A-listers such as Beyoncé, Zac Efron, Nicole Scherzinger and Lady Gaga are among the many stars who dabbled in reality TV before hitting big time.
From talent contests like American Idol and Star Search to dating shows like MTV’s Room Raiders and The Big Date, some fans may be able to remember their unlikely appearance.
Fans saw a completely different side of the superstars when they starred on the shows in the early nineties and noughties.
Other celebs like Emma Stone, The Kardashian clan and Jennifer Hudson displayed their humble upbringings on shows before they even made it to Hollywood.
Daily Mail reveals the celebs who once appeared on reality television before they became household names.
Beyoncé – Star Search
At the age of just 12, Beyoncé appeared on Star Search in 1993, which she stated was a ‘defining moment in her adolescence’
Beyoncé rose to fame with R&B act Destiny’s Child before embarking on her record-breaking solo career (pictured in July)
Star Search, which ran for 13 seasons between 1983 and 1995, launched the careers of many A-listers, including Beyoncé, Britney Spears (L) and Justin Timberlake (R)
Star Search, which ran for 13 seasons between 1983 and 1995, launched the careers of many A-listers, including Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
Beyoncé rose to fame with R&B act Destiny’s Child before embarking on her record-breaking solo career.
At the age of just 12, Beyoncé appeared on Star Search in 1993, which she stated was a ‘defining moment in her adolescence’.
Zac Efron – MTV’s Room Raiders
Shortly before his iconic rise to fame on High School Musical, Zac Efron (pictured in 2005) appeared in an episode of MTV’s Room Raiders in 2005
The then 17-year-old was every inch the awkward teen when he chose between three dates and pulled out his inner Troy Bolton charm (pictured in 2024)
Shortly before his iconic rise to fame on High School Musical, Zac Efron appeared in an episode of MTV’s Room Raiders in 2005.
It came just one year before he became a household name in the Disney films in 2006.
MTV’s Room Raiders was a dating-style show where contestants chose a date based on their bedrooms.
The then 17-year-old was every inch the awkward teen when he chose between three dates and pulled out his inner Troy Bolton charm.
Nicole Scherzinger – Popstars USA
Nicole Scherzinger appeared on Popstars USA in 2001 where she was put into a band called Eden’s Crush
Nicole, 47, has won rave reviews for her role in Sunset Boulevard, which won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical (pictured in July)
Nicole, 47, has won rave reviews for her role in Sunset Boulevard, which won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
Before her West End debut, Nicola spent years touring with her Pussycat Dolls bandmates Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, and Kimberly Wyatt.
But prior to all of this, Nicola appeared on Popstars USA in 2001 where she was put into a band called Eden’s Crush.
She went onto release and album and tour with NSync and Jessica Simpson but later disbanded in 2002 – leading her to start her journey with the Pussycat Dolls.
Lady Gaga – Boiling Points
Lady Gaga – then known by her real name of Stefani Germanotta – appeared as a contestant on MTV’s Boiling Points back in 2005 (pictured)
Gaga has gone onto appear in an abundance of award-winning movies and multiple world-wide tours (pictured in May)
The hitmaker – then known by her real name of Stefani Germanotta – appeared as a contestant on MTV’s Boiling Points back in 2005.
The programme, similar to Candid Camera, featured contestants being subjected to rude and annoying behaviour, unaware that they are being filmed.
In the episode Gaga, then 23, appeared in, she and two other people stood to win $100 if they could survive 14 minutes without swearing in a New York restaurant.
A waitress took each participant’s food away from them, before bringing it back covered in trash.
Gaga, who has dark hair in the clip, failed to win – because after 12 minutes she lost her temper and swore at her server.
She can be seen telling the waitress: ‘Who would put that in their mouth? Would you put that in your mouth?
‘It has sh*t all over it! Clearly you would because you’re just, like, f***** up.’
Emma Stone – In Search Of The New Partridge Family
Before she hit big time, Emma Stone, 36, appeared on In Search Of The New Partridge Family in 2004, in a bid to make Hollywood – which indeed she did!
Emma has appeared in an abundance of successful movies including Cruella, La La Land, Poor Things and The Amazing Spider-Man (pictured in May)
It’s hard to believe award-winning actress Emma Stone, 36, once appeared on a reality TV show.
She’s appeared in an abundance of successful movies including Cruella, La La Land, Poor Things and The Amazing Spider-Man.
But before she hit big time, Emma was just a young actress trying to make her way into Hollywood.
Her Hollywood debut on a reality series looking to cast a new Partridge Family in 2004 lives on in a video thanks to YouTube.
The actress was just 15 when she appeared on – and won – the role of Laurie Partridge after belting out renditions of Meredith Brooks’ B*tch and Pat Benatar’s We Belong.
‘You go in there rolling your eyes, thinking, This is just a reality search competition, but then you’re there for seven weeks, and you just really, really want to win,’ she told Vogue in an interview last year.
Lucy Hale – American Juniors
Lucy Hale, 36, initially found fame as a songstress in 2003, appearing on American Juniors, a spin-off of American Idol which resulted in the formation of an S Club Juniors-style pop combo
Lucy has received various accolades, including seven Teen Choice Awards, a Gracie Award, a People’s Choice Award, and two Young Hollywood Awards (pictured last year)
Lucy, 36, initially found fame as a songstress in 2003, appearing on American Juniors, a spin-off of American Idol which resulted in the formation of an S Club Juniors-style pop combo.
When the group split in 2005, Lucy turned to acting, with roles in The Bionic Woman, Privileged and CSI: Miami, among others.
It was the part of Aria Montgomery in teen drama Pretty Little Liars which really put her on the map.
Lucy has received various accolades, including seven Teen Choice Awards, a Gracie Award, a People’s Choice Award, and two Young Hollywood Awards.
Glen Powell – Endurance
Glen Powell was on the Discovery Kids series Endurance’s first season in 2002 aged 13 but was booted off in the first episode
Speaking about the show previously, he said: ‘I wanted to be on the show really bad, and I got kicked off in the first episode’
Glen Powell briefly appeared on the Discovery Kids series Endurance on the show’s first season in 2002 aged 13 but was booted off in the first episode.
The Anyone But You star, 35, whose recent film Twisters has been a box office hit, was left embarrassed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last year when the host brought up the TV stint.
Glen said: ‘It’s really pretty hard for me to talk about, to be honest. I’ve never talked about this publicly ever.
‘The fact they pulled this out is shocking, but here we go. I was 13, I was on a show called Endurance; it’s basically a kids Survivor-type show. And they pit them against each other.
‘I wanted to be on the show really bad, and I got kicked off in the first episode.’
Jon Hamm – The Big Date
In 1996 Jon Hamm was just a 25-year-old waiter who took part in a TV dating show… and didn’t get picked
Appearing on The Big Date, The Mad Men star looked a far cry from his mature self with his hair unfashionably parted in the middle like drapes (pictured in June)
In 1996 Jon Hamm was just a 25-year-old waiter who took part in a TV dating show… and didn’t get picked.
Appearing on The Big Date, The Mad Men star had his hair unfashionably parted in the middle like drapes.
During the show Jon is asked what makes for the perfect date: ‘Well, you start off with some fabulous food and then some fabulous conversation with a fabulous foot massage for an evening of total fabulousity,’ he reels off to the host confidently.
‘Jon is all about being fabulous,’ the host quips later.
