From Bollywood starlet to global icon, Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s fashion journey has been nothing short of spectacular. Over the years, she has graced red carpets, magazine covers and silver screens with looks that range from classic elegance to avant-garde chic. Let's take a closer look at how her style has evolved, cementing her status as a fashion powerhouse.
However, her evolving style isn’t limited to clothing and makeup; her jewellery choices have also played a significant role in defining her looks over the years.
See also: Ambani wedding jewellery: Decoding India’s richest family’s love affair with emeralds
The early 2000s: Fresh-faced beauty
18-year-old Priyanka Chopra was titled Miss World in 2000, she represented India on the pageant show (Photo: courtesy of Michael Crabtree PA Images / Getty Images)
Chopra burst onto the scene as Miss World in 2000, sporting the popular trends of the era—frosty brown lipstick, tight-lined black eyeliner and thin eyebrows. As she transitioned into Bollywood, her look was quintessentially early 2000s, with glossy lips and shimmery eyeshadows dominating her make-up palette.
She frequently wore imperial Rajasthani jadau and polki adornments to red carpet events during those early years, showcasing her cultural roots. Kundan and polki pieces were particularly favoured, adding a touch of elegance to her Bollywood-inspired looks.
Mid to late 2000s: Bollywood glamour
Priyanka Chopra in a still from “Dostana” (2008) (Picture: courtesy of Dharma Productions)
As Chopra’s star rose in Bollywood, so did her fashion game. She embraced bold colours and dramatic silhouettes, often seen in stunning saris and elaborate gowns on red carpets. Her make-up evolved to include smoky eyes and nude lips, a combination that would become one of her signature looks. She began experimenting with more elaborate jewellery pieces. Statement necklaces and chandelier earrings became staples of her red-carpet appearances, often complementing her stunning saris and gowns.
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2015 and beyond: Hollywood debut and global recognition
Priyanka Chopra during the filming of “Quantico” in 2016 (Photo: courtesy of Michael Stewart/GC Images)
2015 marked a turning point in Chopra’s career with her American television debut in Quantico, which became one of the breakout freshman dramas of the 2015-16 broadcast season. This role increased her visibility in the United States, with her image appearing on billboards and buses across the country. This led to appearances at high-profile events such as the Met Gala; in 2017, she debuted at the Met Gala in a dramatic Ralph Lauren trench coat dress with an extended train (that went viral on social media), and in 2018 she wore a deep ruby-red velvet gown with a bejewelled hood by the same designer. These appearances helped establish Chopra as a fashion icon on the international stage.
Even her jewellery choices became more diverse and internationally influenced. She began favouring fine, delicate designs for everyday wear while opting for statement pieces for red-carpet events.
Recent years: Bulgari ambassadorship, Met Gala fixture
Priyanka Chopra at the Met Gala in 2023 (Photo: courtesy of Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Karl Lagerfeld)
In 2021, Chopra was appointed by Bulgari as a global ambassador of the brand—a relationship that continues to this day with Chopra wearing a stunning Bulgari necklace at the recent Ambani wedding.
Chopra also continues to impress with her Met Gala statements—in 2023, she stunned in a black strapless Valentino gown with a black-and-white voluminous cape that paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld’s signature colour palette. In 2019, she wore an extravagant Dior Couture gown that took 1500 hours to make.
When she’s not dazzling on red carpets, Chopra’s off-duty style is equally noteworthy. She often opts for a smidge of kohl on the eyes, a nude or brown lip, and effortless sun-lit waves—a look that has become her signature casual style.
But she is equally adept at pulling off a bold piece of high jewellery—at a recent Bulgari event, she turned heads in a 200-carat diamond choker valued at US$43 million.
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