When we see A-list stars like Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé and Madonna, it’s hard to imagine their humble beginnings. But just like us, they had to start somewhere, whether it’s a hair salon, YMCA or Dairy Queen.
From normal teenage part-time jobs to some seriously bizarre work, these celebs got their start — and even met some key people — at these less-than-glamorous jobs.
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Keep reading to discover these celebrities’ first jobs before they made it big.
Gwen Stefani
If it weren’t for mopping floors and serving ice cream at Dairy Queen, Stefani’s first band No Doubt might not have existed! Members of the band met at an Anaheim Dairy Queen in 1987.
Stefani must have an affinity for meeting important people on the job. She met boyfriend Blake Shelton on season seven of The Voice.
Megan Fox
Fox told Ellen Degeneres that her “only real job” before acting was working as a cashier in a smoothie shop in Florida.
Once a week, she’d have to dress up as a banana and stand outside by the highway to attract customers.
Jennifer Hudson
Back in her teenage years, Hudson’s humble beginnings started at Burger King. She told The Voice that she’s glad she pursued her dreams instead of staying at the chain fast food restaurant.
“A long time ago, my only real job was working at Burger King,” Hudson said. “I quit working there when I was like 17, 18, and I said, ‘You know what? Forget this!’ I decided I wanted to make my living through my gifts and talents, and I feel blessed that I’ve been able to do that.”
Kanye West
The rap icon mentioned working at (and quitting) Gap as a sales assistant in ‘Spaceship’ off his debut album, The College Dropout. Wonder if his time at Gap influenced his own fashion line?
Jennifer Aniston
Before Aniston hit it big with Friends, she worked as a telemarketer. She’s since admitted she was ‘the worst’ at it, but lucky for her, she snagged a sitcom audition three months in.
“I was awful, selling timeshares in the Poconos and upsetting people terribly and me just being the worst at it, because I just apologized profusely and hung up the phone,” she said.
(Photo: Getty / Axelle/Bauer-Griffin)
Beyoncé
Long before Queen Bey broke the internet with her second pregnancy announcement, she worked many odd jobs — the first being sweeping up hair in her mom Tina’s hair salon.
She talked candidly about her time spent in her mom’s salon in her HBO doc Life Is But a Dream, saying when she wasn’t sweeping, she was singing.
Madonna
This “Material Girl” worked at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Times Square while pursuing her dreams. Unfortunately, the Queen of Pop did not last very long serving pastries to NYC. “I was sacked for squirting the donut jelly all over the customers,” she’s said.
Vince Vaughn
Growing up, Vaughn worked as a lifeguard at the YMCA, but was fired for “being late too many times.”
Julia Roberts
Just like so many of us normals, Julia Roberts scooped Baskin Robbins’ 31 flavors growing up. Now, PEOPLE’s Most Beautiful Person of 2017 follows this balanced diet that still includes dessert.
Faith Hill
While chasing her Nashville dreams, Faith Hill worked as a receptionist at a music publishing company until she snagged a job packaging fan merchandise for Reba McEntire.
The country superstar was later discovered while singing backup at a local bar.
Connie Britton
Before she was gracing our screens on Nashville or Friday Night Lights, Britton was an aerobics instructor, which makes total sense after one look at her incredible bod.
“I wore leg warmers, I wore a bandana—without question had to soak up the sweat,” she jokingly told E! News. “I wore high-legged leotards, a nice pink leotard with a purple bike short and very thick socks… I was hot!”
Rachel McAdams
Like many teenagers, Rachel McAdams spent three years working at McDonald’s, although she admits she wasn’t the best employee.
“It was a great place to work, but I had a little bit of an OCD thing with hand washing and just didn’t have time,” the actress told Glamour. “I was not a great employee; I broke the orange juice machine one day.”
Photo Credit: Getty / Kevin Mazur
