20 Incredible Transformations That Prove The Makeover Guy Really Does Work Wonders

Christopher Hopkins – better known to all as The Makeover Guy – has developed quite the reputation down the years. That’s because the flamboyant stylist has drastically revamped the appearances of countless women at his famous salon. So while these 20 females arrived at Hopkins’ boutique stuck in a rut, they left with the most fabulous style imaginable. Seriously, you’re not going to believe your eyes!

20. Mamie: before

Mamie is a resident of Moorhead, Minnesota, and she arrives at The Makeover Guy’s studio with long, grayish hair. But she has a clear goal in mind. Speaking in a video on Hopkins’ YouTube channel, she reveals, “I would like something that I can change, I don’t want to be stuck with one look. I’m turning 60 and thought I needed something extra.”

After

So what did Mamie have done? Well, after The Makeover Guy works his magic, her locks are much shorter. She’s also fully embraced the gray look, and Hopkins has applied some makeup. In short, Mamie looks great! She explains in the video, “I feel like a new person.”

19. Heidi: before

With four kids, ten grandkids and three great-grandchildren, Heidi had her hands full before traveling to Hopkins’ salon. But even so, she makes a frank admission on the beauty expert’s YouTube channel. Sporting blonde hair that rests on her shoulders, the grandmother notes, “I’ve kind of ignored myself.”

After

The Makeover Guy certainly didn’t ignore Heidi, though. He trims her locks and gives the ends curls. Heidi also now rocks a new mousy blonde shade. Funnily enough, Heidi had tried to dye her own hair before – but the results left her looking... well, not so hot. Heidi explains, “[Now] I look likable, and I don’t look homeless!”

18. Lilliana: before

Hailing from Houston, Texas, Lilliana knew what she wanted to get out of her meeting with The Makeover Guy. Her problem is that she’s not a fan of her gray hair. She’s been dying it so much that she’s been left with a darker shade. The grandma tells Hopkins’ YouTube channel, “When I leave the studio today, I want to feel dramatic.”

After

Well, the transformation is definitely dramatic! Lilliana’s short hair has been re-styled – with Hopkins giving her an angled fringe. And he’s replaced the dark color with a light brown shade. To say that she’s pleased would be an understatement. The mom says, “I’m bubbling. I’m exploding inside.”

17. Dr. Feresh: before

Dr. Feresh walked into The Makeover Guy’s studio with graying brown hair and a positive attitude. She notes in the YouTube clip, “I’m 58, [but] I feel young in spirit... [It’s] very important for everybody to feel young – not by number, but how you feel [inside].” So Hopkins looked to showcase her inner youth on the outside.

After

Following the session, Dr. Feresh ends up with slightly shorter hair. Her locks are straightened out too, while the gray makes way for a dark brown color. And the doctor is subsequently shocked as she gazes upon her reflection in the mirror. We don’t blame her. She looks like a new woman, right?

16. Shirley: before

Shirley visited The Makeover Guy’s salon to help celebrate a significant landmark in her life. She had just turned 60, you see, and she’s looking for a fresh start. Speaking in a YouTube video, she says, “I want to look sexy. I feel like I am, some people look at me like I am, but I don’t feel like I look like I am.”

After

Well, that soon changes once Hopkins gets to work. The clip shows that Shirley’s mane is now much lighter than before, and she sports some makeup to round things off. The mom says with a smile, “I like my hair [and] my makeup. I’m all ready to go out! I feel sexy like I wanted to.” She concludes, “I’m not gonna be invisible anymore.”

15. Margarite: before

After Margarite retired from her role as an occupational therapist, she drops in on Hopkins with an open mind. In a YouTube clip, she confidently informs The Makeover Guy, “I’m going to leave myself in your hands. I trust you – just go for it.” And he certainly did!

After

By the end of Margarite’s appointment, her short, dark blonde hair is revamped thanks to a new wavy style. The shade is a little different as well. Off the back of the transformation, she admits, “I was feeling kind of blah blah blah, and maybe just accepting being retired... Now I feel revitalized and alive.” That’s good to hear, right?

14. Pam: before

Pam makes her intentions abundantly clear when she first strolls into Hopkins’ studio. What she wants most of all is to not always wear her hair back. The Texas resident explains in a YouTube clip, “It’s long, and like all those ladies [with the same style], long hair makes you look older. I don’t want that anymore!”

After

The Makeover Guy subsequently follows Pam’s instructions and produces some incredible results. Her flowing locks have been significantly trimmed, while she seems to embrace the gray that was previously coming through her roots. She beams in the clip, “I love it. It’s, like, amazing.” We think so too!

13. Mary: before

A resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, Mary reveals that she ties up her long locks each day. But Mary explains that now she wants something different. The Makeover Guy’s latest customer says in the YouTube video, “I’m not wearing my hair long, and I like the look of it shorter.” So what does he do?

After

You’d think Mary would opt for a shorter cut, right? Well, that’s not what happens. The Makeover Guy instead decides to work on her previous look. Her locks now have more volume, and the color seems brighter. Mary says, “I really thought I’d be leaving with short hair, but in terms of proportions... it wouldn’t have looked good on me.”

12. Debbie: before

Unlike some of Hopkins’ other customers, Debbie’s decision to visit the studio isn’t driven by a particular urge. While appearing in one of his YouTube videos, she admits, “I’m not looking to look any younger or more beautiful. I just want to look [like] the best version of myself.” Good for her!

After

And make no mistake about it, The Makeover Guy achieves this in spades. Yes, Debbie’s graying brown mane is transformed thanks to a trim and some blonde hair dye. She says after, “I don’t recognize myself. My family’s not gonna recognize me either. I’m feeling really good... I am fabulous!”

11. Betty: before

When Betty rocks up at Hopkins’ salon, the tips of her brown hair just rest on her shoulders. She also reveals that, following her retirement, she’d shed roughly 130 pounds in weight. But Betty doesn’t want to stop there. The former high school choir director is hoping that The Makeover Guy can aid her transformation as well.

After

And Hopkins doesn’t disappoint. He gives Betty’s hair a trim and then dyes her locks blonde. While speaking in one of the YouTube videos, Betty responds, “He read my mind. How did he do that? He read my mind and knew what I wanted to look like! That’s magic, it really is.”

10. Beverlie: before

When Beverlie arrives at Hopkins’ studio, her aims are pretty clear. She informs his YouTube channel, “I need to be beautiful again.” The main issue is that she no longer feels attractive for her age. Instead, she says, “I feel like I’m 5,000 years old.” Yep, it sounds like a job for The Makeover Guy!

After

Beverlie’s long, grayish-brown hair receives a major trim from The Makeover Guy before he adds some color. After that, she’s rocking a light mousy shade and couldn’t be happier. Beverlie gushes, “I think I look as good as I can look and feel just pretty darn good.”

9. Vicki: before

With lengthy gray locks running down her shoulders to her chest, Vicki is looking for a change after dropping in on Hopkins. Before their appointment, the great-grandma admits that she will often tie her hair up at home. But those days are soon to be over when The Makeover Guy gets to work.

After

Yes, Vicki’s mane is cut down to a very short length – hanging just above her shoulders. And as for the color, it is now a silvery blonde. Upon seeing herself, the grandparent says, “Oh my God, it’s beautiful.” She goes on, “Holy cow, I love the hair. I just love it. I could do this.” Vicki likes the makeup, too!

8. Pam: before

Hailing from North Mankato, Minnesota, Pam is a pretty tall woman – measuring in at over 6 feet. But despite her size, the mom believes that she isn’t “visible” to people before visiting The Makeover Guy. She explains, “I don’t have a style, [my hair is] just growing. I need someone with a vision, and [Hopkins is] the guy to do it.”

After

That confidence certainly isn’t misplaced, as Hopkins spruces up Pam’s appearance in a major way. Now, she sports wavy blonde hair that is a little shorter than before – alongside some makeup. The parent says, “I’m not invisible anymore! People will notice when I walk into a room. My inner youth has returned.”

7. Karen: before

To say that Karen’s hair is long is a bit of an understatement. Her curly locks run all the way down to her torso – and this prompts her to drop in on The Makeover Guy. She explains in the YouTube clip, “It’s time. [There’s] long hair all over my house that I don’t need.” It’s been a long time coming, too. Karen has rocked this look since first grade!

After

Undeterred by the challenge ahead, Hopkins gets to work and cuts a significant portion of Karen’s hair. Plus, he applies a bit of makeup as well. And Karen is completely transformed – with her natural curls complementing the look. Karen says, “[I look like] a movie star.” She definitely wouldn’t seem out of place on the big screen!

6. Michelle: before

While The Makeover Guy clearly devotes a lot of time and attention to his customers, Michelle is a very special case. But why’s that? Well, she’s Hopkins’ sister – and he wants to mark her 50th birthday with a session that would transform her appearance. Michelle says, “I’m expecting to look a little bit younger. [But] the whole experience of it is what I’m looking [forward to].”

After

And what an experience it proves to be. Yes, Michelle is well and truly pampered at her brother’s studio. She receives a pedicure, a manicure and gets some hair extensions, too. Once the makeover comes to an end, her brown locks flow over her shoulders – leaving her with a beaming smile. What a birthday present!

5. Brenda: before

With grayish-brown hair draped over her shoulders, Brenda outlines her makeover hopes in one of Hopkins’ YouTube videos. She explains, “I have worn my hair this way since I graduated from high school 50 years [ago]. I’m at an age where I finally felt like I was worth it – worthy of it. Color, cut, makeup, it’s just totally open.”

After

Those words were no doubt ringing in Hopkins’ ears as he got to work... and the results are staggering. Brenda looks like a completely different woman thanks to her new hairstyle. Her trimmed locks take on a dark blonde shade, while the makeup really lights up her face. Unsurprisingly, she loves it!

4. Deb: before

While some women can be a little reluctant to alter their appearance in a major way, you can’t say the same about Deb. After she turns up at The Makeover Guy’s studio, she is quite forthright in her aim. The Minnesota resident says in the YouTube video, “I need a change. I want to change. I’m game.”

After

Deb’s wish eventually comes true as Hopkins gives her a short, stylish haircut – maintaining her silvery gray shade. She responds in the clip, “It’s an amazing feeling. I’m going to be 65, [but] I feel 30 on the inside now.” She loves how fun the style is, too. She says, “It’s really versatile. I can have a different look every day!”

3. Sandy: before

Rocking curly brown hair that just covers her shoulders, Sandy isn’t shy in sharing how she feels about herself on Hopkins’ YouTube channel. She reveals, “I am 57 [and] I’m in a rut. [I’m] feeling old!” So in a bid to help her, The Makeover Guy gets to work on a transformation that’ll leave your jaw on the floor.

After

Hopkins does away with Sandy’s curls by straightening them out in a wavy style. He also brightens up her face thanks to some makeup – with the results leaving her stunned. The Minnesota resident lets out a prolonged, happy yell when she sees herself for the first time. We don’t blame her!

2. Julie: before

Before undergoing her makeover at Hopkins’ salon, Julie explains in a YouTube clip why she wants to make some changes to her appearance. She says, “I’m 58. I was a teacher for 22 years and have worked two or three different careers since then. I took care of my parents towards the end of their lives. I took care of my kids. Now I’m just ready to take care of myself.”

After

Julie’s mane was a dark blonde color that sat at the top of her shoulders. But when The Makeover Guy has finished, her hair takes on a brown and black shade. Plus, it is much shorter. She cries out, “Holy cow! Oh my gosh. I don’t have words. I can’t get over it.”

1. Marion: before

There’s no downplaying it: Marion is not a fan of her hair before arriving at The Makeover Guy’s studio. As she explains in a YouTube video, “It’s going every which way. It’s too flat, it’s too curly, it’s too fuzzy. I don’t like red... [But] I feel 35, 40 maybe.”

After

Marion states that she wants to look “more sexy,” and Hopkins obliges with a truly astonishing makeover. The reddish curls are replaced by a wavy, dark blonde hairstyle, while the added makeup really tops it off. Needless to say, the results leave her floored. Holding back tears, she responds in the clip, “It’s a little bit different! It’s a lot different! I love it. I had the whole enchilada. It feels good.”

You know who else has been feeling good after a stunning transformation? Rebel Wilson! Since Wilson rose to fame, she’s become a cheerleader for body positivity. Thanks to her considerable comedic chops, the Australian star was even able to take a character called Fat Amy and make her arguably the highlight of the entire Pitch Perfect franchise. In recent years, though, the actress has made some significant changes in her life – and that has led her to a whole new look.

Before Wilson actually moved to Hollywood, she first made a name for herself in her native Australia. Most notably, she was one of the stars of Aussie comedy sketch show The Wedge – playing, among other characters, a woman called “Fat Mandi.”

And as Wilson won further roles and more acclaim, her career began to pick up steam. She even appeared in the Nicolas Cage Marvel film Ghost Rider in 2007. Two years later, she also received the Best Actress award at the Tropfest short film festival for her part in the movie Bargain. Then the aspiring star received her big break.

Famously, Wilson was one of the ensemble cast of comedy Bridesmaids, with her character, Brynn, having been written with the actress in mind from the start. And that film not only turned out to be a massive hit – grossing $288 million internationally – but it also ended up being nominated for two Oscars.

Then, the following year, Wilson first appeared in the role that would catapult her to stardom. And playing Fat Amy in the first Pitch Perfect movie won the young hopeful a huge amount of acclaim, too. Wilson even earned the MTV Movie Award for Best Actor in a Movie, while she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category of the San Diego Film Critics Society’s SDFCS Awards.

Interestingly, though, the producers of Pitch Perfect asked Wilson not to lose any weight while filming her role. In 2012 she told the Australian Daily Telegraph, “I have been filming a musical called Pitch Perfect in Louisiana for the past few months ... And for my contract in that movie, I had to stay the same size.”

Wilson went on to the newspaper, “I’d lost ten kilograms and then had to maintain that for the whole movie – which is quite difficult. I was lucky in that I didn’t really have any health issues in that I had to lose weight or my heart would explode, but it was more just feeling more comfortable in myself.”

And Wilson was seemingly happy enough in her own skin to crack jokes about herself. As the film version of Les Misérables scooped awards in January 2013, Wilson tweeted a picture in which she could be seen alongside the movie’s star Anne Hathaway. This was accompanied by the caption, “Get ready for [the sequel]… I’m playing ‘Fat Cosette.’”

Wilson even started a line of plus-size T-shirts named after her character from The Wedge. The shirts, which were released in 2013, featured images of cupcakes or donuts on the chest, and Wilson advertised them on Twitter with the words, “If you need some cupcake or donut power in your life, check out my T-shirt experiment site… Sizes range from 12 to beautimous…”

Then, in September 2013, Wilson spoke to Vulture about her career thus far. She said, “Even when I’m playing Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect, I’m all about attitude. When I first walked into my agency, WME, they signed me because I was distinctive. I didn’t look like every other girl in Los Angeles, and they liked that. I looked like someone an audience could relate to.”

Wilson even revealed that she wasn’t really interested in being glamorous. The young star told the publication, “I’m not vain at all. I’m an actress. And if something gets a laugh, I have no problem embarrassing myself. The character is the point. Not my ego.”

Unsurprisingly, Pitch Perfect spawned a sequel, and so Wilson once again hit screens as Fat Amy in 2015. That same year, she also wore Victoria’s Secret-style angel wings to the MTV Movie Awards as a protest over the skinniness of the lingerie brand’s models. And Wilson would later explain her reasons for the protest to the New York Daily News.

The actress told the newspaper, “I think one of the messages is that we are all beautiful, and sometimes girls look at Victoria’s Secret models and think to model themselves after that. I really don’t think that is the best. Even though they are called models, they are not the best people to model yourself after, and I would like to encourage other girls to think like that.”

Still, in a 2015 interview with the New Zealand Herald, Wilson did admit to comparing herself negatively to her Pitch Perfect co-stars. She revealed, “They are so tiny – I am literally three times their size. Sometimes it’s hard because it’s just difficult not to look so massive next to those girls. But at the end of the day, I just am who I am... at least at lunch I eat whatever I want, while they’re eating lettuce.”

And in a November 2015 interview with Cosmopolitan, Wilson implied that she had a difficult relationship with food, saying, “I love me some ice cream or dessert, and it comes at times when I’m happy or sad. So, when I have an incredibly successful day, I want to celebrate and reward myself with food. If I’ve had a sad or stressful day, food is also comfort.”

Wilson went on, “I bought this hilarious slogan sweater the other day that says, ‘Food is my only friend.’ I thought it was really cute. You would probably describe it as emotional or stress-eating. I don’t do drugs; I don’t really drink… So eating is my one vice. I wouldn’t ever want to totally give it up.”

Even so, Wilson told the magazine that ever since she had moved to Los Angeles at the beginning of the decade, she had been trying to eat in a more healthy manner. She explained, “Living [in LA], you learn a lot about health. I now drink green juices, and I’m trying to do gluten-free. But I don’t do it 100 percent – I’m not a maniac!”

In the meantime, Wilson’s career continued to go from strength to strength. In 2016 she added a clutch of films to her resume as well as a performance as Ursula the Sea Witch in a Little Mermaid concert. Wilson also presented the Best Supporting Actor category at that year’s BAFTAs and spent time treading the boards in London as Miss Adelaide in a West End production of Guys and Dolls.

And in a 2016 Daily Telegraph interview, the star seemed happy to speak about her size. She talked about a time when another girl had been more successful in a show, saying, “I was like, ‘Oh. That girl’s getting a lot of laughs a lot easier than me. What is it?’ Because I don’t think there’s much difference in talent. And I remember distinctly thinking, ‘I think it’s because she’s fatter.’”

Wilson went on, “And then, I don’t know if it was mega-conscious, but I thought, ‘How can I get more laughs? Maybe if I was a bit fatter…’ And then suddenly I was fatter – and doing comedy.” She added, “I saw my size as being an advantage, whereas so many women see it as a disadvantage.”

In the same interview, Wilson also revealed that a hormonal inbalance had seen her gain weight quickly. But, as it turned out, she was okay with the prospect of changing shape. The actress added, “Oh yeah! I’ll take six months off and just do a total transformation. But then, so many people go, ‘Don’t you do it!’ But I think, ‘Why not?’”

And Wilson has also talked about the disadvantages of being plus-sized. In a 2017 chat with Cosmopolitan to promote fashion line Rebel x Angel, she explained how it had felt when she couldn’t find clothes she liked as a young teenager.

Wilson told the magazine, “I remember I had to go shopping with my mom as a teenager, and it was mentally disturbing. If you are plus-size, there’s not a lot to choose from, and, I don’t know, I guess I didn’t know what looked good [on me]. So [shopping] wasn’t a fun, enjoyable experience.”

The Cosmopolitan interviewer then asked Wilson, “Do you think the fashion industry is more or less size-inclusive now?” To this, Wilson responded by saying, “Honestly, more. I even had a model agency say they’re frantically trying to find more plus-size girls because there’s more work for them.” The actress also referenced the success of curvy models such as Hunter McGrady and Ashley Graham.

Wilson added, “I never want to promote unhealthiness. I always want people to be the healthiest version of themselves. But if that’s plus-size, then I want them to feel confident about how they look and be able to dress with style. Just because you’re not a size two or four [doesn’t mean that] you can’t have style.”

Fast-forward to 2018, however, and Wilson suddenly appeared to be slimming down a bit. It turned out, in fact, that she’d been employing the services of LA-based celebrity personal trainer Gunnar Peterson. And Peterson spoke about his client to US Weekly, saying, “When she’s in town, she’s [training] a solid four days a week. She is such a cool person to work with.”

Peterson additionally claimed that Wilson was serious about improving her health. He told the magazine, “As much as I encourage levity throughout the workout, during the workout it’s work. But in between, we’re going to trade a pleasantry or a joke or a jab. [Wilson’s] right there with you. She’s clever and funny and smart. I love being around people like that. That’s why I like this job.”

Then, as Wilson promoted the musical movie Cats at the end of 2019, it was noted that she’d lost quite a lot of weight. Apparently, that was all down to shooting the film and the intensity of life on set. Wilson told Entertainment Tonight, “I lost eight pounds, shooting my number, in four days.”

So just how had she managed to shed that weight so quickly? Well, Wilson explained, “One, because there’s a lot of physicality... but also, they heated up the set very high – to almost 100° F – so that we could never cool down. These people are like, the best dancers in the whole world, so they can’t cool their muscles down or they could get an injury and they’d be out of the film... So, they’d heat up the set like a sauna so we would never cool down, but [this] made it pretty uncomfortable.”

And as 2020 dawned, Wilson shared her New Year’s resolution with the whole world. On January 2, she wrote on Instagram, “Okay, so for me, 2020 is going to be called ‘The Year of Health.’ So, I put on the athleisure and went out for a walk. [I’m] deliberately hydrating on the couch right now and trying to avoid the sugar and junk food – which is going to be hard after the holidays I’ve just had, but I’m going to do it!”

Wilson’s Instagram followers were very supportive of her, too. One wrote, “You look amazing! This pic has definitely motivated me to start my year of health 2020. You are super inspiring!” Another person said, “You look really good this size, BUT you have always been someone I thought was beautiful!”

To help Wilson in her weight-loss journey, she hired so-called “transformation trainer” Jono Castano. And on January 17 the fitness guru shared a picture of himself and Wilson to his own Instagram page, along with the caption, “Friday vibes, but [Wilson] has been putting in the yards seven days a week! Proud of you, girl.”

A few days later, Castano also spoke to website Hollywood Life about how he was training the actress. He said, “[Wilson] is one of the sweetest souls I’ve ever met. During our training sessions, we have a lot of fun. As with all my clients, I try to make the sessions enjoyable and engaging. Training is about having fun and getting the work done.”

Castano then revealed that Wilson went to the gym six days a week before saying, “I encourage all my clients to do an extra bit of cardio during the day to keep moving. A little tip is [to] get a watch or use your phone to count steps and aim for 10,000 steps a day. If you’re on 9,000 steps at 10:00 p.m., you have to get it done.”

And Castano gave out some other tips for people hoping to lose weight like Wilson. In particular, he said that fitness fans should use an assault bike “as fast as possible until [they] reach ten calories. The assault bike is a perfect tool for metabolic conditioning and provides safe movement without impact.”

Another routine, known as standing bandit trunk rotations, was recommended by the trainer. He continued, “Do 12 each side. [This is] one of my favorite exercises as a coach. Twisting your torso against the resistance of an elastic band will challenge those abdominals, and the fun part is I get to hold the resistance to create some burn through those rotations.”

And TRX squats are also a good idea, according to Castano. He told HollywoodLife, “[You should do] 20 repetitions while focusing on loading through the heels to engage hamstring and glute activation. I use the TRX as it focuses on using body weight and gravity as resistance to build strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, core and joint stability.”

Yet even though Wilson seems keen to change her own shape, she’s still promoting body positivity. That was clear from the star’s answer to a searching question in a February 2020 interview with the Australian Daily Telegraph. At the time, Wilson was asked, “How important is it for people of all body types to be represented on our screens?”

And in response, Wilson said, “The beauty standards put up there, especially for young women, can be unfair at times…” She went on, “In the works that I do, I am trying to put those positive messages in there.”

By all accounts, Wilson had a very productive 2020. One image she posted that year showed her looking much thinner as she ate a dessert. The actress captioned it, “Remember though girls, you still gotta treat yourself.” Though she added, “I just do it with food now only once or twice a week... And substitute bubble baths on alternate nights.”

Fans of Wilson immediately praised the new picture when it dropped. One person wrote, “Say... hello to the most amazing beautiful woman.” But that might not actually have been what Wilson was going for. In fact, her journey was all about health, balance and conquering bad eating habits.

Wilson explained it all to fellow actress Drew Barrymore when she appeared on her show in November 2020. Her eating problems, she said, had come from “the stress of becoming famous internationally.” As a result, Wilson had eventually asked herself the question, “Why wasn’t I valuing myself and having better self-worth?”

The regime that Wilson embarked on is what’s known as an alkaline diet – or the “Mayr Method.” This involves eating a lot of fruit and vegetables, and in Wilson’s case plenty of meat and fish as well. It wasn’t always easy for her, but she persevered. Previously the actress had eaten 3,000 calories almost every day, but no more. And then it happened – in November Wilson triumphantly reached her goal weight.

Wilson wrote on Instagram Stories, “[I] hit my goal with one month to spare! Even though it’s not about a weight number, it’s about being healthy. I needed a tangible measurement to have as a goal, and that was 75 kilograms.” That’s great news, and Wilson’s always been adamant this journey wasn’t about looks. She told Barrymore, “I love my curves and stuff, I don’t think I’ll ever go too skinny – but I feel so much healthier.”