5 Celebs Who Have Had An Epic Post-Divorce Glow-Up

Divorces are hard, no question about that. And for many celebrities who've gone through them, they've shared openly about how challenging the process was. Despite this, though, more than a few have gotten out the other side of divorce even more in charge, stronger than ever, and looking incredible. We saw it happen with Nicole Kidman following her divorce from Tom Cruise, and we've seen several other stars looking their best after their marriages ended.

The post-divorce glow-up is a real thing. Once the trauma and stress end, a lot of people focus on themselves and undergo a period of renewal. This can look different for each person. For some, it's an emphasis on health and wellness; for others, it's refocusing on goals and ambitions related to careers. For some, it can look like investing in social connections, and strengthening friendships. Whatever the case, everyone who goes through a post-divorce glow-up ends up looking better than ever. This is because of the renewed confidence that comes from investing in one's own life, and prioritizing peace over stress. Interestingly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, women feel stress more acutely than men, so leaving it behind can do wonders for a woman's overall well-being, and tranquility shines through. So with that in mind, let's look at five celebrities who've radically transformed for the better after their marriages ended.

Adele literally looks like a vision. She and Simon Konecki met in 2011, and welcomed their son, Angelo, in October 2012. They married out of the spotlight, and it wasn't until February 2017 that Adele let fans know the two of them had tied the knot, after she called Konecki her husband while receiving an award at the Grammys. However, in April 2019, the two announced that they had split and in March 2021, their divorce was finalized. 

Adele did many things to spur a transformation after she and Konecki divorced. She underwent a serious workout regime to boost her mental health. Adele sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a CBS special called "One Night Only." Adele explained that she was in a tough space after her marriage ended. "I had the most terrifying anxiety attacks after I left my marriage," Adele said. "They paralyzed me completely and made me so confused because I wouldn't be able to have any control over my body, but I was aware of that happening because it was kind of still very much there while my whole body was just like, on another planet it felt like." Her anxiety went away when she worked out, so Adele got active and ended up losing 100 pounds over two years. She also had an artistic breakthrough. Her album "30" was all about her divorce, so a big part of her glow-up was healthy, creative expression. 

Mary J. Blige divorced Kendu Isaacs after nearly 15 years of marriage in 2018. Their divorce was contentious, with allegations that Isaacs had been unfaithful, and taken her money during their marriage. Blige was also hit with huge alimony payments. She was originally going to have to pay Isaacs $129,319 a month to cover his legal fees as well as lifestyle, but she ended up paying $30,000 monthly. It's certainly less, but it's not nothing.

In 2019, Blige spoke with People about how she coped, and expressed that she was doing so much better. "I try to keep my mind positive, I stay working out, I try to eat right and treat people right," Blige explained. "I have fun too, don't get it twisted, I go out with my friends, I laugh, I joke, I have wine." She explained that she felt really happy and peaceful with herself. On top of that, Blige crafted a glow-up of another kind. She had been so bothered by the alimony payments that she created the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit. That was also the title of her 2017 album that was inspired by her rage from the divorce. "But, you know, I always speak things into existence — even when I'm going through a bad time — and I had to speak strength into myself," Blige told the New York Post. "And so I named my album 'Strength of a Woman' while going through a daggone divorce and paying alimony." 

Khloe Kardashian hasn't had the easiest time with love. In light of this, the reality TV star has taught us some hard lessons about love as she processed her pain. Kardashian was married to NBA alum Lamar Odom from September 2009 to December 2016, when divorce proceedings were officially finalized. They had met at a party in August 2009 and got engaged within a matter of weeks. They married in Beverly Hills just one month later. 

Following her divorce, Kardashian underwent an incredible glow-up, and one that revolved around working out. "My weight loss journey started because I was getting a divorce," she told Bustle in December 2024. "I remember I was going to therapy and the next thing I knew, something private I told my therapist was on a tabloid." Kardashian went on to explain that she realized her therapist dished her personal information to the tabloids. In order to protect herself, she stopped going to the therapist and found solace at the gym. "As a byproduct, my body started changing," Kardashian went on. "I loved the way I felt. I loved testing myself and challenging myself. And I've been doing it for 10-plus years now, and I love it." It seems like Kardashian's transformation spurred a reality series. In 2017, she created the reality series "Revenge Body With Khloe Kardashian." The show was all about helping heartbroken people transform inside and out. It sounds like it was inspired by her own life. 

Drew Barrymore was married to Will Kopelman from 2012 to 2016, and the couple welcomed two daughters, Olive and Frankie. Barrymore spoke to People in December 2022 about why it ended. "There was no scandal. Nothing went wrong, which is cleaner, but makes it harder and more confusing because there isn't The Thing to point to," Barrymore explained. "We tried so hard to make it work." Barrymore admitted to getting into a dark place after her marriage ended, drinking too much, and feeling lost. 

But it was a work transformation that changed things for her and gave her a glow-up. It was Barrymore's return to acting in the Netflix series "Santa Clarita Diet" that lifted her out of her post-divorce dark place. "I had actually stopped acting for several years because I wanted to raise my kids," Barrymore told People in an interview in March 2018. "But then a shift happened in my life and I was separating from their father and it was just a very difficult time." Barrymore said that it didn't feel like the right time to return to acting, but that's exactly what helped. That wasn't the end for her, either. "The Drew Barrymore Show" kicked off in September 2020, and the show has been a massive success. She also went to therapy and quit drinking. So for Barrymore, her post-divorce glow-up was a career one, and that's a beautiful thing. 

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin got married out of the spotlight on December 5, 2003, and welcomed two children, Apple and Moses. On March 25, 2014, Paltrow announced on her Goop website that they were splitting up, using a term that would become a new conceptual framework for other couples: "conscious uncoupling." She and Martin wrote, "It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate. We have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much we will remain separate. We are, however, and always will be a family, and in many ways we are closer than we have ever been."

While they had a separation that wasn't marked by acrimony, it was still a huge shift, and later Paltrow talked about what that did to her and how she became better for it. In a series of questions and answers with fans on Instagram in January 2022, a fan asked her if it was possible to really move on after a divorce. Paltrow's response was positive, and a reflection of what she had done. "Oh, absolutely," Paltrow began (via Glamour). "It's a great opportunity to get ruthless with the truth of who you really are, what you want, and what you deserve." So for the Goop founder, the post-divorce glow-up came by seeking out her truth, and chasing that. She looks better than ever, so finding her truth looked great on her.