Yara Shahidi's Best Red Carpet Hair and Makeup Looks
Yara Shahidi may star on one of TV’s most-watched sitcoms — and have earned her very own spinoff — but that’s only half the reason thousands flock to the actor's feeds on the daily. Less interested in snapping selfies than sparking impactful conversations, Yara makes the most of her social media presence, turning to Twitter and Instagram to project a powerful point of view on today’s hot topics. She’s even visited the White House twice before her 16th birthday, proudly hosting a livestream alongside Karlie Kloss to encourage teen girls to pursue careers in STEM at the annual White House Science Fair — you know, all in a casual day’s work.
Yara truly embodies what it means to radiate beauty from within; the incoming Harvard student glows like no one else, and always manages to nail it on the red carpet. (Seriously, her skin is out of this world.) Here, scroll through the actor's best beauty looks to date — which is your favorite?
Photo: Getty Images1/41March 2009
Way back in 2009, an adorable Yara attended her first-ever Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, proving that killer confidence — and a huge grin — is all you need to own the red carpet.
Photo: Getty Images2/41October 2012
Pretty in pink! Yara matches a gloss-ified pout to the bight pink rose accessory perched on top of her head. She takes her lashes to the next level with a set of dramatic falsies for Keep A Child’s “Dream Halloween” event.
Photo: Getty Images3/41February 2015
Yara’s officially all grown up and more gorgeous than ever. Her subtle cat eye and major lashes make for the perfect final touch to a glowing complexion.
Photo: Getty Images4/41August 2015
The Black-ish starlet opts for a show-stopping fishtail braid and subtle sunkissed highlights, slaying the carpet at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards.
Photo: Getty Images5/41September 2015
Yara lets her curls revel in all their natural glory, and (obviously) our jaws dropped. Notice how she amps up her entire look with a deep crimson pout.
Photo: Getty Images6/41October 2015
Remix! Yara debuts soft curls as shiny as the gloss on her lips at Variety’s Power of Women Luncheon.
Photo: Getty Images7/41November 2015
Yara looks like an absolute goddess with waist-grazing braids and carefully placed blue streaks. She keeps her makeup relatively simple to let her mane take center stage.
Photo: Getty Images8/41January 2016
The bright pop of pink on Yara’s lips gives her skin a pretty, rosy glow. An artfully drawn cat eye completes her look.
Photo: Getty Images9/41January 2016
We almost didn’t recognize Yara with a sleek new set of (faux!) bangs, but are seriously digging the sassy sophisticate vibes she’s giving off.
Photo: Getty Images10/41February 2016
Yara takes a twisted topknot for a spin, keeping her makeup pared-down and downright pretty.
Photo: Getty Images11/41February 2016
Big, bouncy curls (with hints of violet here and there) and chunky black liner give Yara the full aura of a front row fixture at New York Fashion Week.
Photo: Getty Images12/41February 2016
Yara’s double buns are proof that you’re never too old to rock pigtails and still look ridiculously cool.
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Radiating with a glow like no other, Yara’s poreless complexion is serious skin #goals. Paired with crimped strands and smoky makeup, she brings the drama but still looks like an absolute angel.
Photo: Getty Images14/41February 2016
Yara goes for the business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back look with two polished twists swept back into a cascade of springy curls.
Photo: Getty Images15/41March 2016
A high pony, brushed-up brows, and flicks of liner give Yara an air of edgy sophistication.
Photo: Getty Images16/41April 2016
Looking cool as ever, Yara pulls her curls into a sideswept topknot at the 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards.
Photo: Getty Images17/41May 2016
Experimenting with different styles is what makes beauty the most fun — which is why Yara goes for double buns. And her beautiful bronze eyeshadow? It deserves a medal in our book.
Photo: Getty Images18/41June 2016
Is it pure coincidence that the blush on Yara’s cheeks perfectly matches the pink tint of her shadow? We think not. Embracing her natural texture, Yara sweeps her curls to the side to pull the total look together.
Photo: Getty Images19/41August 2016
One word: stunning. Yara’s loose spirals prove to be serious curlspiration. Luminous skin and lined eyes top it all off.
Photo: Getty Images20/41September 2016
Yara’s well-aware that her best asset is a beaming smile. She plays it up with a high-shine pout and mile-long lashes.
Photo: Getty Images21/41October 2016
Yara's two pretty plaits are a modern take on Sade-style braids. Opting for blue liner instead of her go-to black on the bottom rim has all eyes on her.
Photo: Getty Images22/41November 2016
Yara took a twisted topknot for a spin, and tried out cocoa-colored makeup that looked absolutely stunning with her skin tone.
Photo: Getty Images23/41January 2016
It’s all in the details — Yara looked like a real-life Disney princess with a slanted, statement part and a long, bubble pony that draped down her back.
Photo: Getty Images24/41January 2017
Textured bangs and a pop of color on her lips proved an effortlessly pretty beauty duo.
Photo: Getty Images25/41January 2017
Here, she radiated cool with icy blue shadow and tight curls.
Photo: Getty Images26/41January 2017
Leave it to Yara to rock another incredible updo that we couldn’t stop staring at. A flawless cat eye and brushed-up brows completed her look.
Photo: Getty Images27/41February 2017
Talk about hair goals — Yara’s let her gorgeous natural texture take center stage, keeping her makeup simple and fresh.
Photo: Getty Images28/41February 2017
Yara’s look at the NAACP Image Awards was super simple, but far from basic. Two waist-grazing braids and minimal makeup made for a pretty pairing.
Photo: Getty Images29/41July 2017
Yara’s halo of curls was teased to new heights for a beautiful, otherworldly effect. She added glasses to her look, and brought new meaning to “geek-chic."
Steve Granitz30/41August 2017
At the MTV VMAs 2017, Yara wore side-parted finger waves that framed her face beautifully, adding volume to the look with her cascading curls. A subtle gold eyeshadow perfectly matched the golden hue of her gown as well.
Steve Granitz31/41November 2017
For the AMAs 2017, Yara pulled her hair back in a low bun, and cornrows. While her neutral lip kept her look low-key, the silver eyeshadow added a little something extra glam.
Michael Tran32/41January 2018
Yara looked more regal than ever at the NAACP Image Awards 2018, rocking her braids in a high ponytail, fastened with a gold statement clip. The braids cascaded all the way down past her waist, dialing up the drama on her minimalist, glowing makeup.
Dan MacMedan33/41January 2018
We imagine this is Yara’s woke-up-like-this look, with the addition of a metallic berry lipstick that makes her red-carpet ready. At the SAG Awards, the star rocked gorgeous volume with her middle-parted curls.
Pascal Le Segretain34/41January 2018
At the Spring/Summer 2018 Chanel Couture show, Yara opted for her signature fresh faced look, adding a bit of green eyeliner for a fun spin on her usual cat eye. With her hair pulled back to show off her face, she added a sheer pink shade to her lips for a colorful vibe.
Jon Kopaloff35/41January 2018
At the L.A. premiere of Black Panther, Yara pulled her hair off her face and fanned it in a voluminous halo. She kept her makeup minimal, but rocked her signature cat eye — perhaps a subtle nod to the film.
Steve Granitz/Getty Images36/41February 26, 2018
Yara attends the Wrinkle in Time premiere in a braided top-knot and a dusty rose combo on her lips and cheeks care of (Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Blush Sheer Color in 420 Burning Berry)[https://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/makeup-blush-rouge-coco-lip-blush-142637]. An as always, her skin is so dewy it looks lit from within.
Steve Granitz/Getty Images37/41March 24, 2018
If anyone knows how to rock an updo, it’s Yara. At the Kid’s Choice Awards, she paired a deep side part with forehead-framing baby hairs, and finished the look with her signature mauve lids and glossy lips.
Ben Gabbe/Getty Images38/41April 24, 2018
At the Time 100 Gala in April 2018, Yara trades her usual rose-colored shadow shades for a pop of electric blue. She wears her hair in a twist to frame her glowing complexion and megawatt smile.
Steve Granitz/Getty Images39/41April 27, 2018
All pink, everything: Yara takes her hair tie game to the next level by matching it to her dress, and wrapping it around her ponytail to give it a little extra oomph. She continues the pink theme with her makeup, too, proving that color coordination is always a good idea.
David Livingston/Getty Images40/41April 28, 2018
Yara and her gorgeous curls were on full display at a Blackish event in April 2018. She shaded her lids in a subtle mauve shade, and finished the look with a flick of her signature cat-eye.
Getty Images41/41May 7, 2018
Yara's beauty look at the 2018 Met Gala was just as youthful as her layered tulle dress. With a little shimmer on her cheeks and eyes, a slight cat eye for a little red carpet drama, and some gold shadow above her brows, she was totally flawless.
