If not for Rachael Ray, we never would have known what EVOO and GB stand for. We'd never declare a dish "yum-o," and we definitely wouldn't know the difference between a stoup and a choup. We have the Food Network star to thank for all that, as well as for showing us that you don't have to be a professional chef to put together a delicious (sorry, delish) meal. But more recently, Rachael Ray has undergone a transformation that becomes even more obvious when compared to images of her from her early
TV days. There's no denying that her face looks different now than it did back when she was just emerging as a cooking-show phenom. Unfortunately, some online critics have found it necessary to slam her for the changes.
What follows is a chronicle of the "30 Minute Meals" icon's evolved appearance. Say what you will about her, but remember that Ray has overcome numerous personal tragedies to get where she is. The fact that she's survived them and remained upbeat and inspirational says more about her than a pair of glasses or a rounder jawline.
Read more: All Of Rachael Ray's Health Problems Explained
Ray's Signature Smile Hasn't Changed
Ever since she joined the Food Network in 2001, Rachael Ray has served both recipes and smiles to millions of fans. Ray's awkward on-air blunders — catching a dish towel on fire, splattering pesto all over the set — just made her more endearing. By 2004, she had already published several cookbooks and had just released her latest, a volume of kid-approved dishes. Appearing here at a signing event, Ray displayed her signature wide grin and the youthful look of a thirty-something who knows she's a legit celebrity. The pale eyeshadow and rosy blush she's wearing show she was up to date with all the Y2K makeup trends.
Ray Glowed With Joy (And Darker Hair)
By 2007, Rachael Ray had become the host of her own daytime talk show, eponymously named "Rachael Ray," along with her hit "30 Minute Meals" and various other specials and appearances. She was enough of a household name that she got invites to plum events such as the Daytime Emmy Awards. Unlike certain TV personalities whose makeup fails are downright painful to look at, the founder of the Nutrish pet food line toned down her palette, needing almost no cosmetic help to look radiant. Is anybody as surprised as we were to remember that she'd colored her hair jet black at the time?
Ray Was Picture-Perfect At A Book Signing
Fast-forward to 2013, and Rachael Ray was continuing to find success as a cookbook author along with all her TV accomplishments. Here, she appeared at a signing of "Week in a Day," her guide to preparing a week's worth of meals in one day. Ray's face was almost identical to her cover photo — a maturer look was starting to set in — and by this time, she'd gone with a slightly lighter and more flattering hair color.
Ray's Emmys Look Was Award-Winning
It's an honor just to be nominated, but winning is pretty sweet, too. Ray and her talk show were nominated for Daytime Emmys a whopping 25 times during its 17-season run, taking home the trophy just three times. The last win came in 2019, when "Rachael Ray" was awarded the prize for Outstanding Talk Show — Informative. Accepting the statuette along with the rest of the production crew, Ray didn't have to fake her famous apple-cheeked smile. She went with a slightly more sophisticated makeup palette, but it didn't take away from her natural looks.
The Pandemic Brought Noticeable Changes
2020 was tough on everyone, but it was a particularly wrenching year of hardships for Rachael Ray. Just a month after the photo on the left was taken, the COVID pandemic sent the world into lockdown. Ray and her husband, John Cusimano, stayed in their upstate New York home, where she filmed episodes of her show, and hoped to wind down and find moments of joy in between. But that joy turned to grief when Ray and Cusimano lost not only their beloved dog Isaboo, but also their home, which was entirely destroyed by a fire. The couple's Manhattan apartment was also severely damaged in floodwaters caused by a hurricane.
During this time, Ray's appearance underwent its most noticeable changes. She began wearing glasses regularly, which took fans by surprise. The TV chef's face also became rounder and heavier, she wore less makeup, and she began wearing her hair in a straight shag. Some fans felt obligated to point it out publicly; one blunt viewer commented on an Instagram post, "OMG I hardly recognized you.. why did you put on so much weight???" An even ruder follower said, "What happened?! She used to be so hot." But for every rude remark, there were two or more supporters telling them to MYOB.
Ray Is Still Warming Pans And Hearts
By 2022, Rachael Ray's current look was pretty well solidified, and fans were noticing. In the fall of 2024, she admitted to having "had a couple of bad falls" on the first episode of her "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" podcast, adding that the incidents had temporarily stopped her from carrying loads of wood into her home. In May 2025, an Instagram video showed Ray looking almost unrecognizable, and she also appeared to be having difficulty speaking. Once again, followers felt obligated to speculate on her physical and mental health.
Ray has yet to comment on the change in her looks, instead forging ahead with her career and ignoring trolls. In addition to her podcast and specials such as "Rachael Ray in Tuscany," Ray hosts "Meals in Minutes" (streaming on Disney+ and Hulu) and shares her insights on social media. If anything, the changed look has made her seem more real and approachable. She glams up a bit for public appearances, but for her home cooking segments, she foregoes the makeup. Her unspoken message: She's there to make yum-o Cowboy Spaghetti and fried green tomatoes, not walk the runway. Whatever the cause of her appearance — age, lifestyle, health — is no one's business but her own. Besides, Ray may not have all the glamour of her earlier TV days, but her joy in creating memorable meals hasn't dimmed a bit.
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