Diana Ross turns 82: see her glamorous transformation in then-and-now photos

Diana was born the second eldest of six children in Detroit, Michigan, and began singing as a teen.

The budding star joined The Primettes in 1959 when she was just 15 years old, alongside Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Betty McGlown. They changed their name to The Supremes two years later, marking a moment in music history.

The Supremes quickly grew in popularity in the ’60s, thanks to hits like “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Baby Love,” “Stop! In the Name of Love”, and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”, and their international tour in 1966.

Diana stepped out on her own for the first time in 1969 to embark on a solo career, which led to her eponymous debut album a year later, featuring the hit “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.

The singer transformed for her role as Billie Holiday in the biopic Lady Sings the Blues, which scored her an Oscar nomination the following year.

Diana co-hosted the Oscars in 1974 alongside John Huston, Burt Reynolds and David Niven, making her the first Black woman to co-host the show. By this point, Diana had well and truly embraced the disco aesthetic and often donned eye-catching, sparkling looks.

The legend wasn’t afraid to experiment with ’80s looks, and wore her hair in a voluminous style at every turn. She also embraced the bold shoulders, heavy sequins and luxe evening gowns.

Diana and her Supremes sisters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. This followed a record-breaking decade for the mother of five, who released several albums during this time, including Why Do Fools Fall in Love in 1981, Silk Electric in 1982, Ross in 1983, Swept Away in 1984, Eaten Alive in 1985, Red Hot Rhythm & Blues in 1987 and Workin’ Overtime in 1989.

Diana was on the forefront of ’90s trends, with bold colors and fun looks, like this one for the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993.

She was never afraid to go big and bold with her looks, like her head-turning Super Bowl Halftime Show jumpsuit and robe in 1996.

Diana stuck to her bold, colorful and dazzling style in the ’00s, yet took a step back from the spotlight during this decade to work on herself and recover from her struggles with addiction.

She released her first album in seven years, I Love You, in 2006, marking a new era for the star.

Diana won her first-ever Grammy Award in 2012 after being nominated 12 times in the past. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award in a black distressed ballgown in her typical bold style.

Four years later, she was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama, who shared that she “exuded glamour and grace”.

The icon sang in a stunning red tulle gown at the Grammy Awards in 2019, marking a moment of celebration for all she had achieved over the decades.

Diana’s Met Gala appearance stopped the presses in May 2025 when she appeared in a sparkly gown with a dramatic white coat, complete with an 18-foot train that had the names of her children and grandchildren embroidered on it. To top it off, Diana added a feathered hat and proved to all that she was and always will be a diva.