On the surface, this slideshow of everyday icons is slightly titillating; you'll see a real-life version of Jessica Rabbit, Cinderella with an IV drip and Belle from Beauty and the Beast going under the plastic surgery knife. Dive deeper, though, and there's something else beneath these 'everyday' icons--a theme of humanizing famous pop culture figures.
What is it about seeing 'everyday' icons--like Santa surfing or checking out an aged, overweight Wonder Woman--that delights us so? Perhaps it's the realization that in real life, no icon, not even Superman, is perfect. During the 2008 election, we saw pundits from both sides hail Sarah Palin and Barack Obama as superheroes--clearly, there's appeal in both making superheroes ordinary and turning mere mortals into superheroes. Check out these and more 'everyday' icons below.
69 'Everyday' Icons
From Surfing Santas to Fairytale Boob Jobs, No Famous Figure is Safe from the:
Marissa Brassfield — Dec 27, 2009 — Pop Culture
68
Underwater Fairytale Photography
Little Girl Mermaid Imagery by Elena Kalis
67
Dark Fairytale Heroines
Disney 'Twisted Princess' Series from Artist Jeffrey Thomas
66
Humanizing Celebrities
Childhood Snaps of Famous Faces Show Teen Angst is Universal
65
Fairytale Boob Jobs
Dina Goldstein Unveils Modern Truths in the Fallen Princesses Project
64
Scarytale Photography
Miwa Yanagi's ‘Fairytales' Series Will Keep You Up At Nigh
63
Superhero Fashion
Fantasy Exhibit at the Met
62
Superheroes Stripped
Claudia Schiffer Covers German Vogue
61
Heroine Haute Couture
Numero Korea Captures Sexy Supermodel Jessica Stam
60
Real Life Barbies
Evelina Bratell's 1959 Doll Fashions
59
Humanized Cartoons II
Jessica Rabbit Untooned
58
Humanized Cartoons
Homer Simpson and Mario in the Flesh?
57
Naughty Fairytales
Melissa's Modern Heroine Photography
56
Reimagined Fairytale Art
The Fantasy-Filled Photography of Emily Nathan
55
You as An Action Figure
Japanese Toy Company Puts Your Face on Superhero Body
54
Real Life Cartoon Pets
$925 Million Living Pokemon Pikachu
53
Fairytale Fashion Ads
Meltin Pot Campaign
52
Humanizing Famous Portraits
Untooneds by Mataleone
51
Superhero Accessories
Fringe Cuffs, Riveted Belts & Lace Dresses by Bec & Bridge
50
Senior Superheroes
Aging Comics by Donald Soffritti
49
Superhero Fashion Advice
'What Not to Wear: Superheroes & Villains' is an Insightful Critique
48
Using Fairytale Heroes to Promote Reading
Literacy Foundation Ads
47
Naughty Superheroes
Culture Magazine's Boy Wonder Packs the Heat
46
Superhero Changerooms
In NYC Posterchild Turns Public Eye Sores into Art
45
Renaissance SuperHeroes
Worth1000 Masterpieces Showcase Quirky Creativity
44
Superhero Makeup
Supermodels at the Met Ball
43
Dressing As Video Game Heroes
Slobs Of Gaming Costumes
42
Superhero Hipsters
Adrian Reimann Re-Designs the Masters of the Universe into Hipsters
41
Grimm Fairytale Photography
Dead Princess by Bruno Vilela
40
Laundromat Superheroes
Paris Hilton Tells Tatler Her Shopping Will Save the Economy
39
Animated Retooning
Turning People Into Humanized Cartoons
38
Regular Superheroes
Ian Pool Shows the Everyday Lives of Comic Book Stars
37
Un-Fantasy Photoshoots
'Super Not So Super' Makes Superheroes Look Ordinary
36
Everyday Royalty Shoots
Domesticated Royal Pictures Capture What You Think They Do
35
Superheroed Celebrities
Real Life Movie Stars Juxtaposed With Comic Characters
34
Humanized Movie Characters
Everyday Darth Vader
33
Superman-Approved Shirts
Ads Show Stori is the Apparel Brand Preferred by Superheroes
32
Real-Life Superheroes
Master Legend Joins Legions of Spandex-Clad Crime Fighters
31
Stylish Superheroes
Damien Blottiere Gives 'The Man of Steel' a Makeover
30
Humanized Video Game Characters
Niko Bellic from Grand Theft Auto IV
29
Superhero Editorials
Superman Returns in Vogue
28
60 Year Old Superheros
Age-Defiant Grace Jones Photo Shoot
27
Elderly Fairytale Heroines
Sabugosa Ad Illustrates That Children's Books Last Forever
26
Objectified Fairytale Characters
Pinocchio Gets Hunky in an Unbuttoned Shirt for Mr. Min
25
Damsel in Distress Fashion
‘Hero Saves the Day' in Love Magazine's Debut Issue
24
Reviving Iconic Superheroes
Is 'Wonder Woman' Animated Movie Setting Up Live-Action Film?
23
Geek Fashion Fusion
Shirts Feature Iconic Superhero Mashups
22
‘Everyday' Celebtography
Marianne Rosenstiehl Humanizes Portraits of Famous Faces
21
Superhero Presidents
Obama in Comic Books from Spider Man to Savage Dragon
20
Everyday Hero Shoots
Dulce Pinzon Photographs Mexican Immigrant Workers as Superheroes
19
Desert Superhero Fashion
Cat Power in V Magazine
18
Domesticated Superheroes
Gregg Segal's Super Photography
17
Gay Superheroes
Stan Lee Unveils Thom Creed, High School Basketball Player
16
Celeb Superhero Fixations
Ryan Reynolds to Play His Third Hero in Seven Years
15
Personalized Superhero Costumes
Super You Helps Kids Officially Become Superhuman
14
Guerrilla Caped Crime Fighters
The Cincinnati Superhero is Taking Care of Criminals
13
Life-Sized Nintendo Heroes
Papercrafter Haywan Shows Major Love for the Legend of Zelda
12
Real Women as Superheroes
"Female Force" Comics Feature Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton
11
Wimpy Action Heroes
LA Times Picks Best of the Worst
10
Inventing Hobbies for Fictional Characters
Showcasing Santa's (Photoshopped) Other Side
9
Fashion-Challenged Superheros
'The Spirit' Wears a Business Suit
8
Superfluous Superheroes
'Superuseless Superpowers' Documents the Abilities of Anti-Heroes
7
Humanizing Villains
Showing the Softer Side of North Korea's Kim Jong-il
6
Superhero Prime Ministers
Putin Saves TV Crew From Tiger
5
Superhero Workouts
Unleash Your Inner Green Lantern or Superman
4
Animated Urban Superheroes
"Mystery Man" by Gnarls Barkley
3
Humanized Street Signs
The Pedestrian Project
2
Superhero Musicals
Can "Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark" Conquer Broadway?
1
Real Life Fairytale Heroes
Robin Hood Steals £7 Million from Rich
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Plush-Inspired Sensorial Cosmetics
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Character Doughnut Collections
Krispy Kreme Spongebob Doughnuts Recreate Bikini Bottom Icons
Cartoon Franchise-Inspired Clogs
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Anti-Slop AI Pop-Ups
Anthropic Took Over a NYC Newsstand to Welcome Slowing Down & Thinking
Collectible Philosopher Figures
PIX! Plato Unboxes One of Three Ancient Greek Thought Leaders
Superhero Lifestyle Collections
Disney Drops Brand Collabs for The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Remixed Nail Polish Collections
The OPIcons Collection Reimagines Iconic Shades Like Funny Bunny
Ultra-Festive Holiday Pop-Ups
Miracle Toronto is Expanding Its Operations for the 2025 Season
Celebrative Icon-Inspired Campaigns
adidas Originals Honors 55 Years with Superstar: The Original
Politically-Inspired Runway Collections
Selkie’s The Libertine Collection Channels Feminine Power
Culturally Specific Retail Expansions
ICONSIAM and POP MART Establish a Global Landmark Location
Cartoon-Inspired Casual Shoes
The Patrick Star Superstar Blends Playful Motifs with Iconic Model
Swedish Candy Pop-Ups
BUBS' Sweeteasy Brings Indulgent Candy Traditions to US Consumers
Sci-Fi Film Toy Sets
LEGO Icons Project Hail Mary Set Arrives in March
Visual Show-Inspired Displays
Saks Fifth Avenue Transforms its NYC Flagship for Just Like That
Collectible Pop Culture-Referencing Toys
Mattel Debuts Its 2025 San Diego Comic-Con Showcase
Playful Skincare Campaigns
Leighton Meester Becomes Bubble's First Global Brand Ambassador
Debunking Skincare Campaigns
The Periodic Fable by The Ordinary Exposes Beauty Industry Buzzwords
Treat-Themed Crafting Dolls
Far Out Toys' Pretty Sweets Invites Kids to Customize Mini Desserts
Gothic Fantasy Film Soaps
Dr. Squatch x Nightmare Before Christmas Collab Embraces the Holidays
Star-Studded Brand Campaigns
'Play With Icons' is Redefining Lacoste’s Global Identity
Anniversary QSR Toy Drops
Mcdonald’s Disneyland 70th Anniversary Toys Mark a Milestone
Versatile Beauty-Enthusiast-Approved Products
L’Oréal Paris Spotlights its Trending Must-Haves
Animated Streetwear Capsules
The Simpsons x Family Mart Capsule Celebrates Playful Everyday Style
Cartoon Duck-Inspired Apparel
The Disney x Karl Lagerfeld Capsule Collection Features Donald Duck
Pet-Powered Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Animal Intelligence Redefines "AI"
Universal Icon Exhibitions
The Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs Explores Language Without Words
Beauty Comedy Collaborations
e.l.f. Beauty and Joe Hegyes Shared a GRWM Inspired by Collectibles
Real-Life Mood-Board Transformations
Pinterest Launches the 'Bring My Pinterest to Life' Series
Fashion Icon Archetype-Focused Campaigns
Alaïa's Summer/Fall 2025 Archetypes Campaign is Stunning
Plush Beauty Keychains
Ulta Beauty x Mini Brands Pops Plush Keychains Feature Hero Products
Privileged Cookie Campaigns
Born of Two Icons Positions OREO Creme Egg as a "Nepo Cookie"
At-Home Beauty Tech Pop-Ups
Ulike Hosted its 'Endless Summer Pop-Up' in Santa Monica
Soccer Athlete-Starring Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Partners with the NWSL's Jess Carter
Real-Life Doll Apparel
Barbie Debuts its First-Ever Fashion Collection with Edikted
Cheeky Lip-Gloss Beauty Campaigns
NYX Professional Makeup Launches its 'If You NYX You Know'
Telenovela-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Big Game Ad Airs Ahead of Halftime
Glam Pet Adoption Pop-Ups
Uber Showcats Puts a Spotlight on Rescued Cats Available for Adoption
Expressive Hair Campaigns
Wavytalk's Main Character Hair Campaign Makes Everyday Styles Memorable
Emotive Plush Collectibles
Care Bears Caring Cuties Tap into the Thrill of Blind Boxes
One-of-a-Kind Beauty Campaigns
The Beauty Machine by Dove Challenges Algorithm-Driven Standards
Body-Positive Charm Bikinis
The Billie x Ian Charms Bikini Celebrates Body Hair
Foggy Self-Care Billboards
eos' Windows of Self-Care Let Passersby Interact with Unique Personas
Fandom-Honoring Building Block Sets
LEGO® Spotlights Iconic Pop Culture Films and Series
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Novelty Image Generators
AI Toilet Brush Generator Creates Fun Custom Toilet Brush Avatars
Cheeky Baking Apparel
Betty Crocker Turns Cake Mix Nostalgia Into Wearable Merchandise
Authentic Footwear Campaigns
Crocs' Wonderfully Unordinary Marks a New Chapter for the Brand
Home-Centric Beauty Campaigns
Sally Beauty Debuts the Holiday Beauty at Home Campaign
Bold Beauty Campaigns
IPSY Reframes Beauty as a Hobby with the 'I Play Beauty' Campaign
Pop Culture-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
Peter Thomas Roth Taps 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'
Cozy Dramedy Skincare
Bliss x Gilmore Girls Inspires Millennial & Gen X Nostalgia
Anti-AI Apparel Campaigns
Pamela Anderson for 100% Aerie Real Rejects AI-Generated People & Bodies
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Playful Collectible Figures
The Zsiga × Care Bears Series Transforms Nostalgic Icons into Toys
K-Pop Beauty Campaigns
Colgate Featured Icon IU in a New Oral Care Campaign
Saloon-Style Beauty Pop-Ups
Clarins' Sweetheart Saloon Celebrates New Lip Products & Shades
Gun Violence Prevention Films
Sandy Hook Promise Turns a Childhood Symbol Into a Call for Action
Witchy Ready-to-Bake Cookies
Wicked-Inspired Pillsbury Shape Cookies Take After Iconic Headwear
Fashion Label Beauty Collections
Vol. 1 White Fox The Beauty + Lifestyle Collection Debuts
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Reality TV-Inspired Fashion Capsules
Betsey Johnson Launches a Mormon Wives Capsule Collection
Cinematic Sneaker Campaigns
Adidas Originals Superstar Campaign Features Icons Such as Jennie
Iconic High Fashion Campaigns
Veronica Beard's Fall 2025 Fashion Campaign is Tilted Iconic
Shoppable Beauty Routine Apps
BeautyShelf Helps Users Discover Authentic Recommendations
Cartoon Family Cosmetics
An Official The Simpsons x NYX Collab Launched on April 1st
Self-Expression Festival Activations
Barbie Brings Customizable Persona-Building to Coachella
Crystal Character Figurines
Swarovski Shrek Home Capsule Turns Movie Characters into Crystal Décor
Humorous Healthcare Campaigns
Zocdoc And 72andSunny Reframe Doctor Search With Playful Anxiety
Anti-Counterfeit Campaigns
This Vaseline Nigerian Prince Campaign Warns Against Fake Products
Character-Driven Fashion Newsletters
The RealReal Creates The RealGirl Luxury Consignment Series
Glam Actress-Starring Beauty Campaigns
Urban Decay Taps Dove Cameron for a New Creative Chapter
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Travel-Ready Sophisticated Shapewear Collections
Body by Miraclesuit Boasts a New Collection
Symbolic Pop-Up Wellness Experiences
Hone Health Hosts Death of Midlife Pop-Up
Beauty Tattoo Pop-Ups
Wonderskin is Celebrating a New, Limited-Edition Black Vinyl Lip Stain
Comedy Horror Cosmetics
The NYX Cosmetics x Wednesday Collection Creates Fun, Dark Designs
Identity-Exploring Clothing
Muted Desires Chapter 5 “Shapes We Take” Capsule Explores Archetypes
Animated Pop Revival Shows
Paris Hilton’s Paris & Pups Brings Her Playful Persona to Youtube
AI Portrait Generators
Imaginova Turns Selfies into Custom AI Portraits Without a Subscription
Joyful Skincare Anthems
Dove & Ciara's 'Drop Your Skin-hibitions' Remixes a Childhood Classic
Honest Shaving Campaigns
Wilkinson Sword's Any Hair, Anywhere Shatters Shaving Myths
Unfiltered Skincare Campaigns
The Indu Spots Happen Campaign Celebrates Unretouched Teen Skin
Smiling Sponge Costumes
Spirit Halloween is Selling Scrub Mommy & Scrub Daddy Costumes
Holiday Retail Campaigns
Walmart's WhoKnewVille is a Seuss-Inspired World of Festive Cheer
Collaborative Luxe Swimwear
Adriana Degreas X Sabine Getty Debut Vintage a Icon-Inspired Capsule
Dairytale Bridal Tributes
Disney Wedding Dresses Evoke Fairy Tales Through Bespoke Bridal Couture
Game-Themed Beauty Pop-Ups
Benefit Cosmetics' Beneland Shares Playful, Giftable Product Sets
Thailand-Inspired Wellness Exhibitions
KAWS Presents the KAWS: HOLIDAY THAILAND Exhibition
Collectible Action Icons
Hot Toys Releases 1/6 Figures & Massive Galactus Figure for First Steps
Tattoo-Inspired Joint Blemish Patches
Starface & Heaven by Marc Jacobs Launch the Tattoo Compact
Celebratory Midlife Campaigns
The Stripes Beauty Hotter Than Ever Destigmatizes Menopause
AI-Aged Executive Spoof Ads
AiCandy's Energym Ad Reimagines Tech Moguls as Instructors
Cheeky Food-Made Beauty Ranges
Warburtons Spoof Beauty Range Creates Picture-Perfect Lunches
Novelty Supermarket Ornaments
Aldi’s Novelty Baubles Take the Form of Familar Household Products
Classic Superhero-Inspired Donuts
The Krispy Kreme Hungry for Heroes Collection Has Three Treats
Halloween Countdown Doll Designs
Barbie Releases the 12 Days of Halloween Set with Daily Surprises
Celebrity Face Matches
Cast Swapper Instantly Matches Your Face with Movie and TV Stars
Cut-Out Easter Treat Disguises
Cadbury Created Print Ads That Hide Easter Eggs as Everyday Items
Artful Motion Toy Sculptures
Nina Chanel Abney Bravo Figures Capture Everyday Icons
Surreal Eyewear Collections
Schiaparelli's Fetish Sunglasses Capsule Represents a Bold Evolution
Supermarket Temporary Tattoos
Aldi's Specialbuy Temporary Tattoos Take After Favorite Items
Nostalgic Blind Toy Series
The Teletubbies Say Hello Series Nods to Childhood Icons for Collectors
Empowering Cosmetic Campaigns
The Revlon Be Unforgettable Campaign Reinterprets a Brand Tagline
Archetype-Driven Fashion
AELIZA Case Study 4: Your Life Explores Identity Through Clothing
Show-Inspired Burger Menus
Burger King Spongebob Menu Brings Animated Flavor to Fast Food
AI-Powered Santa Toys
HeySanta Brings Artificial Intelligence into the Magic of Christmas
Pop-Art Vinyl Sculptures
Andy Warhol Vinyl Bust Celebrates Artist’s Legacy in Modern Form
Cultural Exhibition Updates
Exhibit Columbus Removes Installation of Semi‑nude Architect Statues
Princess-Themed Lip Glosses
ColourPop Launches the Disney Princess Ultra Glossy Lip Collection
Mascot-Forward Newspaper Campaigns
Ellie the Elephant Becomes a New York Times Subscriber
Sleep Support Fairy Tales
Pukka Herbs' Sleepless Beauty Reimagines a Classic Story
Superhero-Themed Clogs
The Spider-Man X Crocs Collection Revives Classic Clogs with Comic Flair
Festive Fairytale Campaigns
Boots' Gift Happily Ever After Celebrates Meaningful Gifting
Robust Childhood Cancer Campaigns
Childhood Cancer Canada Launches 'Let's Face the Unimaginable'
Whimsical High-Fashion Holiday Campaigns
The Roger Vivier Holiday 2025 Film is Playful and Chic
Customized Mom-Inspired Figurines
Funko POP! Yourself is Launching in Europe for Mother's Day
Fantasy World Theme Parks
Disney Builds Real-Life Arendelle with World of Frozen
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
Animated Eye Health Campaigns
Prevent Blindness Debuts the Multimedia Best Eyes for Life Campaign
Workwear Icons Apparel
Carhartt WIP Icons SS26 Collection Includes Heritage Workwear Pieces
Body Appreciation Programs
Flamingo and Girl Scounts are Supporting Confidence & Wellness
Personalized Present Campaigns
The Wonderbly Everyone’s Got Favourites Campaign is Rolling Out Now
Celebrity-Backed Luxe Fashion Campaigns
Burberry's Holiday Film is Dubbed ’Twas the Knight Before…
Shoppable Mascot Homes
Pillsbury's Mascot is Inviting Fans into His Modern Doughhouse Revival
Expressive App Icons
The Instagram Teen Icons Deliver Vibrant Customization for Younger Users
Cartoon-Inspired Shoes
The Spongebob Squarepants x adidas Stan Smith Freizeit Reimagines a Classic
Football Challenge Campaigns
Coca-Cola Beat the Icon Fantasy Premier League Lets Fans Face Stars
Visual Graphic-Inspired Accessories
Asprey Studio Designs the Esc Kets Featuring Icon Graphics
Artist-Edition Jigsaw Puzzles
Kinstlertaps Nicole Appel and Ken Gun Min for Its Products
Empowering Beauty Campaigns
Bella Vida Santa Barbara has launched its 'You Are Amazing' campaign
Health Object Art Exhibitions
Out of Orifice Explores Interfaces Between Body, Design, & Intimacy
Women-Empowering Photograph Campaigns
Ownever Made a Statement This International Women's Day
Comic-Themed Tech Accessories
CASETiFY Introduces the Marvel Super Heroes VS Villains Capsule
Design-Driven Group Exhibitions
Icons of Tomorrow is a Group Exhibition at Isola Space
Visual Discovery Campaigns
Pinterest Autumn-Winter Ads Highlight Castlecore Dreams and Fuzzy Vibes
Grandmotherly Lunchmeat Campaigns
Eat Your Buddig Spotlights a No-Nonsense Caretaker
Delectable Career-Themed Ice Pops
Happy Pops Launches the Barbie Career Collection
Mardi Gras-Themed Breast Campaigns
Frida Marked Mardi Gras with the Breast Gallery Campaign