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    Kandi Burruss' Beauty Evolution John Nacion/Getty Images By India Espy-Jones ·Updated May 17, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

    Kandi Burruss has long been destined for fame. First gaining acclaim as a member of the multi-platinum group Xscape, Burruss’ talent grew from vocalist to songwriter, credited for historic singles like Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills” and even winning a Grammy in 2000 for TLC’s “No Scrubs”. But, it was her role on The Real Housewives of Atlanta (and a number of spinoff and competition shows) that established her as the iconic TV personality she is today. 

    And, from Xscape to RHOA, her beauty has been the through line to her entertainment evolution. Since the beginning, Burruss’ short cuts have been a staple in her beauty wardrobe. At the Billboard Music Awards in 1995, for example, she wore a beehive hairdo with a swept bang and a dark lip to complement her bright under eyes. In 1998, her bouffant turned into a bob with brown highlights and metallic lipstick at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. Then, in the late 2000s, it was all about her pompadour and arched brows. On set of her “Leave You” music video, for one, her pixie had a long blonde flip while the back remained short and dark. 

    From there, she experimented with color and length in the early 2010s: box braids and a red lip at her The Kandi Factory series celebration in 2012 and red hair with blue shadow at Bravo New York Upfront in 2013. The following year, she landed on a natural color with loose curls, which took her to the 2020s. By then, she refined the bob we saw in the ‘90s paired with dramatic eye makeup and deep lip combos (see: Bravocon in 2023). 

    Now, in one of her latest looks, her beautysrc="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-76088275-scaled.jpg" alt="Kandi Burruss’ Beauty Evolution" width="400" height="597" />MIAMI – AUGUST 13:Recording artist Kandy Burris attends the Second Annual Ozone Awards at the James L. Knight Center August 13, 2007 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionR & B group Xscape (Kandi Burruss, Tameka Cottle aka “Tiny”, LaTocha Scott, and Tamika Scott) appear in a portrait taken on September 10, 1993 in New York City.(Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 6:Kandi Burress and Tiny of Xscape attend Sixth Annual Billboard Music Awards on December 6, 1995 at the New York Coliseum in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionATLANTA – APRIL 02:Kandi Burruss formely of Xscape attends the Bow Wow “FAST LIFE” Album Release Party at AquaKnox Atlanta on April 2, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Moses Robinson/WireImage for Mauldin Brand Agency)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionAmerican R&B group Xscape (L-R, Kandi Burruss, Tamika Scott, and LaTocha Scott), wearing matching white outfits, attend the 10th Annual Soul Train Music Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, 29th March 1996. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionAmerican girl group Xscape (L-R, Tameka Cottle, Kandi Burruss, Tamika Scott) attend the 1998 ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Pop Music Awards in Beverly Hills, California, 18th May 1998. Motown founder Berry Gordy was honoured at the ceremony which awarded him its first American Legend Award. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionATLANTA – OCTOBER 01: Singer Kandi Burruss gets ready to film a music video for “Leave You” at Four Seasons Atlanta on October 1, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionATLANTA – OCTOBER 01:Singer Kandi Burruss films a music video for “Leave You” at Four Seasons Atlanta on October 1, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionCHICAGO – DEC 17:Singer Kandi poses for a photo during her visit to the WGCI-FM “Coca-Cola Lounge” in Chicago, Illinois on DEC 17, 2010.(Photo By Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 15:Kandi Burruss attends the 2nd annual Nonstop Day of Giving telethon at the NBC Experience Store on December 15, 2011 in New York City.(Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionMIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 31: Kandi Burress attends the CIROC New Year’s Eve party at the Miami Beach Orange Drive Music Festival on December 31, 2011 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Ciroc Vodka)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionLAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 13:Real Housewife of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss celebrates her new series “The Kandi Factory” at Gallery Nightclub at Planet Hollywood on April 13, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(Photo by Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK, NY – APRIL 03:Kandi Burruss attends the 2013 Bravo New York Upfront at Pillars 37 Studios on April 3, 2013 in New York City.(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionBEVERLY HILLS, CA – JUNE 27: Kandi Burruss attends The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) 26th Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 27, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/FilmMagic)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionLOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 23:Recording artist Kandi Burruss attends the 2014 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 23, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Frazer Harrison/AMA2014/Getty Images for DCP)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 29:Kandi Burrus attends “Unnecessary Trouble” video debut party at Time Restaurant on September 29, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionBEVERLY HILLS, CA – DECEMBER 01:Singer Kandi Burruss attends 2016 Ebony Power 100 Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 1, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/WireImage)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 16:(EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Grammy Winner Kandi Burruss of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” poses backstage after making her broadway debut as “Mama Morton” in the hit musical “Chicago” on Broadway at The Ambassador Theatre on January 16, 2018 in New York City.(Photo by Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/WireImage)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 18: Singer- songwriter Kandi Burruss discusses her book “Wake Up to the Joy of You” as she visits SiriusXM Studios on March 18, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 11:Kandi Burruss attends the Premiere Of Apple TV+’s “Truth Be Told” at AMPAS Samuel Goldwyn Theater on November 11, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 29: Kandi Burruss attends EBONY Power 100 at Milk Studios Los Angeles on October 29, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for EBONY MEDIA GROUP)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 13: Kandi Burruss attends the 2022 Soul Train Awards at the Orleans Arena on November 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Kandi Burruss attends the 76th Annual Tony Awards Meet The Nominees Press Event At Sofitel New York at Sofitel New York on May 04, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 03: Kandi Burruss of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” television series attends BravoCon 2023 at Caesars Forum on November 03, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Kandi Burruss attends Ralph Lauren Fragrances Ralph’s Club New York Celebration at Hall des Lumiéres on September 13, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Valerie Terranova/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 11: Kandi Burruss poses at a celebration for Kandi Burruss as she joins “&Juliet” on Broadway at Sardi’s on December 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 20: Kandi Burruss poses during a cocktail reception honoring Debbie Allen for winning her honorary Oscar given by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at The Shubert Apartment on February 20, 2026 in New York City.A New York City cocktail reception honoring Debbie Allen on the occasion of her Honorary Oscar, as she begins rehearsals for August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” on Broadway, which she is directing. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)Kandi Burruss’ Beauty EvolutionNEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 25: Kandi Burruss attends “Joe Turner’s Come And Gone” opening night on April 25, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images) TOPICS: 

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