Kelly Ripa’s Fabulous Life In Pictures From The Moment She First Got Famous

Kelly Ripa has been a near-constant presence on our television screens for over 30 years. Even so, it’s easy to forget just how far she’s come. So, from the star’s early days on All My Children right up to her starring role on Live! with Kelly and Ryan, let’s take a look back at the many highlights of Ripa’s life and career. We think you’ll agree: she has changed quite a bit over the years!

Ripa’s early life – 1970s

Ripa began life in Stratford, New Jersey, in October 1970. The future star’s mother was a stay-at-home mom, while her dad worked as a bus driver and the president of a labor union. In 2015 she shared this flashback picture on Instagram in a mother’s day tribute. And in case you couldn’t tell, Ripa is the one rocking the pigtails!

Dancin’ On Air – 1986

While her upbringing was fairly conventional, Ripa had her heart set on the stage from an early age. According to The Things, she started ballet at just three years old and appeared in Dancin’ On Air – later Dance Party USA – aged 19. Take a look at this early still: clearly, the youngster took this first taste of show business in her stride!

Ripa joins All My Children – 1990

Biography.com notes that Ripa studied at New Jersey’s Camden Community College, where she starred in small theater productions. But her career was destined for bigger things, and she picked up a role on the long-running ABC soap All My Children in 1990. Ripa would play the punky Hayley Vaughan – later Santos – who arrived in Pine Valley to crash with her uncle and aunt, Trevor and Natalie Dillon.

Daytime Emmy Awards – 1993

It’s fair to say that All My Children made Kelly a star. In 1993 she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in the Best Supporting Actress category. While Kelly entered the soap as somewhat of a goth girl, in real life she epitomized the blonde bombshell look. And you can see that style here as the star is dressed in a daring thigh-slit gown on the Emmy red carpet.