The First Instagram Posts of 21 Celebrities (a.k.a. Proof Filters Matter)

While it's hard to imagine now, it wasn't that long ago that we lived in a world where you couldn't get a filter-tinged look into the lives of the people around you.

A world where you couldn't get a look at your best friend's breakfast and Chrissy Teigen's vacation before starting your day.

A world where Beyoncé announced her pregnancy during a performance at the VMAs and not with a highly stylized photo shoot.

A world without Instagram.

Over the last six years, Instagram has only grown and allowed us (and our favorite celebrities) to create even more glamorous and stylized images and videos.

But that being said, Instagram also has a long memory. So let's take a look back at some of our favorite celebrities' first posts, to see how far we've really come.

1. Chrissy Teigen

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Even back in 2012, Chrissy Teigen knew we wanted to see more of John Legend looking happy.

2. Beyoncé

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Beyoncé's first Instagram post is beautiful, political and just plain perfect. Like her, really.

3. Kristen Bell

 

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Her account is only a year old but in that year Kristen Bell very effectively made us fall in love with her relationship with Dax Shepard.

4. Kim Kardashian

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Turns out Queen of the Selfie Kim Kardashian hadn't quite mastered the filter back in 2012.

5. Chris Pratt

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It seems becoming the box office behemoth he is today hasn't changed much.

6. Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift's grandmother was the original member of her squad back in 2011.

7. Katy Perry

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In the almost four years since this was posted, Katy Perry's learned she doesn't need to zoom in so much.

8. Lady Gaga

 

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Lady Gaga gave a very early #nomakeup selfie.

9. Jennifer Lopez

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Even back in 2013, Jennifer Lopez understood the promotional power of Instagram.

10. Pharrell

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Pharrell looked so happy back in 2012. (That said, he kind of looks happy all the time.)

11. Mariah Carey

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Mariah Carey, of course, has only gotten more fabulous over the years. But she was starting from a pretty high base.

12. Britney Spears

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Britney Spearsreally wanted to make sure everyone knew she loved the band The Wanted.

13. Madonna

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But where's Madonna?

14. Blake Lively

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Preserve may be closed but Blake Lively's Instagram lives on.

15. Channing Tatum

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Channing Tatum understood #relationshipgoals pretty early on.

16. Reese Witherspoon

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Reese Witherspoon gives some great advice here. Always thank mom first.

17. Solange

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As usual, Solange understands how to do something right the first time around.

18. Zoe Saldana

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Zoe Saldana brought the fun from the get-go.

19. Eva Mendes

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Eva Mendes knew from the beginning that a throwback post can be a powerful tool.

20. Lena Dunham

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Lena Dunham proves food posts have always been important.

21. Lupita Nyong'o

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Lupita Nyong'o wins. Having Oprah in your first post is as good as it gets.