The Real Scandal Is How Amazing Kerry Washington Has Always Looked

Updated on 2/1/2018 at 10:05 PM

Kerry Washington has been on our radar since the early 2000s, when she graced the screen as single mom Chenille in Save the Last Dance (such a classic). Since then, she's starred in critically acclaimed films like Ray, For Colored Girls, and Django Unchained and has us completely captivated with her role as Olivia Pope on the ABC hit show Scandal, for which she's received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Off screen, Kerry's life has been pretty golden as well; she and husband Nnamdi Asomugha welcomed their daughter Isabelle in April 2014, and became parents again when their son Caleb was born in October 2016.

Like the rest of us, Kerry fell victim to some of the more unfortunate fashion trends in the 2000s — like denim maxi skirts, woven belts, and skinny scarves — but she's clearly come out on the other side. In addition to her fashion prowess, Kerry has a megawatt smile, a killer sense of humor, and an inspiring dedication to politics and the arts. Read through for photos of Kerry's Hollywood evolution.

A short-haired Kerry posed in the snow at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001.

She celebrated her Teen Choice Award win in 2001.

Kerry hit the dance floor with fellow actress Tamara Tunie at a Valentine's Day event in 2002.

She kept things casual in jeans and flip-flops at the LA premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in June 2003.

Kerry fell victim to the denim maxi skirt trend in 2003.

She was all smiles at the LA premiere of Against the Ropes in February 2004.

Kerry wore a classic ball gown to an NYC event in August 2004.

She and her then-fiancé David Moscow walked the red carpet together at the LA premiere of Ray in October 2004.

Kerry channeled Marilyn Monroe in this photo from January 2005.

She and David Moscow posed together at the Director's Guild of America Awards in January 2005.

Kerry rocked a silk scarf at a Proenza Schouler event in April 2005.

She looked hot in a white dress at InStyle's Golden Globes afterparty in 2006.

Kerry looked gorgeous in a purple gown for her Cannes Film Festival debut in May 2006.

She flashed a peace sign at an NYC charity event in June 2006.

Kerry stuck close to her Last King of Scotland costar Forest Whitaker at the film's LA premiere in September 2006.

She shared a sweet moment with Kate Mara at a Golden Globes afterparty in 2007.

Kerry cozied up in a sweater during an outing in Washington DC back in April 2007.

She was feeling sexy in a sequined dress at the Hollywood Life Breakthrough of the Year Awards in December 2007.

She received an honor at the first-ever Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon back in 2008.

Kerry showed off bangs at an LA event in December 2008.

She sported a ballet-inspired look at a Lincoln Center gala in October 2009.

Kerry and Eva Longoria shared a cute moment on the Met Gala red carpet in 2010.

Kerry got a sweet kiss from Thandie Newton at the NYC premiere of their film For Colored Girls in October 2010.

She showed some skin in a sexy Gucci dress for a Mary J. Blige concert in May 2011.

Kerry brought sexy back at the ESPY Awards in July 2011.

Kerry shined — literally — in a low-cut gown at the Emmys in 2012.

She looked gorgeous at the LACMA Art + Gala in October 2012.

Kerry helped campaign for President Obama during his second election in November 2012.

She struck a pose at the Django Unchained Rome photocall in January 2013.

Kerry and her Django Unchained costar Jamie Foxx got cute and playful on the red carpet at the film's Berlin premiere in January 2013.

Kerry and her onscreen lover Tony Goldwyn got romantic on stage while representing Scandal at the NAACP Image Awards in February 2013.

She killed it on the Oscars red carpet in February 2013.

Kerry lit up as she received an honorary degree in Fine Arts at her alma mater, George Washington University, in May 2013.

She performed on stage with a group of Washington DC students as part of a visit with First Lady Michelle Obama in May 2013.

She hung backstage with Ian Somerhalder at the Teen Choice Awards in August 2013.

Kerry made her runway debut during the Project Runway show during New York Fashion Week in September 2013.

Kerry was glowing at HBO's Emmys afterparty in September 2013.

Kerry's contagious laugh was in full force during a Scandal event in NYC in October 2013.

She debuted her growing baby bump on the Golden Globes red carpet in January 2014.

Kerry and Tony Goldwyn posed for photos together at the Costume Designers Guild Awards in LA in February 2014.

Kerry cradled her bump in a blue dress at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon in LA in February 2014.

She had a pregnancy glow at the Oscars in March 2014.

Kerry made her first red carpet appearance since giving birth at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards in June 2014.

She sported a flirty floral dress for the BET Awards in June 2014.

Her Prada look at the 2014 Emmys was the talk of the red carpet.

Kerry was the picture of understated elegance at the Elle Women in Hollywood Awards in October 2014.

She turned heads at Vanity Fair's Oscars afterparty in February 2015.

Kerry caught up with Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes at the GLAAD Media Awards in March 2015.

She and husband Nnamdi Asomugha headed to the Met Gala together in May 2015.

Kerry was the belle of the ball on the Emmys red carpet in September 2015.

Kerry looked like a princess at the Baby2Baby Gala in November 2015.

She was all smiles at the Kennedy Center Honors Gala in December 2015.

She stepped out in this supersexy look at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty in February 2016.

Everything came up roses for Kerry at the LA premiere of her HBO film Confirmation in March 2016.

She attended the United Way of Greater Los Angeles Women's Summit in April 2016.

Kerry glammed up for the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April 2016.

She showed off her growing baby bump at the Emmys in September 2016.

Kerry wore a swoonworthy gold dress to the Golden Globes in January 2017.

She struck a sultry pose at the SAG Awards in January 2017.

Kerry was glowing at the NAACP Image Awards in February 2017.

Her hair was swept up for Scandal's 100th episode celebration in April 2017.

Kerry attended the CFDA Awards in style in June 2017.

She rocked a short bob with bangs for the Cars 3 premiere in June 2017.

Kerry was honored at the Women Making History Awards in September 2017.

Her flowered pantsuit was a colorful hit at the GLSEN Respect Awards in October 2017.

She was the belle of the ball at the LACMA Art + Film gala in November 2017.

Kerry's look was short and sweet for an event in December 2017.

She was literally glowing at the NAACP Image Awards in January 2018.