Christina Applegate, 54, Gives Fans Kelly Bundy Deja Vu With New Nose Piercing

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In a September 2026 Instagram clip, actor Christina Applegate debuted a new jewelry style that is giving fans flashbacks to one of her most iconic roles. Beginning in 1987, Applegate appeared on the sitcom "Married... With Children" as the older, slightly rebellious sister, Kelly Bundy. Since the character was known for her outrageous, flirtatious style, one could easily imagine her rocking the new glittering stud nose piercing that Applegate recently revealed.

While it's true that Applegate's onscreen counterpart technically never had more than her ears pierced, the new nose piercing feels like the kind of fearless fashion choice that Kelly Bundy would make if she was onscreen today. Though the character was no stranger to adventurous dressing, Applegate always managed to make it work. "Shout out to the wardrobe department for having her have killer outfits every time," wrote one Reddit user.

Though its been decades since "Married... With Children" went off the air — and Applegate's face has undergone a stunning transformation — fans couldn't help noticing resemblance. "You look exactly the same as when you were on Married With Children," wrote one Instagram user. "Amazing!" Another Instagram user added: "Hot then, hot now. Forever hot, is what I'm saying."

While fans might feel a sense of deja vu looking at photos of Christina Applegate, the star has been candid that she's moved on from the role that catapulted her to a household name during her teenage years. Over the years, Applegate has made a full transformation from sitcom star to multiple sclerosis (MS) advocate. She has been incredibly upfront about the realities or aging, and her own choice not to fight the inevitabilities of time. "I'm not going to pull my face up, I'm not going to do all that, and I never have," Applegate told AARP in 2026. "I mean, I was Kelly Bundy. People expect me to look like that forever. I'm 54 years old. This is what it is."

In addition to the everyday aspects of aging, Applegate has had to confront significant health challenges over the years that have had a major impact on her physically, including anorexia, breast cancer, and multiple sclerosis. In her 2026 memoir, "You with the Sad Eyes," Applegate opened up about the toll of all of those experiences without sugarcoating them. She's among the most high-profile celebrities to are open about living with chronic illness. "It's very, very honest and she's very open about every single struggle she's had throughout her life," wrote one Reddit user. "It's one of the saddest celebrity memoirs I've ever read."