A Grammy-winning musician looked unrecognizable from her wild pop star persona in a childhood throwback photo shared to social media this week.
The photo was posted to Instagram by her close friend and hairstylist in honor of her 30th birthday on Tuesday, October 21.
The Los Angeles-born star looked to be elementary school age in the snap as she smiled at the camera with her big brown eyes gazing upwards.
She had on an adorable yellow zip-up and her natural brunette hair was pulled off her face in a ponytail.
Since bursting onto the music scene in 2018 with a viral song, the hitmaker has become a household name with two #1 hits and a coveted Grammy win.
Along with her pop-infused rap music, the star is known for her wacky, over-the-top style which she showcases at major celebrity events and in her music videos.
She recently made waves at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards when she appeared to eat a tube of lipstick in front of photographers on the red carpet.
Can you guess who she is?
A Grammy-winning musician looked unrecognizable from her wild pop star persona in a childhood throwback photo shared to social media this week
It’s Doja Cat!
The singer, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, celebrated her 30th birthday on Tuesday and recently released a new album.
Her long-awaited fifth studio record, Vie, became available to fans on September 26, 2025. It debuted in the fourth spot on the Billboard 200 chart.
Promotion for the album began in August with the release of the lead single Jealous Type, which she performed at the 2025 VMAs in New York City in September.
Before taking the stage at the star-studded awards show, Doja went viral for a ‘gross’ stunt she pulled on the red carpet.
While playfully applying red lipstick to her plump pout, Doja stunned photographers when she suddenly took a bite out of the makeup product and began to eat it.
She continued to pose for photos while chewing and holding onto the half-eaten lipstick tube.
Fans of the Kiss Me More singer flocked to social media to react to her ‘insane’ act, with many left completely shocked by what they’d just witnessed on live TV.
The mystery star is Doja Cat; seen in May
The singer, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, celebrated her 30th birthday on Tuesday and recently released a new album; seen on October 4
Her long-awaited fifth studio record, Vie, became available to fans on September 26, 2025. It debuted in the fourth spot on the Billboard 200 chart
‘THE WAY SHE ATE THE LIPSTICK OMG,’ read one tweet on X (formerly Twitter) as footage of Doja eating her lipstick began to go viral.
Another added: ‘girl why is u eating lipstick [crying emoji]’.
Unsure if Doja had taken a bite out of an actual lipstick tube or an edible prop, one concerned fan tweeted out: ‘Isn’t this… unhealthy? Plz don’t do this at home’
However, many of Doja’s devout fans showered her with praise for pushing the envelope on one of the music industry’s biggest nights.
One fan joked, ‘a queen never goes hungry.’
Another referred to Doja’s lipstick chow down as a ‘tasty fashion statement.’
It was later revealed that Doja’s lipstick tube was filled with an edible candy made to look like actual red lipstick.
She recently made waves at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards when she appeared to eat a tube of lipstick in front of photographers on the red carpet; pictured in September
Next month, Doja will embark on a world tour in support of her new album
More recently, Doja promoted Vie during her performance spot on the premiere episode of Saturday Night Live’s 51st season with host Bad Bunny.
The singer delivered high-energy renditions of her new songs AAAHH MEN! and Gorgeous during the sketch comedy show on NBC.
Next month, Doja will embark on a world tour in support of her new album.
The tour will begin in Auckland in New Zealand’s North Island on November 18, 2025 and it will come to a close in New York on December 1, 2026.
