Lindsay Lohan

Sadly, Lindsay Lohan’s career trajectory is every child star’s worst nightmare. Her first movie saw her playing twins in Disney comedy The Parent Trap; a respectable, even wholesome, start. A short-lived music career, rehab and a couple of DUI arrests later, though, and Lohan’s star now seems to be fading. Still, there’s no denying how insanely hot she turned out.

Dakota Fanning

Talented Dakota Fanning lived through every child’s worst nightmare: braces. At one point she even wore corrective headgear straight out of an old horror movie. And of course, the world was watching. Thankfully, Fanning apparently emerged unscathed from the ordeal, and today she’s a stunning young actress with the world at her feet.

Alyson Stoner

Alyson Stoner first introduced herself to the world in Disney’s Mike’s Super Short Show, which was soon followed by her first big-screen role – as one of the 12 Baker kids in Cheaper by the Dozen. Nowadays, though, she cuts a sexy figure on the red carpet.

Abigail Breslin

In 2006 Abigail Breslin wowed audiences as adorably awkward Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine. But it was only a matter of years before Breslin would swap the librarian glasses for cleavage-flaunting dresses and a smoldering stare.

Danica McKellar

Danica McKellar makes a strong case for the notion that, sometimes, life is worth waiting for. After all, the actress’ transformation from dorky yet cute Winnie Cooper in The Wonder Years to uber-hot Stuff andMaxim lingerie model has been quite striking.

Lacey Chabert

Lacey Chabert practically grew up in the public eye when playing Claudia Salinger in small-screen dramaParty of Five. In 2001, though, she strutted her way through comedy spoof Not Another Teen Movie in slow motion, and suddenly her transition from awkward child star to hot adult was complete.

Scarlett Johansson

Encouragingly, even smoking hot Scarlett Johansson was once an average-looking child star, as evidenced in ’90s comedies North and If Lucy Fell. Remember, kids, there’s still hope.

Michelle Trachtenberg

Michelle Trachtenberg’s metamorphosis from geeky child star into sexy Maxim cover vamp is the kind of seemingly unlikely transition that gives hope to ugly ducklings everywhere.

Hayden Panettiere

Before she was the hot cheerleader everyone wanted to save, Heroes star Hayden Panettiere played frizzy-haired Jessica in Malcolm in the Middle – practically the opposite of her future bombshell self.

Alyssa Milano

In the ’80s Alyssa Milano was Tony Danza’s tomboy daughter Sam in Who’s the Boss? Fast forward a few years, though, and suddenly she’s a sex symbol and able to convincingly play a strip-joint waitress inMelrose Place. And even at 42, the Mistresses star is still achingly beautiful.

Alexa Vega

Watch any of the Spy Kids movies growing up? Then Alexa Vega’s turn as scantily clad, firearm-brandishing Killjoy in sleazy 2013 action flick Machete Kills would have made your eyeballs pop right out of your head when she first appears on screen.

Emma Watson

Growing up is hard enough without having to go through the process in public. Harry Potter star Emma Watson, however, seems to have navigated her way through her child actress years with grace and elegance, transforming from being Hermione Granger to the British Fashion Awards’ 2014 British Style Award winner.