Disney Star Dove Cameron Revealed She Has Struggled with Depression Her Whole Life: Her Transformation in 30 Pics
From Disney darling to dark pop icon, the Hollywood star has undergone a striking transformation. Here's a look at how her appearance has evolved over the years.
Dove Cameron rose to fame on Disney Channel's "Liv and Maddie," where she played dual roles in a pastel world built for teen stardom. But growing up in front of the camera meant more than just evolving on-screen — it meant evolving in real life, too.
Dove Cameron on the set of "Liv and Maddie" in 2012. | Source: Getty Images
As the years passed, her appearance began to shift in ways that fans couldn't help but notice. Gone were the blond curls, and in their place, a sharper, darker, aesthetic. But behind every change lay a deeper story.
Dove Cameron on the set of "Cloud 9" in 2013. | Source: Getty Images
Over the years, the former Disney star has shared throwback photos on Instagram that offered a rare glimpse into her early life, long before the fame, the music, and the red carpets.
Dove Cameron as a child from a post dated December 9, 2017. | Source: Instagram/dovecameron
Dove Cameron as a child surrounded by loved ones from a post dated January 20, 2016. | Source: Instagram/dovecameron
Dove Cameron as a child from a post dated December 9, 2017. | Source: Instagram/dovecameron
In those candid moments, she appeared wide-eyed and playful, sometimes dressed in sparkly crowns or sitting cross-legged beside her mother, often with a soft half-smile and tousled blond hair.
Dove Cameron when she was younger with her mother and sister from a post dated March 11, 2018. | Source: Instagram/dovecameron
Dove Cameron as a child with her mother from a post dated May 30, 2018. | Source: Instagram/dovecameron
Dove Cameron as a little girl from a post dated May 15, 2021. | Source: Instagram/dovecameron
By 2012, Cameron's look had evolved as she grew up, but her aesthetic still clung to that Disney-sweet edge. Her hair, now a richer shade of golden blond, cascaded down in long, voluminous waves — a signature she'd carry for years.
Dove Cameron photographed for Season 1 of "Liv & Maddie" in 2012. | Source: Getty Images
Her makeup stayed light and natural, often highlighting her soft features with rosy tones, fluttery lashes, and a dewy finish. On red carpets, she leaned into delicate lace tops, heart-shaped pendants, and youthful silhouettes that felt polished but still age-appropriate.
Dove Cameron at Variety's Power of Youth event on September 15, 2012, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron at the Disney Channel Kids Upfront 2013 event on March 12 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron photographed for Season 1 of "Liv & Maddie" in 2013. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron on the set of "Cloud 9" in 2013. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron at Planet Hollywood Times Square on January 13, 2014, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron as Mal in "Descendants" in 2014. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron at Disneyland Resort on October 17, 2015, in Anaheim, California. | Source: Getty Images
By 2016, the actress had fully stepped into the spotlight, and her appearance reflected that shift. Her once golden blond hair had gone ice-platinum — a high-gloss, ultra-light shade that became a defining part of her image.
Dove Cameron at Nickelodeon's 2016 Kids' Choice Awards on March 12 in Inglewood, California. | Source: Getty Images
With sleek styling, her look was more high fashion than girl next door. Her makeup had also matured —bold lashes, sculpted brows, and radiant skin gave her a clean, camera-ready glow that stood out on every red carpet.
Professionally, she was riding the momentum of Disney's "Descendants" franchise, where she played the role of Mal — the edgy, magical daughter of Maleficent.
Dove Cameron at the Teen Choice Awards 2016 on July 31 in Inglewood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron at the 2017 season of "Hairspray Live!" in North Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron at Build Studio on March 21, 2018, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron at the press night after-party for "The Light In The Piazza" on June 18, 2019, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
By 2020, Cameron's transformation was impossible to ignore. Her once-soft, round features had sharpened, giving her a far more sculpted, editorial appearance.
Her jawline appeared more defined, her cheekbones more lifted, and her lips noticeably fuller — especially her upper lip, which now framed her smile in a more pronounced, symmetrical way.
Dove Cameron at Entertainment Weekly Pre-SAG Celebration on January 18, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
The subtle slope of her nose also seemed refined, lending a more contoured look to the center of her face. Her eye shape had become a focal point — elongated with makeup that emphasized a cat-like flare, paired with feathery lashes and perfectly arched brows.
Dove Cameron at Vanity Fair and Lancôme's Toast Women in Hollywood event on February 6, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron at the opening night of The Roundabout Theatre Company's "Trouble In Mind" on Broadway on November 18, 2021, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron at the 2021 CFDA Awards on November 10 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
By 2022, Cameron had adopted a dramatically different aesthetic — darker, edgier, and unmistakably more sculpted. While she never confirmed undergoing cosmetic procedures, her transformation became a topic of widespread speculation.
Dove Cameron backstage at the 2022 MTV VMAs on August 28 in Newark, New Jersey. | Source: Getty Images
Plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Linkov and others suggested potential enhancements like rhinoplasty, cheek implants, buccal fat removal, and lip filler. Other professionals even pointed to possible brow lifts and eyelid surgery.
Dove Cameron at the Altuzarra Spring 2023 fashion show on September 10, 2022, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
By 2023, Cameron's once bright, youthful features were sleek and striking — almond-shaped eyes framed by sharp brows, sculpted cheeks, and full, symmetrical lips that gave her face an almost cinematic intensity.
Dove Cameron at the Apple TV+ 2023 TCA Winter Press Tour on January 18 in Pasadena, California. | Source: Getty Images
Her look had grown darker, both literally and stylistically, with jet-black hair and makeup that emphasized the cool precision of her bone structure.
However, the shift wasn't just aesthetic — it seemed to mirror the weight of someone who had lived many lives in just a few decades.
Dove Cameron during the Giambattista Valli photocall as part of the Haute-Couture Spring-Summer 2023 Fashion Week in Paris on January 23. | Source: Getty Images
By 25, the actress had already faced profound loss. When she was eight, her father murdered her best friend. At 15, she lost her father to suicide — an event that led her to legally change her name to Dove, a tribute to the nickname he had given her.
Dove Cameron at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards on November 6 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Years later, in 2019, the actress endured another devastating blow when her "Descendants" co-star and close friend Cameron Boyce died suddenly from epilepsy at just 20.
Cameron has since spoken openly about lifelong struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, crediting therapy — which she's attended since childhood — as a cornerstone of her healing.
Dove Cameron at the Spotify Best New Artist Party on February 1, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron and Damiano David at The 2024 Met Gala on May 6 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Dove Cameron at The 2024 Met Gala on May 6 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Now 29, Cameron has entered a new chapter — personally and publicly. On October 29, 2025, her and Italian singer Damiano David's engagement was confirmed, marking a high-profile milestone in a year already filled with conversation around her evolving appearance.
The actress's latest look is sharper than ever — sleek dark hair, razor-defined brows, high-arched cheekbones, and full, symmetrical lips.
Dove Cameron and Damiano David at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 2 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
Her nose also appears more narrow, her jawline chiseled, and her eyes — now more almond-shaped — are frequently styled with smokey lids and precision liner. The softness of her past has been replaced by a striking, almost sculptural aesthetic.
As expected, social media has lit up with reactions. "She got plastic surgery at quite a young age so shes been unrecognizable for awhile now [sic]," one netizen wrote.
Dove Cameron from a post dated June 24, 2025. | Source: Instagram/dovecameron
Another commented, "She's had at least 3 different faces that I can remember and I feel like shes not even 30."
Others recalled of Cameron's Disney days, "Even when she was on Disney she'd already had work done, it's not surprising. She was always beautiful." A fourth comment read, "Wait that's actually insane [sic]."
Dove Cameron from a post dated September 26, 2025. | Source: Instagram/dovecameron
Cameron's transformation over the years has been as layered as her career — from child star to pop icon, from wide-eyed innocence to razor-sharp glam.
Whether shaped by personal choice, public pressure, or a mix of both, her evolving appearance has sparked endless fascination, criticism, and admiration.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.