Vanessa Hudgens has been killin' the game as of late. From hosting the Met Gala and interviewing some fellow celebrities (Lizzo and her spirali nails included), to frolicking around the Californian desert at Coachella (where she has been our biggest fashion go-to for all the festival inspo for years), 2022 seems to be the High School Musical OG's year. Yep, I went there... #HSMforeves.
Most recently though, the actor has added 'professional guitar smasher' to her already impressive résumé after opening the new Hard Rock Hotel in New York City. Peep Vanessa on the far right just moments before the destruction occurred:
Punk rock aside (we'll leave that to Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian), pre-grand opening, Vanessa shared an Instagram video reel of the night which included a pretty dramatic 'before and after' glam transformation.
In the first clip, the star is baring her natural skin with not a lick of makeup in sight. And can we just say, firstly she looks incredible (drop that skincare routine ASAP, Nessa) and secondly, is it just us, or does she look 10 years younger than her actual age? It's taking us waaay back to her 'We're All in This Together' days.
I mean, she is even sporting her natural curls, furthering my theory that she is in fact reviving the HSM era.
Then, after a quick hand-to-the-camera transition, we see her in head-to-toe glam which features a nude smokey eye and lip combo as well as sleek down hair 'do. It's giving us all the Kate Middleton vibes. I guess a middle parting with hair tucked neatly behind the ears and shoulders is the in-style ATM.
Everyone's clicking on...
And finally, summarising our thoughts in just a matter of words, this fan comment was left underneath Vanessa's post: "You rock both natural and makeup lewks. And guitar smashing is bad n BOUGIE. 🎸🤘🏽".
Rock. On.
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
