19 MAY 2005

She started out as a chart-topping girl next door, but after Mariah Carey split from husband and record boss Tommy Mattola in 1998, she became one of the pop world's most daring pin-ups.

The past few years have seen curvaceous Mariah embrace her sexier side with some jaw-dropping ensembles. But now, with her new album, The Emancipation Of Mimi, topping the US charts, it looks like the R&B bombshell is going from vamp to re-vamped with a style overhaul.

Mariah has joined forces with Vogue editor-at-large Leon Talley to help polish those brash and sassy edges. But Leon says the makeover project is really in Mariah's hands: "I take no credit in having anything to do with Mariah's next role as a fashion diva."

To take a look at Mariah's style over the years – both hits and misses – click on the photo to the left.

All photos © Alphapress.com, Rex and AFP