Celebrity Transformations Mariska Hargitay's Changing Looks By InStyle Editors InStyle Editors Instagram Twitter InStyle's mantra is "Everybody's in," and that means anyone who finds their way to our stories should find themselves reflected in them. We prioritize bringing the right writer to every story and sometimes collaborate as a team to ensure we're including points of view across race, gender expression, body size, skin and hair type, and more. Our editors and writers comprise decades of expertise across the beauty, fashion, lifestyle and wellness spaces in print and digital. We prioritize journalistic integrity, factual accuracy, and also having fun with every story we share. For more about our team, click here. InStyle's editorial guidelines Published on November 4, 2010 Pin Share Tweet Email Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty See the Law & Order: SVU star's transformation through the decades. 01 of 21 1982 Yearbook Library 18-year-old daughter of bombshell actress Jayne Mansfield and Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay was crowned Miss Beverly Hills. 02 of 21 1986 Richard Corkery/Globe Photos A short tousled cut showed off the Jocks star's beautiful bone structure. 03 of 21 1988 CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection Hargitay wore her hair in a curly bob for her role on Falcon Crest. 04 of 21 1991 Kevin Winter/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty The busy actress accented her smile with berry lipstick. 05 of 21 2000 Alec Michael/Globe Photos The Law and Order: Special Victims Unit lead played up her chocolate brown eyes with silvery shadow and lots of mascara. 06 of 21 2001 Henry McGee/Globe Photos Perhaps channeling her famously blond mother, Hargitay went platinum. "I definitely look like her, but only at certain angles," Mariska told People. 07 of 21 2003 Mike Guastella/WireImage Hargitay sported a sexy shag. 08 of 21 2004 Steve Granitz/WireImage The Emmy nominee added fresh flowers to her high-volume updo. 09 of 21 2005 Steve Granitz/WireImage Mariska won a Golden Globe in a soft, layered caramel cut. 10 of 21 2006 Kevin Winter/Getty Images "We did very smoky eyes," Dior makeup artist Matthew VanLeeuwen told People of the Emmy winner's look. "I tried to bring out the beautiful, delicious side of her. She said 'I feel gorgeous.'" 11 of 21 2007 Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage The Emmy nominee rocked a sleek, face-framing bob at the awards show. 12 of 21 2008 Mathew Imaging/WireImage Colorist Rick Wellman lightened the five-time Emmy nom's teased updo to better complement her canary gown. 13 of 21 2010 Kyle Rover/Startraks The SVU actress appeared at the Academy Awards with a romantic loose updo. 14 of 21 2010 Frazer Harrison/Getty Hargitay hit the Emmys in a style inspired by her recent anniversary. She told stylist Chris McMillan to give her a "similar thing" to her '50s retro wedding coif, gardenia and all! 15 of 21 2012 Gregg DeGuire/WireImage Now a mom of three (she and husband Peter Hermann adopted Amaya and Andrew in 2011), Hargitay wore her hair in easy layers for an NBC event. 16 of 21 2013 Jamie McCarthy/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank Hargitay steps out with a short 'do and soft makeup at the NBC & Vanity Fair Toast in New York City. 17 of 21 2014 Angela Weiss/Getty Images Rocking a cropped 'do with a smoky eye, the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star stunned while attending the 41st Annual Annie Awards in Westwood, California. 18 of 21 2015 Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Hargitay was all class while attending the Third Annual Paul Rudd All-Star Bowling Benefit in New York City. 19 of 21 2015 Mike Pont/WireImage Here, the fresh-faced actress rocked her signature bob and berry-red lips for an event in New York City. 20 of 21 2016 AKM-GSI Hargitay pulled up her signature brunette locks into a loose updo for the Women's Media Awards in N.Y.C. 21 of 21 2017 Nicholas Hunt/Getty By 2017, the Law & Order: SVU star had grown out her short cut into an on-trend lob, styling it in beachy waves. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit