Since bagging the role of Eleven in Stranger Things back in 2016, Millie Bobby Brown has grown up in front of millions of people’s eyes.
But almost 10 years on from the show’s debut, and the former child star – who is only 21 – appears to have aged far beyond her young years.
On Monday night, Millie, who was sporting a blonde up-do, was pictured leaving an Italian restaurant in Los Angeles with her little sister.
And if they didn’t know any better, fans admitted they would have mistaken the actress for her 13-year-old sibling’s mother.
One person commented on Millie Bobby Brown, stating, ”Millie really looks like someone’s mom!’ Another individual questioned her age with, ‘Is she 45 or 20?’ A light-hearted reference to the movie Mean Girls was made, with someone humorously saying, ‘I’m a cool mom!’
Millie Bobby Brown is not the only young celebrity facing such comments. Influencers like Emma Chamberlain, Alix Earle, and even Kylie Jenner have also encountered criticism for appearing older than expected when compared to their millennial counterparts.
Speaking to FEMAIL, aesthetician Kayti Brooks said Gen Zs are all ‘morphing into each other’ and are particularly susceptible to beauty trends.
The expert – who runs the Grey Door Therapy Clinic in Hove – explained: ‘Gen Zs are all over TikTok and Instagram “influencing” each other.
Millie Bobby Brown at the Stranger Things premiere in Los Angeles in 2016, pictured left. Pictured right: Millie in February 2025
The trend of undergoing cosmetic procedures seems to have impacted these stars. A viewer noted, ‘Once one has [a cosmetic treatment] done, they all do. Having the same “tweakments”, they’re morphing into each other and looking the same. Some are quite unrecognizable, like Millie Bobby Brown.’
Issuing a warning to Gen Zs, Kayti continued: ‘It’s hard to get them to appreciate and care for their youthful skin and natural beauty. They’re obsessed with aesthetics thanks to high profile celebrities such as the Kardashians.
‘Rather than what aesthetics is supposed to do – enhance, it’s actually doing the exact opposite and ageing them. It’s sometimes quite hard to guess their real age due to the amount of filler contouring.’
In contrast, the expert said her millennial clients are ‘more considered’ before having cosmetic work.
She added: ‘[They] research what treatments will stimulate at a cellular level to keep structure and elasticity to the skin.
‘[They] want to look fabulous and fresh faced and the best they’ve ever looked! Instead of fearing ageing, they’re embracing it and are wiser with their choices.’
In addition, Dr Marcus Mehta – CMO at Harley Academy and Aesthetic Physician at STORY Clinics – said there are several reasons Gen Z are ageing prematurely, including having injectables from a young age.
The expert told FEMAIL: ‘Social media amplifies the focus on appearance, leading to heightened self-scrutiny. Gen Z are exposed to a constant stream of filtered and edited images, creating unrealistic beauty standards.
Filler and botox loved by Gen Z stars, such as Molly-Mae, 24, are ageing them prematurely, while healthy lifestyles of millennials like Bianca Lawson, right, 44, keep them young
Kylie Jenner, 27, in October 2024, pictured left. Pictured right, Kim Kardashian, 44, in February 2025
‘While millennials faced similar pressures, Gen Z’s exposure to blue light from screens, coupled with potentially higher stress levels due to social and economic factors, can impact skin health.
‘Ironically, the early adoption of certain treatments, if not done correctly, can lead to issues that mimic premature ageing. For example, overfilled areas can stretch the skin, and improper skincare routines can cause irritation and inflammation.’
As such, the expert warned against people under the age of 21 having any kind of injectables.
Dr Mehta added: ‘Facial structures are still developing in younger individuals. Introducing fillers or other injectables too early can disrupt natural ageing patterns and lead to long-term complications.
‘Excessive filler can lead to distortion, migration, and an unnatural appearance. It’s essential to prioritise a subtle, natural approach that enhances rather than alters one’s features.
‘It’s important to address the underlying motivations behind seeking these treatments. Often, it’s driven by insecurities fuelled by social media.
‘A thorough consultation should include a discussion about realistic expectations and the importance of self-acceptance. In reality, most patients don’t have volume loss that would benefit from filler until their 30s.’
In addition, the expert also highlighted Gen Z are doing irreversible damage to their skin barriers with their skincare routines.
Sabrina Carpenter, 25, in February 2025, pictured left, and Miley Cyrus, 32, in January 2025, pictured right
Rachel Zegler, 23, in February 2025, pictured left. Pictured right, Lea Michele, 38, in February 2025
Dr Mehta said: ‘Gen Z often follows skincare trends without understanding their skin type or needs. This can result in using products that are too harsh or unsuitable.
‘Products like retinols, AHAs, and BHAs are powerful, but they can damage the skin barrier if used incorrectly or too frequently. This leads to dryness, irritation, and increased sensitivity.’
In contrast, the expert said millennials have not experienced these same pressures – as the trends of their formative years were ‘focused on natural beauty’ as opposed to the ‘heavily filtered looks of today’.
Last September, fans expressed concern for Millie Bobby Brown after she appeared ‘weighed down by fillers’ in a photoshoot for her brand.
‘She already looks 40. It’s really quite sad,’ one person wrote. Another added: ‘Her face looks like it’s being weighed down by fillers.’
Musician Sabrina Carpenter, 25, is also thought to have ‘enhanced’ her appearance – plastic surgeon Dr Gary Linkov believes she may have started getting work done in 2019, when she was just 20 years old.
The plastic surgeon, who stresses he has never seen Carpenter as a patient, estimates she has spent more than $40,000 on various cosmetic procedures to boost her beauty.
Ms Carpenter has been in the spotlight since 2014, when she was just 14 years old — after she was featured in Disney’s series Girl Meets World.
But as she has grown in popularity, so to have rumors of procedures she’s supposedly undergone to change her appearance.
Carpenter herself is yet to comment on any of the speculation about her suspected surgeries.
Dr Linkov, who is based in New York City, reviewed photos of the star from 2013 through 2024 before delivering his assessment in a YouTube video.
He suggested the star is a fan of lip filler, and has likely been receiving small injections for years – aiming to achieve an arched upper lip, which is rare naturally.
Emma Chamberlain, 23, pictured in 2024, left. Right, Selena Gomez, 32, pictured at the SAG Awards
Alix Earle, 24, in February 2025, pictured left. Pictured right, Amelia Dimoldenberg, 31, in February 2025
In 2021, at the age of 22, Dr Linkov suggested the singer may have started using cheek filler as he observed more volume toward the outsides of her cheeks compared to photos from 2017 where the apples of her cheeks seem to have more fullness.
Adding to possible procedures, Dr Linkov also suggested the star may have had subtle work done to shave down the tip of her nose and give it a thinner appearance.
Comparing photos of her from 2015 and 2023, he pointed out the bridge – the upper, bony part, of the nose – appeared to be the same size. But the tip of the nose, he said, appeared to be much narrower.
While a popular procedure among both the rich and famous and everyday Americans, Dr Linkov did not suggest Carpenter had received any Botox.
And of course, it’s not just US stars who turn to tweakements when it comes to changing their appearance. Welsh Love Islander Nicole Samuel, 24, is also believed to have opted for the procedures.
Dr Daniel Barrett is a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. He was asked to guess if a number of Love Island contestants were ‘natural’ or not and predict their ages in a video on TikTok.
He suggested that most of the islander’s had Botox, which is a brand name for botulinum toxin, a cosmetic injection used to relax the muscles in the face to smooth out lines and wrinkles.
The surgeon, who has 2.4million followers on the app, thought Nicole was 35 — 11 years more than her actual age — and that she had ‘a little filler’ and Botox.
While millennials, often dubbed the ‘wellness generation’ drink and smoke less than any other generations, Gen Z-ers vape more than any age group.
A scroll through TikTok will offer accounts from vendors advertising a selection of the ‘bars’ on offer, with the ‘vapinguk’ tag amassing some millions of views; peanuts compared with the three billions views under ‘#vaping’ and 16.6 million under ‘#vapingtricks’.
Moreover, a report from Action On Smoking And Health (ASH) found that this year, 7 per cent of 11- 17-year-olds were users compared with 3.3 per cent in 2021 and 4.1 per cent in 2020.
Love Island star Nicole Samuel (pictured) is 24
Dr Glyn Estebanez of Prima Aesthetics, previously told FEMAIL: ‘This generation is often associated with being health and wellbeing conscious, as well as being less likely to smoke and more likely to exercise than previous generations.
‘These lifestyle factors all have a huge impact on our skin health, and therefore how we look.’
‘Millennials are known as the generation who take an interest in their health and wellbeing, incorporating a healthy diet with exercise.
‘Indeed, I read that millennials eat more fresh and frozen vegetables than other generations, and buy more organic food.
‘In addition to this, another study found that millennials spend more on skincare than any other generation.
‘So it could be that they were one of the first generations to have the access and availability to better skincare products, and also the disposable income to afford them. This, coupled with healthy diets has a hugely positive impact on our skin health, and therefore looks.’
