Transformation

With her carefully selected roles, under-the-radar personal life and Howard University diploma, Taraji P. Henson is clearly one smart cookie. So it pays to listen up when she talks beauty. "My makeup philosophy is definitely 'less is more'" she told Essence. Although she didn't always heed her own advice in her early career (sparkly magenta shadow, anyone?) these days the one-time Oscar nom favors neutral gloss and an apricot rouge for a look that's, well, bright!

The Oxon Hill High School student rocked an asymmetrical coif.