25 celebs from the '90s millennials won't ever let go

If there was one thing that made the ‘90s grand, it was the bevy of boy bands. However, none quite captured the hearts of teens and tweens like NSYNC. Even when they disbanded in 2004 so Justin Timberlake could fly solo, the band remained in the hearts of their legions of teeny boppers. This was proven when, in 2023, the band reunited for a song on the Trolls soundtrack and caused a mass hysteria among women in their mid-30s.

Long before influencers, there were the Olsen twins. Acting since they were in diapers, their fans literally grew up right alongside Mary Kate and Ashley. Because fans felt connected to them via their age, it was easy for the Olsens to sell just about anything to ‘90s kids, from home videos to dolls to clothing. Because the Olsens were so ingrained into every aspect of many of their fans’ decor and home life, it’s easy to see why they still enthrall many to this day.  

It’s hard to let go of the man who was in movies like George of the Jungle and The Mummy when you were coming of age.

Before VH1 was a reality TV destination, it was a very music-centric channel that highlighted myriad genres, but most of it fell under the adult contemporary umbrella, and the queen of that was Celine Dion. So those who went back and forth between MTV and VH1 fell in love with Celine, but “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic soundtrack took her to a whole new level.

One will witness very few athletes in their lives that define a sport, and in the ‘90s, there was no one bigger than Michael Jordan when it came to basketball. A legend, an everlasting brand, and the star of Space Jam: Michael Jordan is forever.

Danielle Fishel is better known as Topanga Lawrence to those of a particular age, and that’s because so many who grew up watching her on Boy Meets World either wanted to be her or be with her. She is an iconic first crush to many that still gives so many that special feeling when they see her today because, honestly, she still looks exactly the same!

Paul Rudd either has the best genetics in the history of humankind or was blessed by a witch in the hills of Hollywood early in his career because, while all the ‘90s kids have noticeably aged, Rudd has not. Perhaps that mystique around his fountain of youth keeps those who fell for him in Clueless coming back for more.

Spice Girls left a big hole to fill in the girl group market, but thankfully, Destiny’s Child wasn’t too far behind. Yes, the group has since parted ways, but fans have since created the Beyhive, and today, are some of the fiercest fans around.

Leonardo DiCaprio could’ve walked away from Hollywood in December 1999, and fans still would be talking about him today because, between Titanic and Romeo + Juliet, fans were more than addicted to what he was dishing.

For those who weren’t there, ice skating was HUGE in the ‘90s. It used to air in primetime. That’s how much people cared about the sport that intertwines dance, gymnastics, and sparkly ensembles. Of course, the whole Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan ordeal still lives rent-free in the minds of those who can still hear Kerrigan scream, “Why?!” However, if there were a darling of the sport that people still have hearts in their eyes over, it would be Kristi Yamaguchi, the first Asian American to take home a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

Blue’s Clues is one of the most recognizable programs from Nickelodeon’s preschool block, Nick Jr. It’s in part due to the blue canine, but also the man who wore the green striped shirt for almost 100 episodes, Steve Burns. His leaving the show in 2002 felt like a nail in the coffin of fans’ youth, so when he made his comeback in the movie Blue's Big City Adventure, many former fans, who were now adults, were joyous. Not to mention the viral video Steve Burns dropped amid the pandemic about his absence in their lives and growing up that caused a sea of people to have cathartic breakdowns.

When people alive in the ‘90s tell you that Mariah Carey was all over the radio, they are not exaggerating. She had a No. 1 song every year of that decade and very quickly cemented herself as a mainstay in pop music. While she stumbled a bit at the turn of the century, she managed to find herself back on top in the 2000s, making many fans rejoice at the ultimate diva’s comeback.

It’s one thing to be able to go by a singular name like Cher, Madonna, and Beyonce. It’s a whole other level to be known by one’s initials. This is why Jonathan Taylor Thomas, aka JTT, is that guy. Well, that crush. There weren’t too many who didn’t have his Tiger Beat pinups on their wall, and because he’s basically dropped out of the spotlight, that makes the obsession with him even stronger.

Naomi Campbell isn’t just a supermodel; she is the supermodel to many. Not as huge as actors and musicians, but still an influential entity that inspired so many who were just kids during that time, from fashion to drag.

A lot of the reality TV that exists today spawns from the audaciousness that appeared on The Jerry Springer Show. The talk show host and his cascade of chaotic guests pushed the limits time and time again, and people of all ages ate it up. Especially kids for some reason, so when Springer passed in April 2023, it wasn’t shocking to see how many millennials paid tribute to the late host, who made days off from school a little more drama-filled.

It is not easy for a horror movie to become top tier to the point that the villain is known around the world, but Scream did just that and has continued to do so since 1996 with so many people’s favorite final girl, Neve Campbell.

Unlike NSYNC, Backstreet Boys never left their fans yearning for more. Yes, they aren’t as big as they once were in their heyday in the mainstream, but that hasn’t stopped them from getting fans to sell out not only tours around the world but also their Las Vegas residency as they've continued to make the inner teen in every 30-something happy. 

Between being part of the best live-action Scooby Doo that’ll ever exist, Sarah Michelle Gellar is still a millennial darling because of her vampire-slaying ways as Buffy Summers.

If there was a day one found themselves home sick from school in the ‘90s, there was one man who made the aching stomachs and fevers feel okay, and that was Bob Barker on The Price is Right. The easiest babysitter ‘90s parents could afford and count on who never let a soul down. With that, help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.

When Britney Spears was going through the battle against her parents, there was a horde of 30-somethings ready to storm the courts to defend their girl. If that’s not letting go and being loyal, what is?

One does not make movies like Home Alone and My Girl and not be part of a ‘90s kid's life until the day they die. It’s just not possible.

There was an onslaught of female pop singers at the tail end of the ‘90s, with the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson all making their way to the air on MTV. Mandy Moore was there, too, with her wholesome bubblegum pop demeanor. Her music introduced fans to her, but it’s her acting that came in the 2000s that really helped her gain a devoted following with roles in The Princess Diaries and A Walk to Remember. This is why no millennial who watched her on This Is Us was shocked by her stunning performance as the Pearson matriarch.

If there were a Mount Rushmore of sketch comedy, Kenan Thompson would be dead center. He started on Nickelodeon’s All That and then landed on Saturday Night Live. No one does it quite like him, and it’s not only because fans have gotten to grow up along with him; it’s also because Thompson is so humble about his past. Some former child stars tend to scoff at the work they did when they were younger, not him. He embraces it, which only makes people care about him more.

All Alicia Silverstone ever had to do was Clueless to be among the people on this list because, let’s face it, it’s one of the most influential films of that era when talking about youth culture.

Hulk Hogan is where ‘80s and ‘90s kids come together in unison because wrestling fans just never let go of their love for the dramatics that come with the ring, and that includes Mr. America.