An easy way to witness those changes is by taking a look at the very first post that Insta-having celebs have ever put on this social media. We’ve taken you on such a journey before with part one of this article, but this journey isn’t done yet! So brace yourselves for part two.
Andy Cohen
It’s hard to believe that the "Real Housewives" reality television franchise has been around for more than a decade, and has even inspired international versions of the reality show famous for its catfights and drink-tossing.
In 2012, between all of the drama, on and off-screen, "Real Housewives" executive producer (and pot-stirrer) Andy Cohen managed to upload this strangely cropped photo of Teresa Giudice, star of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" as his first post on the social media platform. While Andy’s photography skills have definitely improved, he still knows how to rile up fans of the franchise.
Regina King
Celebrities, they’re just like us. In 2015, actress Regina King posted these two images of herself getting ready to go out, and who hasn’t posted at least one mirror selfie of themselves?
While mirror selfies may have fallen out of style, the actress’ message about loving yourself (with any type of hair) has certainly not. We love how the award-winning actress isn’t afraid to make fun of herself a bit while still encouraging fans to love themselves, flaws and all.
Cardi B
Never one to shy away from sharing her opinion, in 2015, rapper Cardi B used her first Instagram post to share her view on dating in the modern world. It seems that not only is Cardi B an award-winning rapper, but she may actually have a future as a dating and relationship coach.
All that sharing must have made the rapper work up an appetite as she ends the video by taking a bite out of a hot dog — a strange snack to just have lying around the kitchen.
Adam Sandler
Remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? In 2014, the social media trend encouraged users to post a video of themselves getting ice water poured on them in order to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease.
Part of the “challenge” was to nominate other social media users. In 2014, funnyman Adam Sandler used his first Instagram post to not only raise awareness but to also nominate his good friends, Kevin James, Vanilla Ice, and Britney Spears. This post showed that behind his often immature on-screen characters, Adam actually has a heart of gold!
Lucy Liu
Uploading a photo of a cute dog is always a good idea. Adding that the said dog was at a Stella McCartney party boosts your “cool factor” even more. In 2014, Actress Lucy Liu decided to use this up-close and adorable photo of a dog/small polar bear as her first post on Instagram.
In addition to posting photos of four-legged companions, the actress has also uploaded pictures of her amazing artwork and causes close to her heart. Lucy’s Instagram page is an example of stars using social media to show different sides of themselves.
Timothée Chalamet
Actor Timothée Chalamet is considered one of Hollywood’s most popular actors, and an unexpected heartthrob. Though he often plays a romantic lead in many films, for his first Instagram post he decided to turn the camera on a more amorous couple — these pigeons.
Timothée captured a romantic moment between this winged couple as they nuzzled together on his balcony in 2014. Pigeons aren’t a common feature on his Instagram feed, though, there are plenty of other cute animals and other artistically-shot photographs.
Olivia Wilde
In addition to being an actress and director, Olivia Wilde helped launch a sustainable fashion and jewelry brand called Conscious Commerce with partner Babs Burchfield. The actress used her first Instagram post to raise awareness of the brand and show off some of her line’s handbags.
Though the picture was taken in 2013, it seems like the actress hasn’t aged a day! It's "wilde"...ha ha ha.
Hailey Bieber
Not only is Hailey a Super Model and fierce fashion trail-blazer (she did actually make blazers cool again) she also happens to be the wife of pop star icon Justin Bieber.
Well, long before the days of being wrapped up in a messy love triangle with her hubby and Selena Gomez, Hailey was wrapped up in a blanket having a snooze, as we can see from her first every Insta post in 2011. Ah, the good old days!
Sarah Jessica Parker
Fans of Sarah Jessica Parker might be surprised to know that the actress and fashionista’s first Instagram post had nothing to do with shoes or fashion. Instead, her 2013 first post had more to do with architecture.
It turns out that the "Sex and the City" actress has a thing for taking strangely shot pictures of buildings on her daily commute. While there is a fashion-focused image here and there that Bradshaw would be proud of, most of Parker's posts are more "Snooze in the City" if you ask us.
Lupita Nyong'o
Even though Lupita Nyong'o is an Academy Award-winning actress, there are times when she even gets starstruck, and we don’t blame her. Meeting your hero — in this case, Oprah Winfrey — can be an awe-inspiring moment that you can’t help but want to share with fans. This magical moment took place in 2013.
We’re very happy that the actress got a chance to finally meet someone she admired so much and can totally understand her excitement over meeting this iconic woman. In addition to posting pictures of her incredible fashion sense, Lupita’s Instagram is full of inspiring and thought-provoking posts.
Ian McKellen
Known for starring in the "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogy film series, it can be hard to visualize actor Sir Ian McKellen scrolling through Instagram. Well, here we are, people! Even Gandalf's got the 'gram.
In 2013, for his first Instagram post, the celebrated actor decided to give fans a unique behind-the-scenes photo of a scene between himself and actor Richard Armitage who played Thorin in the film adaptation of "The Hobbit." Though his Instagram contains plenty of pictures of the classically-trained actor in costume, there are many more of his everyday life too.
Justin Timberlake
Thanks to the black and white filter option, everyone thinks they are a photographer. This is just a reminder that your black and white selfie does NOT make you a photographer. Seems that Justin Timberlake fell under the filter's spell as well. He uploaded this artistically shot image of a freeway in Los Angeles for his first Instagram post.
According to the caption in 2013, the image was shot on the way to the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the annual Grammy Awards. It seems that triple-threat Justin Timberlake was simply shocked that the normally congested highway was actually clear and so he had to photograph this memorable moment. Still...he's NOT a photographer.
Charlize Theron
While some celebrities use Instagram to promote themselves or upcoming projects, some celebrities actually use the social media platform to raise awareness for important causes. Actress Charlize Theron used her 2013 first Instagram post to raise awareness for her charity organization, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP).
The CTAOP organization is dedicated to helping those affected by HIV/AIDS in Charlize’s native South Africa. Seeing a celebrity use the platform to help others is truly inspiring and shows just how important social media can be.
Pierce Brosnan
Who said artsy shirtless selfies were just for the younger generations? Actor Pierce Brosnan decided to take the old adage, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” seriously with this sensual picture. Taken at the iconic luxury resort, Eden Roc Miami Beach, this picture is giving us serious vacation vibes.
Surprisingly, this revealing photo was not just a one-time event to mark the launch of his official Instagram page in 2013. Looking through the actor’s Instagram, it seems there is no shortage of shirtless vacation pictures, much to the joy of his fans.
Hugh Jackman
With all of his talent, it can be easy to forget that in addition to being one of the most celebrated triple-threat performers in Hollywood, Hugh Jackman is actually quite the coffee connoisseur. The Australian actor actually owns his own coffee company called "Laughing Man Coffee and Tea." We love Hugh but we're not sure that laughing and drinking a cup of coffee at the same time is a great idea.
Well, according to his first Instagram post back in 2013, the coffee company seems to be popular with four-legged friends!
Vanessa Hudgens
We're all in this together (get it?) when we say that Vanessa Hudgens, of "High School Musical" fame, is THE reigning Coachella queen.
Vanessa is one of the few celebs that hasn't done the proverbial "insta-wipe" of her old photos. That means her page is a treasure trove for photos of her with past lovers and past..Uhm...trendy outfits. The wide-brimmed hat," Harry Potter" style specs, and the over-edited filter is SO 2012 it's almost funny.
Rob Lowe
We have to give it to Rob Lowe. The obscenely good-looking actor is so photogenic that we're sure he would even take a good mid-sneeze photo. Well, it seems that looking perfect doesn't help you correctly identify animals. Who knew?
While he refers to the animal on his shoulder as a monkey, it’s actually a lemur. Though lemurs are also in the primate family, they are not monkeys. Here’s hoping that in the years following his wildlife-themed first Instagram post in 2012, Rob has learned a bit more about animals.
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is known for being…let’s face it, extra. We can all recall her now-infamous 2002 episode of MTV’s "Cribs" when the diva attempted to use the Stairmaster in jewel-encrusted heels while showing off her in-house salon.
Well here’s Mariah again being over-the-top in the way only she can. For her first Instagram post in 2012, the singer forgot the meaning of the word “casual” and pulled out her most elegant evening gown … to sit in her living room. We have to hand it to her, she makes our loungewear game look weak.
Channing Tatum
This is a public service announcement: Photos of actor Channing Tatum are ALWAYS welcome on Instagram. But this first post of the "Magic Mike" actor and his rescue dog (back in 2012) runs the risk of breaking the internet.
Thankfully, for fans, Channing’s Instagram has no shortage of photos of the actor (and his six-pack) and Lulu. While the actor isn’t the most active on the social media platform, he does occasionally share some updates about his latest projects including his children’s book, "The One and Only Sparkella."
Hailee Steinfeld
In 2012, actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld uploaded this mysterious photo of her sparkly gold shoes resting on a mixing console in a recording studio with the teaser, “It's not what you think...Or maybe it is?” followed by a winking smiley face.
Several years later, fans got their answer when the actress was signed to Republic Records and embarked on a musical career. It seems like Hailee is into keeping up with cryptic messaging. Her hit song "Love Myself" has some...Uhm...questionable lyrics. Even her fans are still unsure if she singing about what it sounds like she's singing about. Have a listen and you decide!
Zendaya
THE trailblazer and trend-setter that is Zendaya graced us with her presence on the platform in 2011. And the world is a better place for it! Her first post is a picture of herself and her co-star Davis Cleveland on the Disney Channel television show, "Shake It Up." The photo was apparently taken by Zendaya’s mother after a live taping of the show and quickly received thousands of likes.
We're pretty sure every time Zendaya posts, rainbows appear in the sky and everything in the world makes sense. Can you tell that we're Zendaya fans?
Pitbull
Instagram posts can tell us a lot about a celebrity. For example, who knew that Mr. World Wide, also known as rapper Pitbull, had such beautiful penmanship? We were surprised to see this elegantly written note with a set playlist for his Global Warming tour, written on a hotel’s stationery set in 2012.
It seems that artists never know when a good idea will occur to them and will reach for the first thing they can find. We wonder if the hit-maker left that notepad for other artists to use.
Drake
"Degrassi: Next Generation" fans make some noise! Drake embodies the dream of "starting from the bottom." You know, starting your career on a Candian teen drama and rising to worldwide rap royalty. Maybe not the typical Cinderella story but it's still impressive.
While his first post of a private plane (in 2011) certainly set the scene for the immense luxury to come, we wouldn't say the quality is great. Thankfully, pictures of himself aboard his private plane have certainly improved.
Jake Gyllenhaal
For his first Instagram post back in 2018, actor Jake Gyllenhaal shocked fans with a perfectly-edited video of himself reading a "Spider-Man" comic book with the caption, “ I just realized I’m not playing Spider-Man.”
Much to his surprise, and the surprise of fans, Gyllenhaal was not going to play the role of the iconic web-shooting superhero. Instead, he was actually cast as Quentin Beck/Mysterio in the Marvel film, "Spider-Man: Far From Home". Unfortunately for Jake, Instagram is basically all Taylor Swift, which means his comment section is not safe, which we are sure he now knows...all too well.
Julia Roberts
Taking a simple photo under a tree may be an uninspired way to kick off an Instagram page, but when you’re a major star like Julia Roberts, you don’t need to say much. Flashing her signature million-megawatt smile, Julia uploaded this simple photo and the word “hello” in 2018.
If you know the "I'm just a girl" speech from "Notting Hill" off by heart or dressed up as a...Uhm..pretty woman for Halloween, then you are a certified Julia Robert's mega-fan and you NEED to check out her page.
Nick Offerman
The only way to describe Nick Offerman is that he is a mucho-mustached teddy bear in human form. Not to mention he's hilarious! While his first post is a little underwhelming, the rest of his Instagram page is worth a scroll. The actor also uses the platform to share his latest woodwork creations (yes, he is passionate about woodworking just like his character Ron Swanson) and his books.
Offerman shared this first post in 2017 poking fun at the #hashtag. Not only was he pretty late to the Instagram game, but it seems like his punchline was as well.
Daniel Day-Lewis
The man, the myth, the legend. Daniel Day-Lewis is possibly the most serious actor around. We mean staying-in-character-for-a-year-serious. That's why we were SHOCKED that he had something as...ahem..frivolous as an Instagram account.
Unsurprisingly, he used his first post to promote his film, "There Will Be Blood" in 2017.
Jennifer Garner
Not content with just posting a photo of herself to share the fact that she joined Instagram, actress Jennifer Garner got a bit crafty. In 2017, the actress recorded herself writing out a message on a letter board about officially joining the platform while asking fans to follow her.
With tons of photos of her everyday life and delightful “mom” jokes (the far superior humor to dad jokes), it's no wonder fans enjoy scrolling through her feed. Unafraid to share goofy photos of herself, Jennifer has certainly...wait for it...garnered... a solid following.
Jane Fonda
It's hard not to be fond of Jane Fonda, even when her everlasting fitness, regardless of age has ruined any excuse we were hoping to have to not exercise as we got older. Thanks, Jane!
In case you didn’t feel lazy next to her, here she is in 2017 showing how flexible she is while working out with the late Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and team manager, Tommy Lasorda.
James McAvoy
Whether it's images of swings next to tropical beaches or people pretending to hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, some travel-themed photos have become almost cliché on Instagram.
While photos of the Eiffel Tower are a dime a dozen on the platform, we’re willing to give James McAvoy credit for this typically overdone photo. The actor used this picture of the famous French landmark to mark the beginning of his Instagram presence in 2016.
Tom Hiddleston
The best thing about Instagram is that it brings stars and their fans THAT much closer. You could say it's Instagram-intimate. And who wouldn't want to get up close and personal with Tom Hiddleston?
Instead of making a formal press release, Tom used his 2016 first Insta post to directly tell his Marvel fans that he would be reprising his fan-favorite Loki role.
Sandra Oh
Some celebrities use their Instagram pages to give fans a deeper insight into their personalities or to share some rarely seen images of their favorite projects. For her first post on Instagram in 2016, actress Sandra Oh decided to share this image of a storyboard from her acclaimed film, "Sideways."
Storyboards are graphic representations of a video or movie’s planned shots or scenes. It turns out that not only was this film a favorite of critics, but the role was so significant that Sandra had the storyboard framed and hung up in her home office!
Halle Berry
Halle-lujah for Halle Berry! She decided to bring some much-needed steaminess to the 'gram in 2016. We can't help but hope that she opted for bug spray instead of a shirt!
Her Insta page is packed with sultry selfies guaranteed to make everyone's day A LOT better.
Helen Mirren
Ladies and gentlemen, Dame Helen Mirren entered the chat in 2016! Not only did her first caption contain an excellent "A Street Car Named Desire" (the play by Tennesse Williams) reference, she did so while posting a very cool sun-glassed selfie.
Can we all agree that we are not worthy?
Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell and actor Dax Shepard are actual #couplegoals. No, not because they portray a perfect married life, but because they use social media to show the very real ups and downs of married life. We salute you two!
So it's very fitting that Kristen chose this intimate picture of her and her hubby smooching as her first post on the platform in 2016.
Lady Gaga
The year was 2012. Bad Romance ...Uhm... lyrics "ra-ra-ra-ah-ah" were finally getting out of our heads and we were finally settling down from the shock of the Gaga "meat-dress" moment. So, it's understandable that we were a little shocked by this very un-gaga-like selfie that she posted as her first Insta snap.
While this was years before her Oscar win, you could say that this post was where a star was born!
Julianne Moore
Actress Julianne Moore may be from a different generation compared to other social media users, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what generates likes. Proving she is just as social media-savvy as the rest of them, in 2015 she uploaded this picture of her two dogs taking some sun.
If the presence of dogs didn’t help her get enough likes, the “oh my dog” title is pure-pet-pun-perfection! All we can say is Julianne, keep "Moore" posts coming. Ha Ha...Ha.
Anne Hathaway
Actress Anne Hathaway is a great example of a celebrity who uses Instagram for a good cause. Her very first post was her ALS Ice Bucket Challenge! The actress posted a video of herself still managing to crack a smile after having icy water dumped on her as part of the viral trend in 2014.
Thanks to the involvement of celebrities like Anne, the ALS Ice Bucket challenge managed to raise millions of dollars in donations to research amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It just goes to show that social media can sometimes be used for good!
Salma Hayek
She's talented, beautiful, AND humble? Come on! How are we supposed to feel good about ourselves? In addition to being an extremely talented actress, Salma Hayek is often considered to be one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. It should come as no surprise then, that she would be the muse of a variety of artists who are inspired by the star.
Salma’s first post came in 2015. It was a photo of a handwritten letter honoring and showing her gratitude to the artists who have created amazing work inspired by the actress.
Janet Jackson
All the way back in 2015 (don't worry, we won't tell you just how long ago that was) Janet chose this formidable selfie as her first Instagram post.
She looks exactly the same as she does today! Does this woman not age? Don't mind us, we'll be off trying to find the secret of eternal youth that Janet obviously knows. Not Fair!
Kaley Cuoco
Who could've guessed that our furry four-legged friends would rule Instagram? Well, Kaley Cuoco certainly knew the power of posting a pet pic on social media. It's guaranteed 'gram-gold.
With dozens of pictures of her precious pooches and her horses (yes, in addition to being a successful actress, Kaley also rides horses professionally) Kaley’s feed is an animal lover’s dream. It’s no surprise then, that the actress chose a picture of her dog Shirley and her late pup, Norman as her first post on the social media platform in 2011.
Dolly Parton
The world is always brighter with a dose of Dolly. Luckily for humanity, the musical icon and actual goodness in the human form decided to get Instagram. For her 2015 Instagram debut, she chose to go big with a little help from some well-known friends. Circling around the living legend are "The Voice" coaches Blake Shelton, Pharrell, Gwen Stefani, and Adam Levine.
Since we can't all make the trip to Dollywood every single day, we will settle for another glimpse into Dolly's world through her Insta posts.
Diane Keaton
We were very surprised to know that actress Diane Keaton’s first Instagram did not include any pictures of the acclaimed actress in one of her famous trademark hats. Instead, Diane posted a picture of American sculptor Robert Gober’s artwork.
You could say that Diane has a "leg-up" on having the quirkiest first Instagram post. Though this 2015 picture gives us more art school student and less Hollywood actress vibes, it’s nice to know that she has other hobbies and interests outside of show business. Even if it means admiring candle-leg artwork. Whatever floats her boat!
Angela Bassett
Talk about peer pressure! Some celebrities, like many of us, join social media platforms after being pressured by the people around them. Actress Angela Bassett shared that she felt some pressure from the people in her “Glam Team” to get on Instagram in 2015.
Well as the saying goes "pressure creates diamonds," and while her first post is a little underwhelming, her Instagram page has since blossomed into a sparkling glimpse of the icon's life.
Michelle Pfeiffer
What a meow-ment! For her Instagram introduction (in 2019), Michelle Pfeiffer uploaded a clip from her iconic role as Catwoman in Tim Burton’s "Batman Returns."
Now we aren't trying to start a catfight, but Pfeiffer's Cat Woman is frequently considered by fans of the comic book character to be the best.
Matthew McConaughey
There are many celebrity Instagram accounts that look practically identical, and then there’s Matthew McConaughey’s Instagram. The actor and bongo-enthusiast uploaded a short video as his first post, and what could we say? It is exactly what we would have expected from Matthew McConaughey.
Of course, the Oscar winner's first post in 2019 was equally unique. He chose to upload a short clip where he promised to share himself with fans. Well, Matthew, that's "alright, alright, alright" with us!
Michael Douglas
Let’s be honest, did we really expect Michael Douglas’ first Instagram post to be a shirtless selfie or what he had for breakfast? The celebrated actor used his first post in 2019 to share a photo of himself winning a Golden Globe Award for his television show, "The Kominsky Method."
Not only did he give a shout-out to the cast and crew behind the award-winning show, but he managed to also thank his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. Talk about #CoupleGoals.
Paris Hilton
Can we all agree that Paris missed a clever caption opportunity in her first post? "That's Hot" is not only her iconic catchphrase but it would've made the perfect first Instagram caption. It's been over a decade and we're still salty about it!
It can be said that Paris Hilton has never seen a camera she didn’t love. After having countless photographs taken of herself, the ultimate “it girl” of the early 2000s posed for the camera for her first Instagram post in 2012.
Bella Hadid
It seems that it’s not all bikini-filled vacations and fashion runways for this supermodel. In 2013, back before she was a regular fixture at fashion shows and was gracing the covers of magazines, Bella Hadid just wanted to stay in and play video games like "Grand Theft Auto."
Who could blame her? As fun as having a jet-set life is, we're sure there are times that Bella would trade the messiness that comes with being in the public eye and the fame game for her simple messy room and a gaming console.
Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid is an undeniably glamorous global icon who has taken the modeling world by storm. But did you know she had her start on the reality show "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?" Just to clarify Gigi's mother, Yolanda was the housewife and not the fresh-faced Gigi. Phew!
Here we see mother and daughter in 2011, long before the days of Gigi's gigantic success.
Madonna
Though her Instagram feed is usually more shocking, the material girl's first Instagram post was more hopeful than it was headline-grabbing. In November 2012, the “Queen of Pop” took to her social media page to share who she hoped would win the United States presidential election.
While the superstar still uses her social media to raise awareness about a variety of social causes and to share her political beliefs, there is no shortage of the artist in risque photos. She is Madonna after all!
Amy Schumer
Ah, we LOVE a punny caption. It's safe to say that comedian and actress Amy Schumer nailed her first Insta caption back in 2012. Here we see her having a chat with legendary comedian Steve Wright, so it was only fitting that her caption was "it feels wright."
Amy's biting humor and unfiltered punch-lines have propelled her to stardom. If you're having a grey day, we highly recommend taking a scroll through Amy's page to get a much-needed chuckle in.
Nicki Minaj
When it came to finding the perfect photo for her first Instagram post, singer Nick Minaj turned to her loyal legion of fans known as Barbz. The rap royalty icon uploaded this 2013 fan sketch herself to mark the beginning of her presence on the ‘gram.
Today, Nicki’s Instagram is full of pictures of the singer in her trademark wild outfits. And while she is one of the biggest stars in the music industry, Nicki never forgets her fans. She frequently dedicates posts to them, thanking them for their support.
Emilia Clarke
Unlike her fierce and (literally) fiery character, Daenerys Targaryen on "Game of Thrones" actress Emilia Clarke is known to be a bit of a goofball. Just take a look at this facial expression on her first Insta post in 2015. Only Emilia could pull that off.
"Game of Thrones" fans will also notice the little easter egg that Emilia placed in her post...Yep, that IS a mini Daenerys Targaryen toy. Hey, she knows her audience!
Ryan Reynolds
Leave it to Ryan Reynolds to land a joke on his first Insta post. Just like his infamous Deadpool character, the star adds a dose of deliciously dark and dry humor to any situation. Lucky for us, this 2015 post was the first of many knee-slapping posts to come. He captioned it "Stuck the landing. With my mouth." and we wouldn't have it any other way.
His humorous posts often feature other hilarious actors like Will Ferrell or involve joking around with his wife, actress Blake Lively. It’s always refreshing to see a celebrity poke fun at themselves.
Chrissy Teigen
While Chrissy Teigan is usually associated with Twitter thanks to her frequent Twitter spats and shade-throwing posts, there are times when she enjoys browsing and posting on Instagram too. Like most of her social media posts, Chrissy chose to keep it all in the family with this cute photo of her husband, musician John Legend all the way back in 2012.
While the poorly lit photos and rounded-edged frames are a thing of the past, Chrissy has continued to upload loving photos of her special man and their family. For better or for worse, there's no denying that Chrissy is a social media legend!
Seth Rogan
Being a celebrity can have its perks — just ask actor Seth Rogan. The funnyman got some help in setting up his account from the actual inventor of Instagram, Kevin Systrom in 2013.
What apparently began as a way for Seth to promote his film "This Is the End" has now turned into quite the pastime for the actor who uses the platform to share news about new projects as well as his pottery hobby (really!). No word, however, on if Kevin helped the actor perfect his perfect Instagram poses.
Ashton Kutcher
While Ashton Kutcher is usually cast as a silly or goofy character, the actor is actually highly interested in technology and startups. Because of this, it's no surprise that Ashton was an early adopter of Instagram in 2011(!).
We can’t say we miss the Fedora hat he’s sporting (it was 2011 after all), but we do wish the long hair would make a comeback. Today the actor uses the platform to not only show off his latest projects but to also raise awareness for important issues.
Adele
Though her more recent posts show a more jovial and colorful side to the singer, Adele’s first social media posts were all about the dramatic black and white look. With just a haunting gaze and a simple caption promoting her latest album at the time, 25, Adele managed to rile up the social media platform.
Just a warning: staring at this 2015 photo of Adele for too long will send you into a spiral of eyeliner envy that will lead to a futile attempt to recreate her look.
Gabrielle Union
We’ve got to hand it to Gabrielle Union for managing to look so good under pressure. The actress chose this picture of herself about to scale Australia’s Sydney Harbor Bridge in 2012 as her first Instagram post. At about 440 feet high at its highest point, we’re not sure how the actress managed to stay so relaxed to take a photo.
Not featured in the background was her climbing buddy — husband and NBA legend, Dwyane Wade. Thankfully, for those who are scared of heights, the actress has plenty of photos taken at ground level.
Will Smith
Scrolling back to the early days of Instagram, it seems that there was no shortage of celebrities making duck faces. This pouty picture comes courtesy of actor Will Smith while he was hanging out backstage at "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2017. While we think duck faces are one of the worst social media sins, we’re willing to let the Fresh Prince slide with this one.
Thankfully he's found the...will... to stop with the pouts and instead has used his Instagram to show off his superb smile.
Tyra Banks
Let’s see — duck face, old Instagram frame? Yup, this picture is peak 2012. It turns out that when she wasn’t picking contestants on "America’s Next Top Model" or teaching us how to “smize,” Tyra Banks was fangirling over a parody video of Carly Rae Jepsen’s catchy song “Call Me Maybe”.
The parody video (which featured bananas being used as phones in case you're wondering why the supermodel is holding a bunch of bananas) was shot in early 2012 and featured baby-faced Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Ashley Tisdale, and more lip-synching to the hit.
Priyanka Chopra
It’s always a bit envy-inducing to see how celebrities can take such good pictures, even when they’re candid. Proving that she looks just as flawless in a blurry and poorly-cropped social media post as she does on the red carpet, Priyanka Chopra uploaded this natural photo as her first post.
Though this picture was uploaded in 2012, the former Miss World 2000 and "Quantico" star continues to post adorably candid photos and videos of herself. Hmm, we wonder if Nick Jonas scrolled back this far to give his future wife's first post a heart?
Chris Pratt
Ah, it's 2012 Chris Pratt! Looking at this picture it’s hard to believe that this was the now mega-buff Marvel star, Chris Pratt. In fact, we’re almost sure we've seen this picture on our own social media pages before. Paneled wood cabinets, grainy photo, random sea creature? The person in this picture seems completely different from the leading action star the actor is today.
While Chris looks like he's having a great time, we can’t really say the same for the poor lobsters! Thankfully, Chris’s current Instagram is more sea-lebrity-orientated as opposed to seafood-oriented as it used to be.
Kylie Jenner
Back before she was posting photos of her best-selling cosmetics lines and teasing fans with her often cryptic pictures and posts, Kylie Jenner’s Insta focused on the more simple moments of life. In 2011, Kylie uploaded this photo of a roaring fireplace as her first Instagram post and we totally get it.
Hmmm, we can't help but be a little suspicious here. Knowing Kylie's reputation for photoshopping her images, we have to wonder...is this fireplace photoshopped? Just look at those curves! Ok ok, we'll take our tinfoil hats off.
Adam Levine
While Adam Levine may be the most well-known member of the band Maroon 5, the singer took a break from being the star to focus on the band’s guitarist, James Valentine. For his first post in 2013, the singer and "The Voice" coach uploaded this photo of James making a silly face as he strums his guitar.
To be honest, with his long hair and a beanie cap, we are also getting some serious ‘90s vibes. A frequent fixture in Adam’s Instagram feed, James is even featured in the lead singer’s first three Instagram posts. Talk about a bromance!
Robert Downey Jr.
While most of us take group pictures at regular restaurants or events, celebrities are a bit different. In his first Instagram post, Robert Downey Jr. managed to make us feel all sorts of jealous with this picture of his seriously impressive friend circle.
Taken backstage at the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" late-night talk show in 2015, Robert managed to somehow squeeze actors Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, and Mark Ruffalo all in one picture. We’re surprised that the camera could handle such star power!
Blake Shelton
Proving that he has no qualms about getting down and dirty, the rugged country crooner Blake Shelton posted this picture of his tractor and farm back in 2013. It turns out that not only can the man sing and coach on "The Voice," but he actually knows how to grow crops.
The talented musician owns a sprawling 1,382-acre ranch in Oklahoma where he enjoys living off the land as demonstrated in this post. Blake, if you’re listening, we would totally be down to follow an Instagram solely devoted to your ranch life!
Harry Styles
Oh deer, this was a bit of an odd first Instagram post. Apparently, singer Harry Styles is just as impressed with wildlife as most of us are, which is the only way we could explain why he chose this picture as his first foray into Instagram in 2012.
The irony here of course is that Harry's fascination with watching wildlife is pretty similar to our own fascination (ok, obsession) with the lives of our favorite celebs. We can't deny that we're watching the romance between Harry and Olivia Wilde with binoculars (metaphorical ones of course).
Leonardo DiCaprio
Most people consider taking pictures at a famous place or with a well-known figure as a bit of a social media cliché. Though that may be the case for some people, actor Leonardo DiCaprio has done some real good in helping to raise awareness about a variety of environmental issues.
The acclaimed actor has made it his passion to use his platform to help protect our planet. His first Insta post from 2014 is no different. That said, if anyone could get away with sporting a man-bun and posing with the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, it’s Leo.
Justin Bieber
Who would've thought that the Bieb's first-ever Instagram post would be a picture of...traffic? Maybe he was bored? Or even worse, somehow inspired by the car jam? Of all the exciting and glamorous moments...he chose to post this one in 2011.
We can only hope that upon seeing the traffic, Justin belted out "baby, baby, baby no!" At least we did when we saw this post.
Ariana Grande
Leave it to Ariana Grande to make us say “aww”. The pop star used her first Instagram post (all the way back in 2011!) to give credit to her number one fan — her grandfather. In this adorable photo, Ariana shows us just how important family is to her as she gives a hug to her grandfather.
According to the diva, her grandpa is such a fan of his talented granddaughter, that the hoodie he is wearing in the photo says “Ariana Army” on it. Even amidst all the chaos of being one of the planet's most popular pop icons, she still finds time to put family first.
Carrie Underwood
Ah, we sure do miss the days when filters were detectable! We’ll forgive Carrie Underwood for the grainy black and white photo, as our selfie-taking skills as a society hadn’t really developed yet. In 2013, Carrie snapped this pic in what looks like her makeup chair or dressing room to promote her Blown Away tour.
Thankfully, the dark and blurry pictures are a thing of the past, and Carrie’s Instagram feed today shows snippets of her performances and fitness routine. We do hope she "carries"-on posting. Sorry.
Kim Kardashian
Did we expect anything less than a kissy-face from the unofficial queen of social media? Here Kim is, in 2012, looking just as flawless as she does today. Though she has moved on from duck-faces and kissy-faces to a serious fashion icon, Kim is still the reigning champion of social media.
It’s hard to believe that the reality star-turned-mogul has been serving up lewks on the internet for more than a decade, and her popularity still continues to grow! There's no denying that Kim has certainly K-onquered social media.
Jennifer Lopez
We have to admit — we were a bit underwhelmed at how understated Jennifer Lopez’s first Instagram post was, especially considering how over-the-top and glamorous J.Lo’s life typically is.
Instead, this 2013 post looks more like a promo for a new nightclub. While it shows all the ways you can follow the star, it seems to be missing the actual celebrity. Thankfully, after this disappointing debut, J.Lo’s Instagram now gives us the glamorous glimpses into her life (which include her rollercoaster romance with Ben Affleck) that we really want to see.
Selena Gomez
For her first post, Selena Gomez gave us a look at her and her dancers practicing for their upcoming performances to promote her debut solo album, "Stars Dance." The black and white footage and casual clothes are giving us serious high school theater vibes.
Since the post back in 2013, she's amassed a mammoth 300+ million Instagram followers! She even holds the title of "the first most followed person on Instagram." Despite her success on the platform, Selena recently admitted that she hasn't actually used the platform for a few years.
Beyoncé
For her first Instagram post in 2012, Beyoncé took a break from carrying the entire "Bey-hive" on her back to not only represent her Texas roots but to show her support for her favorite presidential candidate. In an uncharacteristically simple (but still fabulous) outfit, the Houston-born superstar put the focus on politics with her graphic t-shirt.
Queen-bey has since used her Instagram page to post many an internet-breaking post including her goddess-like pregnancy announcement and her floral twins reveal.
Dwayne Johnson
With such a successful career as an actor, it can be hard to remember Dwayne Johnson A.K.A The Rock's professional wrestling roots. This 2013 post certainly takes us all back. Years before he was helping Moana navigate the seas or driving dangerously in the "Fast & Furious" films, he was pummeling other wrestlers in the ring and wearing some rather...questionable leather outfits.
While we are devastated that his leather vests may be a thing of the past, Dwayne continues to be the charismatic and funny star he has always been. Let's just say we're in-vested...Ha Ha.
Nicole Kidman
Known for her immaculate red carpet style, Nicole Kidman decided to loosen up for her first Instagram post. Here's a behind-the-scenes peek of Nicole celebrating her "Best Actress" win for her performance in "Big Little Lies" at the 2018 Golden Globes Awards.
Though it's no big or little lie that the actress has been the recipient of many awards, we love how excited she looks with this one. What a cute candid snap!
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston really knows how to show up late to a party. She only started an account in 2019 but her first post packs a powerful nostalgic punch! Yep, her first post was a selfie with the ENTIRE "Friends" cast.
Though it’s been decades since the gang was “pivoting” and singing about a “smelly cat,” seeing Jennifer, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry together almost broke the internet! Jennifer, if you're reading this, please post more "Freinds" pics. We'll be there for you!