From “Milkshake” to “Bossy,” Kelis has long known who she was. Her music defined pop culture since the early 2000s. And, with it, comes her equally recognizable beauty and style to match. 

In the early aughts, it was her bouffant, multi-colored afro, often paired with fur-trimmed coats and slinky tops, that identified her. Then, in the mid-2000s, she chopped it all off. In her “Bossy” music video, she sported her first pixie cut, which throughout the next few years, spanned all types of shapes, lengths, and colors. 

By the 2010s, her skunk stripe hair turned into her signature. At the 4th Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Music, she color-matched her snakeskin coat and black-accented white mini dress with her voluminous hair. Years later, her style evolved into something more simple: At London’s ‘Arepas and Buns’ pop up, she wore ginger hair with a white top, denim, and red clogs. But, her rainbow box braids in 2019 proved she wasn’t done with bright colors. 

As for her latest style moment, she performed at Sonar Music Festival in Barcelona wearing a burgundy-colored afro with a casual graphic t-shirt and stylistic shades. 

Ahead, see how Kelis’ beauty and style has evolved over the years in honor of her 47th birthday. 

2000

368701 04: Virgin Records” newest R&B sensation Kelis attends Playboy Magazine”s Celebration of naming Jodi Ann Paterson “2000 Playmate of the Year” at a cocktail reception May 2, 2000 at Eugene Restaurant in New York. (Photo by George De Sota/Newsmakers)

2001

LONDON – APRIL 6: Kelis attends the Destinys Child Show Case Party at the Porchester Hall in West London on April 6, 2001 in London. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images)

2002

Kelis during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring Collections 2003 – Luella Bartley Show – Front Row at Bryant Park in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage)

2003

Kelis during 2003 VIBE Awards – Arrivals at Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California, United States. (Photo by Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage)

2004

Kelis during The 46th Annual Grammy Awards – Press Room at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

2005

Kelis during Damon Peruzzi’s Birthday Party at Lotus in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

2006

Kelis wearing Heatherette Spring 2007 during Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2007 – Heatherette – Runway at The Tent, Bryant Park in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Arun Nevader/FilmMagic)

2007

Kelis during 2007 Chicago Auto Show – Kelis Sighting at McCormick Center in Chicago, Illinois, United States. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage)

2008

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – FEBRUARY 20: Singer Kelis at Elle/Biolage Awards Week Salon and Spa Day 1 at the Thompson Hotel on February 20, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/WireImage)

2009

NEW YORK – JUNE 16: Recording artist Kelis attends the 8th Annual Four Seasons of Hope Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on June 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic)

2010

LAS VEGAS – FEBRUARY 26: Kelis attends Eve Nightclub on February 26, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage)

2011

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Kelis attends LOOK fashion show during London Fashion Week S/S 2012 at Westfield Stratford City on September 17, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)

2012

NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT – JUNE 22: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Singer Kelis attends the Ray-Ban Rooms during day one of the Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park on June 22, 2012 in Newport, Isle of Wight. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

2013

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 06: Singer Kelis attends the 4th Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Music honoring Lianne La Havas and Solange Knowles at Greystone Manor Supperclub on February 6, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

2014

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 22: Singer Kelis attends the 5th annual Essence Black Women In Music event at 1 OAK on January 22, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

2015

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 22: Kelis celebrates her birthday at Duane Park on August 22, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

2016

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 29: Artist Kelis and London pop-up favourites Le Bun team up in the kitchen to bring us an ‘Arepas and Buns’ pop up that they’ll be rolling out to festivals across the summer at Leicester House on June 29, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

2017

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Singer-songwriter Kelis, hair detail, arrives at Spotify’s Inaugural Secret Genius Awards on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage)

2018

PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 02: Singer Kelis attends the Ralph & Russo Haute Couture Fall Winter 2018/2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 2, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty Images)

2019

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: Kelis attends House Of Uoma Presents The Launch Of Uoma Beauty – The World’s First “Afropolitan” Makeup Brand at NeueHouse Hollywood on April 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)

2022

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Kelis poses backstage during the 2nd annual Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards at The Beverly Hilton on June 24, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Hollywood Unlocked)

2023

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Kelis attends Mulberry’s 20 years of the Bayswater party on May 24, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Mulberry)

2026

BARCELONA, SPAIN – JUNE 19: Kelis performs on stage during Sonar Music Festival 2026 on June 19, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Cesc Maymo/Redferns)

Author: India Espy-Jones

Read the original article on Essence.