Ricki Lake has always been a bit of an open book. From the moment she burst onto the scene as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 cult classic Hairspray, we've watched her evolve in real-time. But lately, if you’ve scrolled through recent photos of Ricki Lake, you might have done a double-take. She looks different. Not just "Hollywood different," but genuinely, vibrantly healthy.
Honestly, it’s refreshing. In an era where every celebrity transformation seems to be sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, Ricki is out here doing things her own way. She’s currently 57, living in New York City after a pretty traumatic year involving a house fire, and she’s arguably in the best shape of her life.
The Viral Red Swimsuit and the 40-Pound Shift
The internet kind of lost its mind recently when Ricki posted a side-by-side comparison. On one side, a cover photo from Us Weekly in 2007. On the other, a current snap of her in the exact same red Norma Kamali one-piece.
She kept that swimsuit for seventeen years. Think about that. Most of us toss clothes if they don't fit for six months, but she held onto it like a talisman.
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The photos of Ricki Lake in that red suit aren't just about weight loss, though she did drop over 40 pounds starting in late 2023. They’re about a woman in perimenopause proving that the narrative of "it's impossible to lose weight at this age" is, well, kind of a lie. She and her husband, Ross Burningham, decided to get healthy together. No Ozempic. No Wegovy. Just a lot of discipline and a very specific plan.
How She Actually Did It
Ricki has been super transparent about the fact that her doctor actually "pushed" the weight-loss drugs on her. She said no. Why? Because she likes a challenge. She wanted to see if she could do it "the old-fashioned way."
- The Keto Factor: She followed a strict ketogenic diet to get the initial momentum going.
- Intermittent Fasting: She’s a big believer in giving the digestive system a break.
- The "Weighted Vest" Secret: This is the part people miss. She doesn't just walk; she hikes daily wearing a weighted vest to increase resistance.
- Pilates: She hits the reformer about four times a week to keep that core strength up.
Facing the "Silent Hell" of Hair Loss
You can't talk about photos of Ricki Lake without addressing her hair. For thirty years—thirty!—she struggled with androgenetic alopecia. It started back during the filming of Hairspray. All that teasing, triple-processing, and hairspray (pun intended) took a massive toll on her "virgin" hair.
For decades, she hid it with extensions and pieces. She called it a "silent hell." In 2020, she finally had enough and shaved her head. It was a massive moment of liberation.
If you look at her hair in 2026, it’s thick and healthy. She credits a brand called Harklinikken and a very specific, customized extract protocol. It wasn't an overnight fix. It took years of consistency. Seeing her with her natural, wavy blonde hair now is a far cry from the buzzed-head photos that shocked the world a few years back. It’s a reminder that sometimes you have to burn it all down to grow something better.
The "Best Facelift" in Hollywood?
Ricki is probably the only person in show business who will look you in the eye and give you the name of her plastic surgeon without being asked. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, she told Andy Cohen straight up: "I've had a lower face and neck lift."
She lost the weight, and at 56, she had some loose skin under her chin. She hated it. So, she fixed it.
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She worked with Dr. Allen Foulad in Beverly Hills, and the results are honestly subtle. She still looks like Ricki. She just looks like a well-rested version of herself. There’s no "pulled" look, which is why those high-definition photos of Ricki Lake on the red carpet at the Queerties or during her recent New York City outings look so striking. She’s not trying to look 20; she’s trying to look like the best version of 57.
A New Chapter in New York
Life hasn't been all red carpets and fitness goals lately. Last year, Ricki and Ross lost their Malibu home to the wildfires. It was devastating. They made a split-second decision to move to New York City to be closer to her sons, Milo and Owen.
You can see the change in her energy in recent candid street style shots. She’s trading the California beach vibe for black maxi dresses, leather jackets, and platform heels. She’s "taking a bite out of the city," as she puts it.
Actionable Insights from Ricki’s Journey
If you’re looking at these photos and feeling inspired, here’s what we can actually learn from her approach to aging:
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- Track the Data: Ricki uses an Oura ring and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). She didn't guess; she measured how her body reacted to food and sleep.
- Find a Partner: Doing this with her husband, Ross, made the lifestyle shift sustainable.
- Address the Internal First: She’s very vocal about her work with Community Access, a non-profit focusing on mental health and housing. She’s linked her physical health to her mental clarity.
- Consistency Over Intensity: She doesn't do "crash" workouts. She does daily hikes and regular Pilates. It’s about the "forever" plan, not the "six-week" plan.
The most recent photos of Ricki Lake show a woman who has finally stopped fighting her body and started listening to it. Whether she's rocking a size 4 black dress or a vintage swimsuit, the real glow comes from the fact that she’s no longer hiding her struggles—whether it’s hair loss, weight, or the grief of losing a home. She’s just Ricki. And honestly? That’s more than enough.
To stay updated on Ricki's wellness routine, you can follow her "This Is 55" (and now 57) journey on her social channels where she frequently shares her specific workout milestones and favorite health tech tools.