Madonna's Most Iconic Photos Over the Years

Happy birthday to the Queen of Pop! It’s Madonna‘s 65th birthday and this multi-hyphenate star has been serving up show-stopping pop culture moments for decades, wowing year after year on stage, at awards shows, and even from the comfort of her home as she’s taken on social media by storm. It’s hard to keep track of the many lives Madonna has lived, from her roles in films like Desperately Seeking Susan and A League of Their Own to her industry-shaking 14 albums and seven Grammy wins, all while developing an international reputation for her style and status as a sex symbol. Every time you think you know Madonna, she reinvents herself — and we’re looking back on the many eras of Madonna with this collection of truly iconic photos.

There’s Madonna today, a loving mother of six and nonprofit founder; there’s “Like a Virgin” Madonna, making jaws drop everywhere at the 1984 VMAs — and of course, kissing-Britney-Spears Madonna, at the same show nearly 20 years later. At the Billboard Women in Music Awards in 2016, Madonna looked out at the crowd of her peers, reflected on her long legacy, and said: “I think the most controversial thing I have ever done is to stick around.” She has always been a woman who controls how she is looked at, and the proof is clear: even now, none of us can look away.

Take a look at some of Madonna’s most iconic moments so far captured below.

A version of this article was originally posted on Aug. 2021.

Dancer Headshots (1978)

Image Credit: Michael McDonnell/Archive Photos/Getty Images.

Before her big break, Madonna moved to New York City to study dance and the photos are hypnotizing.
London (1983)

Image Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty Images.

Everyone was captivated by Madonna’s outfits and onstage presence, especially during this show in 1983.
‘Formel Eins’ in Munich (1984)

Image Credit: Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images.

Before Madonna ever went on tour in Europe, she performed her hit song “Holiday” on the Germany TV show Formula One, or Formel Eins.
Madison Square Garden (1984)

Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.

When Madonna performed onstage at Madison Square Garden in 1984, all eyes were on the entertaining wild child.
American Music Awards (1985)

Image Credit: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch/MediaPunch/IPX.

Who remembers this Madonna? The slicked-bangs, the side pony, and the ever-present cross necklace already making a big appearance.
‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ Premiere (1985)

Image Credit: WWD.

Madonna was 27 years old when she co-starred in Desperately Seeking Susan with Rosanna Arquette. She’s pictured here at the Los Angeles premiere.
American Music Awards (1987)

Image Credit: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch/ IPX.

Madonna’s fully entered her platinum blonde era by this AMA appearance.
Blond Ambition World Tour (1990)

Image Credit: AP.

All hail the Gaultier cone bra! Madonna invented the look, rocking these pointy bits of lingerie all across America and the world.
On a Date With Michael Jackson (1991)

Image Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Date night! We know you didn’t forget about this Madonna look, but did you forget about this couple?!
Academy Awards After Party (1991)

Image Credit: WWD.

Yes, Michael Jackson and Madonna even attended the Oscars together — but we’d forgive you for thinking you were looking at Marilyn Monroe.
Cannes Film Festival (1991)

Image Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS.

This decidedly preppy look would have been just as much of a surprise on the Cannes red carpet this year as it was when Madonna wore it — and only she would commit like this, knee socks and all.
NBA Playoffs (1993)

Image Credit: AP Photo/John Swart.

Here’s Madonna chilling courtside at a Knicks game in 1993, and everything from the hat to the watch feels like it was slipped right out of a time capsule.
Sanremo Music Festival (1995)

Image Credit: Rino Petrosino/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images.

Madonna and Babyface performed at the 45th Sanremo Music Festival in 1995. The pair sang “Take a Bow,” which afterward, Madonna thanked everyone in Italian, receiving a standing ovation.
‘Evita’ Premiere (1996)

Image Credit: AP.

Madonna played Eva Perón in Alan Parker’s Evita, and her hotly-anticipated arrival at the Los Angeles premiere was well worth the wait when she rolled up in this scarlet Givenchy. “I feel like Cinderella,” Madonna said as she arrived to director Parker and co-star Antonio Banderas.
MTV Video Music Awards (1998)

Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media.

This year, Madonna and Jonas Åkerlund (pictured) cleaned up big at the VMAs, with their video for “Ray of Light” taking home a record five awards.
‘Die Another Day’ Premiere (2002)

Image Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Madonna was technically here to see Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry’s James Bond film Die Another Day — but, more realistically, she was there to curtsy and shake the hand of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
MTV Video Music Awards (2003)

Image Credit: AP Photo/Julie Jacobson.

Just in case her “Like A Virgin” performance at the VMAs years prior hadn’t shattered enough TV screens, Madonna shared this unforgettable kiss with Britney Spears in 2003.
‘Revolver’ Screening (2005)

Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married from 2000 until she finally for divorce in 2008, pictured here at a Gramercy screening of his film Revolver.
Vanity Fair Oscars Party (2006)

Image Credit: WWD.

Madonna attended the 2006 Vanity Fair Oscars party in this silk Versace gown that has lived in our minds rent-free since.
Vanity Fair Oscars Party (2007)

Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media.

After the 2007 Academy Awards, Madonna headed to the after party at Mortons in her black Dolce & Gabbana gown.
‘Sticky and Sweet’ Tour (2008)

Image Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Madonna’s eighth concert tour “Sticky and Sweet” to promote Hard Candy kicked off in 2008 and went on to have a European leg in 2009.
Met Gala (2009)

Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media.

The 2009 Met Gala theme was “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion,” and here’s Madonna in Louis Vuitton doing just that.
Vanity Fair Oscars Party (2009)

Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media.

In 2009, Madonna’s after party plans took her to the Sunset Tower Hotel in a glittering Christian Dior dress.
Met Gala (2011)

Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media.

Madonna went with this blue Stella McCartney look for the 2011 Met Gala, themed “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.”
Golden Globe Awards (2012)

Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media.

Madonna won Best Song at this year’s Golden Globes for “Masterpiece” in the soundtrack of W.E., and looked stunning in this Reem Acra gown.
‘Madonna: The MDNA Tour’ Premiere (2013)

Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media.

Madonna channeled Marlene Dietrich in full force for the premiere of her ninth concert tour.
Met Gala (2013)

Image Credit: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media.

They asked Madonna to dress for ‘Punk: Chaos to Couture’ — do you think this Givenchy look did the trick?
Met Gala (2016)

Image Credit: Michael Buckner/PMC.

In celebration of the opening of ‘Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology’, Madonna once again relied on Givenchy to get her point across.
Met Gala (2018)

Image Credit: Amy Sussman/WWD.

For ‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination’, it truly seemed like Madonna had been preparing her whole life. Her Jean-Paul Gaultier get-up did not disappoint — and neither did her surprise performances of “Like A Prayer” and “Hallelujah” for enthralled guests.
Pride Island (2019)

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Pride Island.

Madonna showed her pride as she wore this iconic rainbow and black outfit onstage during Pride Island in 2019!
MTV Video Music Awards (2021)

Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS.

Who could forget Madonna’s outfit and speech at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2021?
Burberry Event (2022)

Image Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Burberry.

Madonna rocked her iconic all-black look, looking like edgy royalty at the Burberry Lola bag celebration in April 2022.
65th Grammy Awards (2023)

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Madonna looked confident from head to toe as she presented during the 65th Grammy Awards earlier this year. The twisted braids and ultra-high slit really make the look!