SARAH Michelle Gellar looked incredible and barely any different to her Buffy days as she stepped out at the Star Search premiere.
The actress, 48, dazzled in a silver mini dress with a very decorative shoulder piece at the Netflix event in Studio City, California.
Glam Sarah matched her dress with silver heels and beamed from ear to ear as she posed for pictures with her hand on her hip.
The vampire slaying hottie is a judge on the rebooted talent show, alongside Chrissy Teigen and Jelly Roll.
Though she looks fresh-faced and youthful, Sarah recently admitted she’s contemplated gettinga facelift.
“I’m seeing younger and younger girls get facelifts,” she told People. “And then, I’m not going to lie, there are times where I start questioning, ‘Should I be doing that?’
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“Do I have Botox? Yeah, of course I do, but I can still move my face. So, it’s about aging with grace. I like to smile. I like to laugh, my laugh lines are earned.”
It’s been 30 years since the original Star Search graced screens, and the latest comeback will be hoping to avoid the same fate as a short-lived reboot in 2003.
The legendary programme ran between 1983 and 1995 and was hosted by Ed McMahon and saw entertainers from different fields compete to win $100,000, while the junior contestants’ prize pot was $10,000.
The 2026 series opener saw hopeful acts battle it out across four categories: Junior Music, Dance, Variety, and Music Group.
For added spice, artists went head-to-head to impress the judges and viewers, who voted for their favourites in real time.
The winners will return in episode two ready to face a new set of contenders.
Young singer Eric Adrien Williams, 11, was the first to progress, beating Blair Kudelka, 10. In the dance category Movement 55 saw off Ladymetry, while magician TJ Salta defeated illusionist Fernando Velasco in the Variety category. Finally, H3rizon wiped the floor with 2BYG in a one-sided vocal group battle.
Though Sarah is busy with the big money show, fans are desperate to see her reprise the role of Buffy Summers in a much-anticipated sequel of the 90s supernatural drama.
The actress is keen to do the show justice and is confident the team in place, which includes Oscar-winning director Chloe Zao, will deliver what fans want.
She previously told People Magazine, “I wish there was a better word than overwhelming. It’s heartwarming and exciting and also incredibly nerve-wracking at the same time.
“And I think we have this team in place that is legendary, from Chloe Zhao to the Zucks [Nora and Lilla Zuckerman], to Gail Berman.
“And I think people are going to be pretty impressed.”
Chloe, who also directs the critically-acclaimed new film Hamnet, insists new Buffy won’t be retreading he same ground.
She told Variety in November, “It’s not a reboot. It’s a sequel. You can never replace these characters. I would never allow that. And Sarah is back. I love my cast, the new cast. We will bring back OG characters for sure.
“And it’s a show that bridges two generations – it’s not just about the kids. I think the fandom is so important to us. We want the fandom to see themselves mirrored in the original fandom. And of course, we want new fans to join, and it’s very much about both generations.”
The clamour for more Buffy was overshadowed last year by the tragic death of Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s sister Dawn in the final three seasons.
Sarah paid tribute to her on-screen sibling, writing: “Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you.
“The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you.”
