The 2012 MTV VMA Nominees Before They Became Music Sensations

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Who Am I?

Usher Raymone, Freshman at North Springs High School in Atlanta, GA (1993) and Usher Today

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Usher Raymond in a Freshman Yearbook Photo at North Springs High School in Atlanta (1993) and Usher Today

Yes, this school picture is proof positive that Usher has always been a suave charmer. It's been 15 years since his high school days, and Usher has seven hit albums on his résumé, the most recent being Looking 4 Myself, which dropped in June. The singer/dancer extraordinaire could win Best Male Video for “Climax” at the big VMA bash this year.

Who Am I?

Robyn Rihanna Fenty in the early days of her singing career and Rihanna Today

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Robyn Rihanna Fenty in an Early Singing Photo and Rihanna Today

Rihanna, the beauty from Barbados, started singing at the age of 7 and even left high school early to pursue it as her career. While we always suggest getting that degree, Rihanna followed her dreams and she’s crooned one global hit after another. This year, aside from her solo nominations, Rihanna could also win for singing with Drake for “Take Care” and Coldplay for "Princess of China."

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Who Am I?

Nelly Furtado, Senior Year at Mount Douglas Senior Secondary School (1996) and Nelly Furtado Today

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Nelly Furtado in a Senior Yearbook Photo at Mount Douglas Senior Secondary School in British Columbia (1996) and Nelly Furtado Today

Back in high school, Canadian Nelly Furtado sang and performed in the Portuguese marching band. Now she’s recognized as an artist who frequently explores world music and collaborates with a wide range of eclectic artists. K'Naan and Furtado are hoping to get a Best Video with a Message VMA for "Is Anybody Out There?"

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Who Am I?

Dwayne Carter, 7th Grade at McMain Magnet in New Orleans, LA (1995) and Lil Wayne Today

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Dwayne Carter in Seventh Grade at McMain Secondary School in New Orleans (1995) and Lil Wayne Today

Why so serious, young Lil Wayne? Yeah, not many of us enjoyed taking class pictures either, but today Lil Wayne is a lot more receptive to the spotlight as a chart-topping rapper. At this year’s VMAs, Wayne is vying for a shared award with Drake for "HYFR," and a solo award for "How to Love."

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Who Am I?

Kelly Clarkson, 6th Grade at Burleson Pauline G. Hughes Middle School in Burleson, TX (1994) and Kelly Clarkson Today

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Kelly Clarkson in Sixth Grade at Burleson Pauline G. Hughes Middle School in Burleson, Texas (1994), and Kelly Clarkson Today

Kelly Clarkson has glammed up big-time since her sixth-grade days, and now she’s riding high with the continued success of 2011's Stronger. Up for Best Video with a Message, “Dark Side,” the third single from the album, features people trying to deal with their personal demons.

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Who Am I?

Katheryn Hudson, Freshman at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, CA (2000) and Katy Perry Today

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Katheryn Hudson in a Freshman Yearbook Photo at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, California (2000), and Katy Perry Today

Yeah, Katheryn Hudson (a.k.a. Katy Perry) was a teenage dream back in high school. Now she’s an adult knockout and a hit-making machine with four VMA noms this year supporting songs from her massively successful Teenage Dream. Perry could walk away with three awards for "Wide Awake” and Best Female Video for "Part of Me.”

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Who Am I?

Kanye West, Senior Year at Polaris High School in Oak Lawn, IL (1995) and Kanye Today

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Kanye West in a Senior Yearbook Photo at Polaris High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois (1995), and Kanye Today

That smile belongs to one of the VMAs' most mercurial honorees, Kanye West. The awards show and the mega rapper have one of those on-again, off-again relationships, depending on the year. Kanye has been nominated for 33 VMAs but has only won three–and he’s been pretty vocal about not being happy about those percentages. He’s even gotten mad on behalf of other artists when they didn’t win, like when he notoriously stormed Taylor Swift’s VMA acceptance speech when she beat out Beyoncé. This year, he’s got five more chances to win for “Mercy,” “Otis,” and “Paris.” We can’t wait to see what happens!

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Who Am I?

Justin Bieber, 8th Grade at Stratford Northwestern Elementary School in Stratford, Ontario, Canada (2008) and Bieber Today

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Justin Bieber in Eighth Grade at Stratford Northwestern Elementary School in Stratford, Ontario (2008), and Bieber Today

In four years, Justin Bieber’s hair swoop may have completely changed directions, but we’d recognize that sweet face anywhere. Bieber fever will be strong once again at the Video Music Awards, as the teen heartthrob’s “Boyfriend” could win two prizes for Best Male Video and Best Pop Video.

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Who Am I?

Jennifer Lopez, Senior Year at Preston High School in Bronx, NY (1987) and J-Lo Today

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Jennifer Lopez in a Senior Yearbook Photo at Preston High School in the Bronx (1987) and J.Lo Today

Just a year after this photo, Ms. Jennifer Lopez was already ambitiously setting out to become a "famous movie star," performing as a chorus member in regional and then touring theater. In 1991, she got her first major break as a Fly Girl dancer on In Living Color and now she is a major movie, TV, and music star. But at this year's VMAs, it all goes back to her dancing past with her nomination for Best Choreography for "Dance Again," featuring Pitbull.

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Who Am I?

Brad Delson, Junior Year at Agoura High School in Agoura, CA (1994) and Brad Delson Today

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Brad Delson in a Junior Yearboook Photo at Agoura High School in Agoura, California (1994), and Brad Delson Today

The lead guitarist and a founding member of Linkin Park, Brad Delson still looks like an unassuming nice guy 17 years after he graduated from high school. You’d never know that he and fellow bandmates Mike Shinoda, Chester Bennington, Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, and Rob Bourdon are one of the most successful rock bands of the new millennium. Linkin Park's “Burn It Down” is nominated for Best Rock Video and Best Visual Effects.

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Who Am I?

Beyoncé Knowles, Freshman Year at Houston School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX (1996) and Beyonce Today

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Beyoncé Knowles in a Freshman Yearbook Photo at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston (1996) and Beyoncé Today

That demure young woman with the angle-cut hair is none other than global superstar Beyoncé. At last year’s VMAs, Beyoncé officially announced to the world she was expecting her first child with Jay-Z. Little Blue Ivy Carter arrived in January, and since then Beyoncé’s been working on new music, but her two nominations this year for “Countdown” and one for “Love on Top” both hail from her 2011 album 4.