No matter what decade a person grew up in, we can guarantee that looking back on formative years always evokes at least a slight cringe. It's safe to say that pretty much all folks have an embarrassing photo of their younger, less wise selves tucked safely away somewhere. (If someone didn't have awkward teenage years, then that person can just exit to the left, please.) Usually, that photo will never see the light of day — at least, if we could have it our way. But leave it up to our significant others to dig up enough dirt to find it and then share it with everyone on the Internet. True love, y'all.
But it's all in good fun. Heck, it might even give some awkward tweens hope that they'll grow out of this phase and, yes, find someone who will come upon this photo and still love them — so much so that he or she wants to share the photo with the rest of the world.
It's undeniable that these photos are a walk down memory lane and take folks back to a time when they had no idea who they were and who they'd end up being — or end up being with, on that note. Life sure is unpredictable, huh?
So with all that in mind, here are some of the best awkward photographs of people's significant others back when they were awkward, younger, and probably unsure of the haircut they just received.
(Warning: All we can say is that these photos are pretty hilarious, and showing this to someone might tempt them to want to ravage through their significant other's childhood home.)
STRANGER TWINS
About 21 years ago, this person's girlfriend looked a lot like Dustin from Stranger Things.
Or would it be that Dustin looks like her?
HOMECOMING KING OF THE PUNKS
This person's husband sure took the angsty era of the 2000s to heart when he attended his 2003 homecoming.
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MIDDLE-AGED RECEPTIONIST'S TWIN
"My wife was a 40-year-old receptionist in 4th grade," according to this person. We wouldn't disagree.
MULLET THROWBACK
Just check out the former mullet on this person's girlfriend.
A PERM TO REMEMBER
This person's wife was a kid during the glory days of the perm.
JUST ANOTHER TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLE
This person's husband was apparently a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a kid, and with that pose, he would fit in well with the gang.
PEAK '90S
This person's husband's senior year photo from 1999 just exudes what the '90s were all about. Does it feel like we're in Freaks and Geeks or is it just us?
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MULLET-BOWL CUT HYBRID
Part of the beauty (or ugly, depending on how you look at it) of your teenage years is all of the terrible haircuts you once had. This person's mom's boyfriend really took the bad haircut sentiment to heart.
STRAIGHT OUTTA HAIRSPRAY
This person's wife's school picture from 1987 pretty much summed up the decade.
TROPOHY WIFE, IN ANOTHER SENSE
This person has the best photo of his wife as a tween and really rocking a bowl cut.
SECRETARY OR CHILD?
"This is my wife, the 60-year-old girl" someone wrote on Reddit.
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SO KORN-Y
Here's a photo of someone's husband and his best friend back in 1999. Who says you can't like Korn and Beanie Babies? "Aren't they precious?" the poster wrote. A definite yes.
COOLEST PRETEEN EVER
We take it this kid wanted to be a pilot when he got older?
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STYLISH GLASSES
This woman's husband's school photo has two great things: a mullet and Coke bottle glasses — the latter of which, TBH, is totally coming back in style.
JUST A TODDLER AND HIS CHOCOLATE
As a toddler, this woman's husband sure loved to get down with chocolate. He has good taste.
STILL WAITING ON THOSE ADULT TEETH
This lady's husband's missing-tooth smile is actually kind of cute. Do those lasers look familiar?
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KEEP ON GROOVING
This person's husband really took 1994 to heart when he rocked a spiked mullet and tie-dye T-shirt.
BLACK ON BLACK
This woman's boyfriend may have had spiked hair, black nails, and black lipstick as a kid, but it's his eye makeup that really takes the cake. Or all of this in juxtaposition with the Rams flag. We can't decide.
6TH GRADE GOTH
This boyfriend tried being goth in the sixth grade, but the Furbies in the background kind of kill that vibe.
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FROSTED TIPS
Forget all these mullets. This husband's 2002 senior year photo featuring frosted tips is where it's at.
These stories are based on posts found on Reddit. Reddit is a user-generated social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website where registered members submit content to the site and can up- or down-vote the content. The accuracy and authenticity of each story cannot be confirmed by our staff.
