeat, but relates to it a lot less.

—meghanc5

When I was 14 I wanted to look like Sasuke from Naruto so bad. Don’t ask me why.

—galynef

My emo days included layered, fried hair, band tees, and (for some odd reason) I thought it was cool to wear a bajillion rubber bracelets and necklaces. Nowadays I replaced my wristbands with an Apple Watch and my hair doesn’t have to be pin straight everyday. Safe to say my style has matured with the times!

—chelseac4c76253e4

Those good ol’ times from my middle school emo phase: Tokyo Hotel, hair in face, and teenage angst. Now, I don't wear TOO much eyeliner (unless it’s for a role).

—ebaartman

These photos were taken 11 years apart. I exercise for fun now.

—auroralucero

I do still indulge in some early 2000’s emo rock every once in awhile!

—kimberleya4760bc0fa

Oh, and I learned how to do hair and makeup.

—brip477d912f8

I was so emo from the time I was 13 to 16, but now at 20, I can’t help but cringe.

—mirandataylorg

Here's 16-year-old me on the left and 28-year-old me on the right. I still have all of my old band t-shirts and I refuse to give up listening to the emo bands of my youth!

—kelleyrcaitlin