21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
Justin Bieber officially stopped being a "teen" star when he turned 20 in 2014. Now that he's over 21 (her turned 22 on March 1), he may be an adult -- but does that make him a grown-up? Whatever the case, the Canadian singer has been trying to shed his bubblegum image for years. Here are 21 ways Bieber has transformed from his days singing "Baby" to a young man known as "Bizzle."
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
1. Got a haircut: Bieber ditched those side-swept bangs his fans obsessed about for a more adult (and masculine) look in 2011.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
4. Was exposed to scandal: The first smudge on Bieber's squeaky-clean teen image came in 2011, when a young woman named Mariah Yeater falsely claimed that Bieber fathered a child with her after a bathroom rendezvous at one of his concerts. Even though Yeater's story didn't hold water, just the thought of Bieber doing the deed with a fan made the public start to view the kid in a different way.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
6. Became Joe Cool: The more cynical probably assume that Bieber persistently wears sunglasses to hide evidence about his recreational activities. But we're going to assume he's constantly wearing shades because everywhere he goes is just particularly bright.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
7. Fought with paparazzi: If you don't get into a fight with a photographer, are you really a celebrity? Bieber's breaking moment came in March 2013 when, after having a bad 19th birthday and frustrating week of performances in London, he threatened paparazzi haranguing him.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
9. Fell in love: Justin Bieber's on-again, off-again relationship with Selena Gomez lasted about three years, but more important, the romance helped to show that Bieber was capable of wooing a star of Gomez's caliber (and a slightly older one, at that).
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
11. Embraced risky fashion: It's pretty impossible to be on the cover of a teenybopper magazine like Tiger Beat when you're wearing a gas mask, which we assume is the point when Bieber elects to wear increasingly outrageous outfits and accessories. Lady Gaga, watch your back.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
12. Ditched his belts: To shed teen stardom you usually have to go full Britney or Miley and embrace nudity. Bieber's pulled that off in two ways: First, he cultivated a dysfunctional relationship with belts, as seen here in 2012 ...
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
13. Stopped wearing shirts: And then, he started walking around topless, like when he was in London for his 19th birthday in 2013.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
16. Created a personal "frat house": According to a detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Bieber crafted a "frat house" among the multimillion-dollar mansions in Calabasas, California. There were ping-pong and pool tables, a Ms. Pac-Man video game and a basketball free-throw machine, plus a skateboard ramp covered with spray-painted graffiti in the back. He's since sold the home to Khloe Kardashian.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
17. Developed a selfie obsession: Biebs broke out with YouTube videos of his performances, so his predilection for taking his own photos (constantly) is a natural evolution.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
18. Made famous friends: Bieber came into this business with one known famous friend (Usher). Now look how many he has! In Atlanta in 2014, he partied with the likes of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Rick Ross and Wale.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
20. Works hard at growing a mustache: Through the years, Justin Bieber has been nothing if not determined. His songs have gotten stronger, his escapades have gotten wilder, and his fame has only gotten bigger. We're pretty confident he'll pull through these growing pains and be able to transition to greater maturity. And when he does, his facial hair will tell the story.
21 ways Bieber's gone from 'Baby' to 'Bizzle'
21. Attends his friends' fashion shows: Count Bieber among the many style-conscious celebs making appearances at runway shows during New York Fashion Week. In 2015, he attended the debut of buddy Kanye West's collaboration with Adidas Originals, Yeezy Season 1.
