The Stunning Transformation Of Shay Mitchell

Shay Mitchell isn't just a talented actress and model — she's also accomplished so much else in her life. Mitchell has starred on hit TV series, acted in movies, gotten involved in a hit Netflix drama, and, in 2019, became a mom. Basically, Mitchell is killing it, but she wasn't always as successful as she is now. 

Back before Mitchell first appeared in Pretty Little Liars — a show that's totally binge-worthy — she had a handful of different jobs far from the kinds of gigs she has these days. And, as could be expected, it took her a while to secure her spot as a major power player in Hollywood. From TV shows like Pretty Little Liars and You to films like Mother's Day and everything else in between, Mitchell has demonstrated top-notch acting skills in her projects, but, looking at the stunning transformation of the mom, it's clear that there's so much more to Mitchell than meets the eye. 

Just as many actors have to work side-jobs and hustle hard while trying to make it big in Hollywood, so did Shay Mitchell. Since it can be a long time and a difficult journey before someone can land a big, well-paying acting role, a flexible job like waitressing, dog-walking, or nannying is ideal for someone who is trying to make it in the entertainment industry. In an interview with Self, Mitchell explained that right before she landed the role of Emily Fields on Pretty Little Liars, she was a cocktail waitress at a bar in Toronto. 

Speaking of her time waitressing, Mitchell explained that she constantly told herself she was on the brink of greatness. "I would walk around as though I were in a movie," she told the magazine. "I was already a successful actress in my mind." Obviously, Mitchell's positive mindset worked out in the end, as she soon landed the PLL gig and her life was forever changed. 

As Pretty Little Liars started to get more and more popular, the show's stars also gained popularity and star power, something Shay Mitchell took full advantage of. In 2016, Mitchell made her big-screen debut in the film Mother's Day. In the movie, Mitchell plays Tina, the very young second wife of the ex-husband of Jennifer Aniston's character. Mitchell was extremely excited to get to work with Aniston. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Mitchell explained, "I'm playing a stepmom to Jennifer Aniston's kids!" When Mitchell saw the film's trailer, she told the magazine, "I called my mom and was like, 'Julia [Roberts] and Jen are talking about my character! So [Julia] has to know who I am!"

It's clear that Mitchell loves being able to work with such famous actors. She definitely came a long way from her waitressing days to be able to star alongside A-listers like Aniston, Roberts, and Kate Hudson in Mother's Day. 

In addition to her massive YouTube following, Shay Mitchell also has an impressive social media presence, specifically on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. On Instagram alone, Mitchell has an astounding 26.5 million followers. But, with her fame, Mitchell made sure to organize the perfect social media accounts, something she is mindful of.  

In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Mitchell wanted to point out that even though her life might look perfect on social media, that's only part of the story. "People are like, your life is so great," she explained. "Yes, but remember I'm not putting up a photo of my s**tty days. You're looking at my highlight reel. You're not seeing me crying because I got my period and dropped a jelly bean on the floor." 

Mitchell also told the magazine that running her social media accounts was almost like her second job. "It was important for me to have a brand that was Shay Mitchell, so you got to know me," she said of being active on social media once PLL started to gain traction. Clearly, Mitchell knows what she's doing. 

In 2018, Shay Mitchell continued her acting career shortly after her hit series Pretty Little Liars came to an end. In fact, Mitchell started acting in the hit drama You, based on the Caroline Kepnes' bestselling novel of the same name. The series, in which Mitchell starred alongside Penn Badgley (who played the worst character on Gossip Girl, Dan Humphrey), premiered on the Lifetime channel, but the show soon moved to Netflix for its second season (via Deadline). On the streaming giant, the show experienced a renaissance of sorts and became popular with viewers, as noted by the Chicago Tribune.

When asked about the transition of going from Pretty Little Liars to You, Mitchell explained that both shows were pretty dark, but that You was a lot more realistic. "Some of the things that happened in PLL were way out there, and I love that," she told Entertainment Weekly. "But I also like the realism that takes place in You and I think the viewers will appreciate that."

While it may be obvious that Shay Mitchell has come a long way since she first appeared in Pretty Little Liars in terms of success, that doesn't mean she hasn't gone through more than her fair share of trauma. On New Year's Day 2019, Mitchell took to her Instagram Story to inform her fans and followers that she had recently gone through a terrible ordeal, as she experienced a tragic miscarriage.

"We all have to deal with various struggles and challenges in life," she wrote on her story, according to USA Today. "The support and affection that so many of you show me lifts me up during even my darkest days, one of which happened last year after I miscarried and lost the child of my hopes and dreams." Mitchell said that the period was an especially dark one for her, but she felt grateful for all her followers and fans who supported her.

In June of 2019, mere months after Shay Mitchell revealed she had suffered a miscarriage the previous year, Mitchell announced that she was pregnant. Alongside a gorgeous maternity shot, she posted on Instagram, she wrote the caption, "Does this mean I'm allowed to drive in the car pool lane at all times now?" Additionally, Mitchell shared a heartfelt video to her YouTube channel, where she got more in-depth about her pregnancy, and she also started a new YouTube series all about pregnancy called "Almost Ready." 

Then, in October 2019, Mitchell gave birth to her daughter, Atlas. In an interview with Vogue about what her life was like as a new mom, Mitchell explained that her priorities had definitely shifted. "When she's awake, we just kind of have a chill moment together," she said. "I've had to reprioritize my work time with her schedule, and that's been interesting for me. Before it was all about my schedule, now I work once she falls asleep." Mitchell has adjusted to life with a baby, and motherhood looks great on her. 

In addition to all her other many projects, Shay Mitchell briefly reunited with Pretty Little Liars showrunner I. Marlene King to work on a new series: The Heiresses. It was announced in 2017 that the series had been ordered, with Mitchell set to play the main character, according to Deadline. Besides King, Mitchell was also expected to be working with Sara Shepard, who authored the Pretty Little Liars books, as well as the Heiresses books. 

Per Deadline, the plot of the show follows the Saybrook family as they try to understand the tragedies that plague their lives. "The events surrounding a deadly accident a year ago drove a wedge between the once-inseparable diamond empire heiresses," Deadline reported. "But when an unspeakable tragedy brings the cousins back together, they create a truly unbreakable bond. They set out to solve the mystery of who wants the Saybrook family dead before one of them is the next target."

Unfortunately, the project never got its legs. In November 2018, Mitchell told TooFab that the show wouldn't be happening.