Instagram artist Becca Saladin transforms famous names from the past into modern-day people — and the results are stunning.
King Henry VIII
Known as much for breaking with the Catholic Church as he was for his string of controversial divorces, King Henry VIII is perhaps one of English history's most famous rulers.Instagram/@royalty_now_Anne Boleyn
One of King Henry VIII's six wives was Anne Boleyn, pictured here, and she became the first British queen to be beheaded after she fell out of favor with him.Instagram/@royalty_now_Queen Elizabeth I
Instagram/@royalty_now_Mozart
Instagram/@royalty_now_Richard III
Instagram/@royalty_now_Joan of Arc
Despite having led France through the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc was executed following a sham trial for wearing men's clothing.Instagram/@royalty_now_'Girl with a Pearl Earring'
Instagram/@royalty_now_Queen Victoria
It was unlikely that Queen Victoria ever take the British throne, but she did — and reigned for 63 years, during which six attempts were made on her life, all of which she survived.Instagram/@royalty_now_George Washington
As the first president of the United States, George Washington is shrouded in myth. One is that he had wooden teeth, but in reality, he wore dentures made of animal and human teeth — which he acquired from his slaves.Instagram/@royalty_now_Thomas Jefferson
From running a child slave operation to nearly causing an economic depression, there are many facets of Thomas Jefferson that the history books would rather forget. Instagram/@royalty_now_Leonardo da Vinci
Instagram/@royalty_now_Elizabeth of York
Instagram/@royalty_now_Catherine Howard
Married to the incorrigible King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard became the king's second wife to be beheaded when he heard a rumor that she cheated on him.Instagram/@royalty_now_Hatshepsut
Instagram/@royalty_now_Jose de San Martin
Instagram/@royalty_now_Elizabeth Bathory
Known as the "Blood Countess" because of her alleged penchant for killing female servants in cruel and unusual ways, Elizabeth Bathory was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of her life for these crimes in 1614.Instagram/@royalty_now_Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges
Instagram/@royalty_now_Catherine the Great
Though she led Russia to victory in several wars, expanded the country's borders, and ushered in an age of art and culture, Catherine the Great was subject to vitriolic rumors by patriarchs who wanted to disempower her.Instagram/@royalty_now_Queen Catherine de' Medici
Instagram/@royalty_now_Catherine of Aragon
Instagram/@royalty_now_'The Mona Lisa'
Instagram/@royalty_now_Cleopatra
How Cleopatra died remains as elusive as the monarch's tomb as modern researchers claim the story of her suicide by asp may have been a myth — and that her enemy Octavian may have had something to do with it.Instagram/@royalty_now_Emperor Augustus
Instagram/@royalty_now_Abraham Lincoln
The 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was more than an honest attorney from Kentucky, in fact, he was a nationally recognized wrestling champ.Instagram/@royalty_now_Napoleon Bonaparte
The death of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte remains somewhat mysterious, but some historians posit that he was murdered via poisoned cologne.Instagram/@royalty_now_Louis XV
Instagram/@royalty_now_Julius Caesar
Instagram/@royalty_now_Alexander the Great
According to the texts of ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great's death was a historically confounding one — as his body took unusually long to decompose. According to modern researchers, however, it's believed that the king simply wasn't dead yet.Instagram/@royalty_now_Agrippina the Younger
Instagram/@royalty_now_Nefertiti
Queen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt was renowned for her beauty, but the monarch also held unprecedented power in the empire.Instagram/@royalty_now_Madame du Barry
Instagram/@royalty_now_Jane Austen
Instagram/@royalty_now_Grace Kelly
Instagram/@royalty_now_Eleanor of Toledo
Instagram/@royalty_now_Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was the richest person in America by 1785, and he refused to patent his inventions so that others could tinker and improve upon them for free.Instagram/@royalty_now_Queen Isabella of Spain
Instagram/@royalty_now_Empress Elizabeth of Austria
Instagram/@royalty_now_Queen Mary I
Mary I, otherwise known as Mary Tudor and Bloody Mary held the English throne for just five years between 1553 and 1558. Known for burning hundreds of Protestants to death, she herself suffered an untimely demise when she succumbed to an unknown illness at the age of just 42.Instagram/@royalty_now_Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is one of the most reviled female monarchs in history for her extravagance while her constituents struggled to make ends meet.Instagram/@royalty_now_Bull "Mahta Tatanka" Bear
Instagram/@royalty_now_Beethoven
Instagram/@royalty_now_Aristotle
Instagram/@royalty_now_Anne Of Cleves
Instagram/@royalty_now_Pharaoh Akhenaten
Instagram/@royalty_now_
Here’s How Historical Figures Would Look If They Lived Today View GalleryRoyals of the past often conjure an image of stuffy paintings, hollow facial expressions, and painfully stiff poses. But artist Becca Saladin is hoping to change that.
By way of her Instagram account, @royalty_now_, Saladin is blending history with modern style by artfully bringing ancient royals, iconic politicians, and other famous figures from the past into the 21st century. Gone are the lace collars, pallid complexions, and dated costumes.
In their place, Saladin adorns the historic figures with couture and gives them blowouts, making them nearly unrecognizable were they not pictured side-by-side with their historically accurate counterparts.
While the Instagram account that houses Saladin's images is an enjoyable trip through history, the photos are much more than a delight for Saladin; they're a passion project come to life.
How "Royalty Now" Started
Instagram/@royalty_now_Anne Boleyn reimagined as a woman in 2020.
In an interview with All That's Interesting, Saladin explained how she began the stunning project. "I'm passionate about both art and history," Saladin said. "Art and graphic design are my professions, but history has always been my hobby. It's the perfect [combination] of those two passions."
For Saladin, that passion started out of curiosity and a little time on Photoshop.
"My favorite historical person is Anne Boleyn. Everyone who is a fan of Tudor-era history knows that Anne was known for her charm and wit, yet the historical portraits we have of her are flat and lifeless," Saladin said.
"I was bored one day with access to Photoshop (a dangerous thing) and I decided to see what she looked like with modern hair and makeup. It gave so much more life to her, and I was able to relate to her better as a human instead of just as a historical figure. After that, I decided to start the Instagram to share that work."
Her account has already amassed more than 300,000 followers. "It's been an interesting journey because the Instagram was fairly small, still growing at a steady pace, and then a few weeks ago it kind of skyrocketed. It's nice to know that people are really interested in my work and now they are finding it and being able to access it."
How The Account Is Evolving
When diving into a new project, Saladin enlists help from her followers for some inspiration.
"The first step is choosing a subject — first that was entirely decided by me and now it's kind of a group effort between my followers and I," Saladin said.
"I do draw some inspiration from current figures, but my goal is to make the images immersive (and I'm getting better at that as I continue) so it's not just a guessing game of who that figure 'looks like,' but more of an immersive experience."
Saladin also loves when people suggest new material for her, as she views it as a learning experience and an exercise in inclusivity.
She said, "I think that's great because I'm American, and in American schools, we learn a lot about British and other European figures, but not as much about the rest of the world. I'm now endeavoring to create more rulers from other cultures, which I think is really important."
Instagram/@royalty_now_What Queen Elizabeth I might have looked like today.
Rather than draw on similarities between modern-day figures and the historical greats she likens them to, Saladin hopes her followers can see the new life that she breathes into history.
As for being recognized for her fame, perhaps by a member of modern-day royalty, that hasn't happened yet. And, as far as Saladin is concerned, that's just fine.
She said, "The goal for a while has been to make them more and more immersive so I would actually be disappointed if this happened now."
Though she hasn't had any shoutouts from real royalty, the number of people who share her passions are enough for Saladin, and an indication that she's nowhere near finished. Hopefully, she'll be publishing her creations for years to come.
"I'm thankful for all the support and excitement surrounding it," she said of the attention her account is receiving. "I can't wait to continue to create!"
Next, check out some historical photos brought to life in stunning color. Then, take a look at what your favorite dead rockstars would look like today if they hadn't died young.
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