'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' Child Star Makes Rare Appearance, Looking Unrecognizable After Quitting Acting for Rock Star Life

The child star may have once been Cindy Lou Who, but her latest look proves she's fully cemented her status as a rock star icon.

The singer made a rare red-carpet appearance at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, and fans could hardly believe the transformation from her child star beginnings to her edgy, powerhouse persona today.

The "Gossip Girl" alum, now fronting her rock band "The Pretty Reckless," stunned on September 7 at the UBS Arena in New York with an outfit that screamed rocker chic.

The star hit the carpet in a black bralette paired with a leather maxi skirt. She topped the look with a daring side slit, chunky leather platform boots, and a pair of overlapping studded belts.

Her silver bracelets and layered necklaces added extra edge, while her signature smoky eye makeup and cascading blonde hair completed the grunge-glam look.

Taylor Momsen's look was yet another reminder that she has carved out her own lane in fashion, and paired with her sculpted abs, it sent fans into a frenzy.

One fan admitted their surprise, "That's Taylor Momsen? I had no idea. I am shook." Someone else echoed the disbelief, "I didnt [sic] recognize her in this pic." Attention quickly shifted to her physique, with one admirer marveling, "Her abs are unreal!!"

Someone else doubled down on the compliment, sharing, "Your abs are intense! Great job!" Another person couldn't stop staring at her toned look, adding, "Wow, look at that six pack 😍." Others envied more playfully, "Wish I was ripped like that.. 😆."

One commenter offered both humor and critique, "I feel personally attacked by those abs. Or that ab paint. I can't tell. Also, never been a fan of the bikini top/long skirt silhouette. But she is gorgeous as ever."

And of course, her fashion sense didn't go unnoticed, with a loyal supporter praising, "Taylor Momsen has the best fashion. She's an icon for edgy looks."

Many fans were clearly stunned by Momsen's transformation since her child star days. Momsen first burst into fame at around age six as Cindy Lou Who in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." She later became widely known for her role as Jenny Humphrey on "Gossip Girl."

But as the cameras rolled and the lights burned brighter, Momsen realized acting was never her true calling. Instead, she walked away from TV stardom to throw herself into music. Today, she is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band "The Pretty Reckless."

Momsen has explained that acting always felt like her day job, while music was the part of her life that came naturally.

"I grew up on my dad's record collection, and now I've been able to give back with our own vinyl. I just wanted to record music and play it live. Having people to play for makes it that much better. I really just make the music I want to make. If people like it or hate it, it's just me doing what I love," she explained.

Choosing between acting and music wasn't a crossroads for her, but a revelation. Momsen has always said music wasn't just a career — it was her identity. She noted, "I met the guys that would become my band, Ben and I wrote songs we were proud of, we made a record, we went on tour. I'll continue that for as long as I can."

Two years ago, speaking on the "Podcrushed" podcast, Momsen peeled back the curtain on the darker side of her child star years. She recalled how, even after moving schools, she was rarely called by her own name. Instead, classmates branded her the Grinch girl — a nickname that left her feeling deeply alienated and isolated.

Things began to shift in middle school, when she finally forged friendships and began jamming with classmates in a fledgling band, though they never landed on a name. Just as she started to find her footing, fate intervened with "Gossip Girl."

The role required her to relocate to New York, ending her first band and leaving her to start over musically in a brand-new city.

Looking back on her decision to fully embrace music after leaving "Gossip Girl," Momsen explained that her passion for it had always been there. Acting, by contrast, was something she had been placed into as a child and never truly felt like a choice.

For her, the transition wasn't about reinventing herself as an actor-turned-singer. It was about returning to what she had always wanted to do.

Hence, when she was eventually written out of the series, Momsen finally created her life on her own terms and pursued her dream of making music. From child star to rock frontwoman, Momsen's evolution is as striking as her style. Take a look at her transformation through the years.

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