This article was originally published on RetroWays
We've all gone through an awkward phase in life, and sadly, cameras might've been there to capture it. Unfortunately, these embarrassing photographs keep our regrettable pasts alive even if those years are long gone. But if you find yourself in this position, don't worry - you're not alone. Keep reading to see hilariously cringe images of people's younger selves; you'll feel less lonesome and get a good laugh out of it.
Him and His Wife Twinning in 2000
In this photo comparison are two yearbook pictures from the past. One is of a man in 1998, and the other is of his wife in 2000. They literally looked exactly the same, from the bad bangs to the bright yellow shirts and everything in between. It's almost as if we're staring at a pair of brothers as opposed to a future married couple. Some would say that this relationship was destined from the start.
The late 90s and early 200s were very much a complicated time consisting of badly bleached yellow highlights and awkward bangs. This photo comparison is pretty much proof of that.
He Thought He Met the Beatles... It Was 2004
At first, this actually looks like the Beatles until you realize the date and look at each of the band members for longer than two seconds. This obviously isn't the Beatles - it couldn't have been since the year was 2004. But ignorance is bliss, and this kid seems pretty happy to have almost met his favorite band. That's definitely the closest he'll ever get to the real deal.
If we were his parents, we would've let him believe he met the Beatles forever. Just look at his smile! How could you break the bad news to him?
90's Homemade Photoshoot Screams Glamour
These sisters growing up in the 90s constantly begged their mom for a professional photo shoot, as young girls usually tend to do. But, since their mom thought that they were too young, they ended up doing a homemade one instead. The quality may not be A+, but the girls really seemed like they were into it. They were even able to put on a model face alongside their best dresses. This picture just screams attitude, and we're here for it.
Hopefully, this excellent glamour shot was hung and framed for everyone to see, especially since mom obviously did a really great job with getting these girls stylish and into the moment.
Eyebrow Game on Point (and Extremely Pointy)
Pictured here are eyebrows that aren't exactly otherworldly, although trends from the late nineties sometimes seem like they might have come from another planet. Also, let's not forget about the dark lip liner, which was an essential part of every girl's 1998 party outfit. The woman in this picture claims she had eyeliner wings way before Amy Winehouse brought them into fashion, and she calls her eyebrows "McDonald's arches."
Thin eyebrows are certainly a thing of the past, and we refuse to acknowledge that some people are trying to make them trendy again.
The Local Newspaper Did Her Dirty
This picture is an unwanted flashback from the past that will pretty much exist for as long as this newspaper does. But while the image might be unflattering, the little girl's joy is truly so pure in this photo. It captured an innocent time which likely led to a ton of regret after she opened up this newspaper to see what was inside. It's basically every eight-year-old's nightmare.
The girl in this picture was simply enjoying her time with her toy horse; what she didn't know was that the photographer took an extremely embarrassing picture with plans to publish it.
Her (very Supportive) Mom Paid a Professional Photographer for These
Moms are great and typically will do whatever they can to make their kids happy, and if that means a strange cat-like photoshoot, then so be it. We're not even sure what this teen's phase was meant to be, and surely, the photographer was a bit confused when they showed up for this job. But, the customer gets what the customer wants, and in this case, it was these interesting images.
Her incredibly supportive mom actually paid a professional photographer for these very unprofessional pictures, and although they're likely quite embarrassing, it looks like she was having a pretty good time.
The Brady Bunch but Make It Early 90s
This family picture looks like it came straight out of some late 1980s, early 1990s sitcom, and based on the mullets and high hairstyles, the amount of hairspray in this house was probably suffocating at some point. Regardless, they look like they dressed their absolute best for this moment, even if the early 90s weren't exactly kind to this family of seven. Although, this era wasn't exactly kind to anyone in terms of style.
Pretty much every single person in this 90s family photo regrets their style choices.
The More Chains You Had, the Closer You Were to the Goth Gods
The teen in this image was proud of his big fashion statement, based on the invincible vibes he was giving off. The faces of the students in the background make it seem like he was pretty much the only guy in the room that was thrilled about his outfit, but that doesn't seem like an issue that would bother this kid. He's proudly repping some kind of mix between steampunk and goth here.
Hopefully, this style that existed in High School remained in High School, especially since this look would have a lot of issues passing through airport security.
Nothing Can Stop a Teen Who Knows Photoshop
Clearly, this teen was a big fan of celebrities, and she wanted to make that known on her Myspace page, alongside her impeccable photoshop abilities. If you squint your eyes enough, it almost looks like she and Johnny Depp might have actually been prom dates. But can you really blame her for the attempt? In the 1990s, Johnny Depp was truly an icon, and nobody else could compare.
Myspace and the profile pictures that come with it basically defined the early 2000s and late 90s. And if we're being honest, these are some pretty great photo editing skills for the era.
For Years, He Refused to Wear Anything but a Suit
This now grown-up admits that he once insisted on wearing a suit every time he left the house and it was for a very good reason. This is because he went through a phase when he was younger where he wanted to be the president one day. So, every time they went to see Santa, he would dress in his absolute most acceptable attire as his two younger brothers had a breakdown behind him.
Forget the two terrified and crying siblings in the background because this big brother was seriously thrilled with himself as he was sitting in front of Santa in his grown-up suit.
This Is How He Posed for All of 2006
This guy was definitely the main character at every family event and party. All you need to do is look at this picture in order to figure that out. Hopefully, his humor carried over into adulthood and created a college party star. But we're guessing if this specific picture came to light, that'd be the end of his party-boy reign and the beginning of adult embarrassment and a few unsolicited nicknames.
The person in this picture now admits that every photo of himself since 2006 basically looks something like this. His parents are probably still laughing about it today.
And That Was the Last Time Her Parents Took Her on a Trip
This picture is from the year 2011, a time when camera quality was basic, planking was a true passion, and taking pictures of the act was a must. This woman's mom took her on what was supposed to be a fun trip to Niagra Falls, but she actually decided to spend the whole time planking. Since she was highly busy with her sport, she didn't really have much time to sit back and enjoy the view, of course.
Planking may now be a trend of the past, but that doesn't mean that there aren't tons of pictures out there to keep the memory alive and well to this very day.
The Effects of Too Much Gel 15 Years Later
This really cute couple had been together for fifteen years before getting married, and they have a picture from 2003 to prove it. Did they look super cute back then? Yes. Well, a 2003 kind of cute. It's not hard for you to see how much they've grown together, from the hairstyles to everything else. But we can't help but wonder if the groom's current short hair is a result of all that gel he used to wear.
We wonder if the young teenage couple with wild hair in the picture from 2003 could have ever imagined that they would be happily married a long fifteen years later.
Nobody Understands You When You're a Teenager
The teenage angst is really shining through in this image, to the point where you can almost feel it yourself from the other side of the screen. It can be hard to be a teenager, sometimes for absolutely no reason at all. Usually, this fades, or sometimes it will follow you well into your adult years. For this teen girl, this photo became a haunting ghost from puberty's past.
Family photos were kind of a bummer, and every single activity that didn't involve friends felt terrible during our teenage years. So we really feel for her.
2000s Fashion Was a Different Kind of Beast
Jeans are great and forever will be, but you've probably never seen jeans like this until viewing this monumental picture. At first glance, it looks like a flowing skirt which, if you ask us, might have been a better outfit choice for the day. But alas, he chose these huge, baggy jeans and matched them with a trendy Pink Panther-themed shirt. Oh, the good ol' days of the Pink Panther.
These jeans are one-of-a-kind, and we likely won't see anything like this again in our lifetimes.
Caution: Erasers Will Leave Red Welts That May Be Confused for Measles
Fourth graders enjoy participating in an endless amount of silly activities, including putting weird and unnecessary things on or in their faces. This picture captured one of those moments. The little man here thought it would be fun to play with his writing tools, and instead of sticking the erasers onto a pencil, he stuck them on his face. Let's not ignore that there's also one sitting on his tongue. Surely, mom was thrilled.
His face was then covered in so many red welts that his mom had to send him to school with a note assuring the teachers that he wasn't diseased.
He Regrets This Fashion Choice but We Love It
In 1984, this fourteen-year-old loved wearing cutoff shorts all the time. To this very day, he's bitter that his parents allowed him to leave the house looking like this. The shorts aren't too bad, but the combination of the cutoffs and the incredibly high socks with green stripes is what makes this outfit a strange one. And that's exactly why we love it - look at him so confidently rocking a "questionable" fashion choice!
Hey, wasn't everyone wearing short shorts in 1984, anyway?
The Baby Goths Used up All the Hair Gel
Going through some kind of emotional phase is basically a part of every childhood; just everyone shows it differently. Some express their emotions by labeling themselves as goth, and this girl was one of them. The spiked hair, dark black makeup, and black clothes seemed to work well with her shaved-off eyebrows, and her grandfather even called her sunshine as a nickname. This might not have been a photo her parents were proud of, but at least they can laugh at it today.
At just 15 years old, this school girl was in her prime time goth phase and wasn't afraid to show it. Maybe she grew out of it; maybe she didn't.
1996 Prom Criminals Guilty of Over-Doing Color Coordination
The teen dressed in blue here refused to go to his high school prom unless he could wear this light blue suit that he "borrowed" (AKA stole) from his school. His shiny white shoes and his date's blue boa were also a prom night must. We think it's also important to point out that he died his hair in order to match the rest of that fine pastel outfit.
It's a good thing that his date had a similar sense of humor since literally every single part of his prom outfit was really stolen from the High Schoo Jazz band.
A Furry Tiara Is a Must-Have for Senior Photos
In 2009, with their bright bleached hair and neon blue makeup, this person felt it was absolutely necessary to complete their photo look with a blue tiara. We do have to give this teenager credit for being able to match an entire outfit in a way that many grown adults still aren't able to do. And we're sure it wasn't hard for them to find their picture in the yearbook.
One thing we've learned is that teenagers love to get creative for senior pictures in a bunch of fun ways that probably wouldn't be even a bit acceptable today, which is kind of unfortunate.
The First - And Last - Fartbuster Walked Around Spraying Perfume
We all know about the classic Ghostbusters series, which was likely a Halloween costume of choice at least once in your lifetime. If it wasn't, it probably should have been, but thankfully, there's still time. Well, in 1989, this kid decided to put a twist on the classic show by dressing up as a fartbuster. Better yet, he would walk about the neighborhood spraying people with a perfume that was attached to a shoebox while marching the street. This child was a true legend.
In his early days, this guy dressed up as an unknown hero that nobody truly knew or necessarily wanted, but surely, he caused a handful of his neighbors to laugh.
Teenager Ruins Everyone's Morning Commute After Winning Radio DJing Contest
In 2004, the girl in this picture was so happy to have won a contest to DJ at her very small hometown's radio station. She then made a choice to play an alternative kind of music for an entire hour and was pretty confident in her music choice; also, the leading DJ didn't seem to have any objections and was pretty cool with her decision. Though, this kid did win a contest, so she honestly could have played pretty much anything she wanted.
Needless to say, she thoroughly enjoyed her choice of music for the day and didn't mind that she might have ruined a ton of morning commutes while confusing every single listener.
The "Chicken Fighters" Danced at the Talent Show... But Without Music
This trio called themselves The Chicken Fighters for a school event and seriously dressed for the part. Even though they danced to no music, the buddies honestly looked like they were having a great time. It's unlikely that they took part in any chicken fights, but their talent show confidence is genuinely shining through in this picture. We've never seen three kids look so happy to look like chickens, and we have nothing but respect.
These three were once the group of superheroes you never knew you needed. Who also happened to enjoy dancing to no music at their annual school talent shows.
TBT to Photoshoots at the Local Mall's Studio
It's hard to think that we actually lived through a time when cell phones didn't exist. And somehow, communication between people and traveling without automated directions was highly possible. Amidst this almost archaic time, this group of friends made an appointment at the mall to get this fun photo done. Fake frames were a must-have prop in 1990s group photographs, and honestly, this should simply be a comeback trend today.
This picture almost looks like some kind of beautiful renaissance work of art or a 90s album cover for a pop band, which are both practically the same thing.
Grandma's Favorite Picture (she's Obviously a Cool Granny)
This picture is from the prime time of 1998 when it was hard to differentiate hairstyles from potential weapons. It was a simple era when cell phones only made phone calls, and sibling photos were a bit different than they are today; some would say that they were way more exciting. The grandma of these two brothers absolutely loved this picture and even had it put on a mug which quickly became her favorite household item, for a good reason.
If you're one to reminisce about the late 90s and early 2000s, you might forget that the popular style was one of spiky hair and even sharper denim jackets.
The Goth Intern With Her Two Mentors
It's safe to say that most of us have gone through some kind of alternative or rebellious phase at one point in our lives simply out of wanting to be different. Especially because navigating a big world is hard, and kids love figuring out who they are. That likely could have included both dark black makeup and neon-colored hair, which was undoubtedly and evidently the case for all three of the teens in this picture. Despite the down faces, they were surely still having a good time.
Someone's aunt sent them these pictures as part of a bunch of old photographs that she collected of her family over the years. This was one of her favorites, apparently.
These Boys' Faces Say "Mom Chose These Outfits"
Is it really nice that their mom actually went out of her way with lots of love and good intentions in order to get these outfits handmade? Of course. Although, her sons might have been way happier if she chose a design that didn't involve so many bows. That fact is solely based on the disappointing and confusing looks on their faces as they pose for what was likely an unwanted picture.
Comfortable or not, these two little brothers don't seem like they were too thrilled about the pink and fluffy custom-made outfits that their mom picked out for a family wedding.
The "meow" Phase Has No Rational Explanation
There is some kind of early 2000s punk cat vibes going on in this picture which would have been perfect for a Myspace profile. If it didn't go there, we're not really sure what else anyone would want to do with this specific furry image. It even looks like another person was cut out just to place emphasis on the main character, which we don't even really need to point out.
The girl in this picture doesn't even have an explanation for this image herself, and all we can possibly think of is that she might have seriously been into cats.
The Most Epic Prom Suit We've Ever Seen
Prom is the most awaited night for every teenager making their way to high school graduation. The outfit of choice usually involved lots of hard thinking and a ton of cash on the parents' end. It's a night to never forget that will forever be a memory as adulthood approaches. What was likely also an unforgettable memory for many of the students there was the outfit that this particular guy wore.
Some teenagers choose to attend prom in their best basic black and white suit. Apparently, others prefer to go dressed as if they were once some kind of war hero.
That Time Mom Made "Easter Leisure Suits"
In 1975, a fantastic mom hand-crafted pastel leisure suits for her boys to wear on Easter, and this picture lived to tell the tale. If we're being honest, these might even be stylish today based on the fact that pastel colors and 70s looks are seriously coming back into fashion. How this mom was able to handmade four different suits for a single holiday is unknown, yet we wouldn't want to reveal her secret.
Whether it's whipping up a delicious meal at the speed of light or hand sewing suits just for a holiday, moms are famously known for being real-life magicians and superheroes.
Some Things Never Change, Including Thirteen Year Old Humor
Teenagers truly enjoy doing teenage things, and this is certainly an act that can fit nicely under that category. Although, surely there are some adults out there in the great big world who would appreciate this joke just as much as any other thirteen-year-old kid. We're not sure if this picture makes lots of people who see it laugh or if the only one who enjoyed this joke was the boy himself.
This emergency sign is no longer saying what it meant to say after the 13-year-old got his hands on it, and he seems to be pretty proud of his act of ingenious trickery.
All Legs and a Head
In 1996, this little girl climbed into a giant pair of pants, and one of her parents was there to capture the adorable moment. As an adult, she claims to have always been a weirdo, but honestly, we're here for it. This picture is super cute, and the smile on her face is beyond pure. Surely, whoever took this picture was smiling even hard than she was. Also, she might have started some kind of fashion trend for all of two whole seconds.
Let's be honest, one of the most fun things to do as a kid is crawl into our parents' clothes or giant shoes, and it's pretty much a staple of every childhood.
The English Countryside Wasn't Ready for This Trend-Setter
This kid must have had a great pair of parents since they clearly allowed him to wear whatever he wanted, even if absolutely none of it matched. Maybe it's pattern blindness, or perhaps it's creativity; either way, he seems pretty proud about his chosen outfit for the day. Although, with his mismatched socks and the high-waisted pants, he would have had no problem fitting into society's dress standards in the 1980s.
At just ten years old, this little man was into creating his own sense of fashion while letting his style shine, and he wasn't even the slightest bit afraid to show it.
In 2012, Two Rock Icons Were Born
These two were the epitome of cool at just eight years old with their aggressive pocket reach, oversized sunglasses, and metallic vest. This picture was taken in the year 2012 when this pair of good buddies had big dreams and decided to start their own band without any actual instruments. Clearly, they were way cooler than everyone else in their class, or at least that's what they thought at the time. Also, there's no denying that these two had some big dreams.
Lots of kids have big dreams of being famous musicians one day, and those dreams usually start out by forming a two-person band that lasts no longer than two weeks.
He Wore This Matrix-Inspired Outfit to School
Everyone's gone to school with crazy outfits here and there, but this one might be a winner if it was a contest in the first place. Everything from the scarf to the heels might have caused some concerned looks from the teachers he encountered on that school day. It also looks like he might have taken mom's nice fur coat, and she likely wasn't happy about that, but he sure was.
The Matrix is a classic series that surely brought about a new style in the early 2000s, like long black coats and tiny black sunglasses. This teen would probably agree.
Retro Background Pride
School picture day was one of the best days as primary school students, and the best part, of course, was getting to choose the background yourself. This retro one was perfect for 1994 and isn't half as bad as the ones that exist today, so it's safe to say that this kid did an excellent job when it came to his background of choice. Needless to say, the picture itself is super cute, too.
This little man was truly so proud of how cool he thought he looked with this awesome retro background back in 1994, which becomes way cooler the longer you look at it.
Best Christmas Ever
The balled-up fist of excitement is entirely valid, especially since these sisters were just gifted one of the best original Nintendo systems ever. Lots of people who grew up in the 90s have some great memories when it comes to the gaming system. Also, this picture is absolutely adorable, and their parents were likely just as happy after seeing the pure excitement on their daughters' faces when they opened up their presents.
The original Nintendo 64 basically defined the 90s and was on everyone's Christmas list. Obviously, these two were super excited that Santa was able to bring them what they wanted.
Teenage Angst at Its Finest
This picture for someone's early band days seriously gives off the perfect amateur album cover vibes. Of course, there was no way for the guitar to work without any electricity on the roof, but it really did make for an excellent picture, and surely this guy is glad that he asked his sister to capture this moment. Could it have been dangerous for both the man and the guitar? Sure. But was it likely worth the risk? Definitely.
This might be what happens when your guitar skills need improvement, but your band can't find a good enough replacement- you get sent to play on the roof of a house.
Another Baby Punk
This choice of hairstyle was certainly a brave one, and the amount of hair gel and spray needed for one single day was likely high. But, evidently, that's what it took to be a punk 15-year-old teenager way back in the year 2005. With dark black eyeliner and neon green highlights, she admits that she was super into the entire punk scene, from the music to practically everything else.
Was this hairstyle strangely unique? Yeah. Could it also have turned into a potentially deadly weapon for anyone who accidentally walked way too close to this girl? The answer to that is also yes.
A Different Kind of Senior Picture
If someone had told us that this picture was taken in the 70s, we would've believed them. It's actually a senior picture taken in 2009, so it wasn't too long ago despite the vintage look. The brave guy went for this specific pose admittedly because he loved the potential shock value this would bring to pretty much everyone. Clearly, a teenage brain was certainly in action when it came to picture day.
At first, this picture might look like it belongs on the cover of an adult movie, but actually, it's just an 18-year-old's choice of a senior picture which somehow isn't too different.