Mariska Hargitay Stuns In Throwback Summer Photo That Got Her Fans Fawning

Aug 01, 2023 by apost team

Mariska Hargitay has been in the spotlight since she was a child due to her celebrity parents. As the daughter of bombshell Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, it is no wonder that Mariska went into show business. Tragically, Mansfield was killed in a car accident when Mariska was 3 years old. The actress was in the car when the accident occurred and has a scar on the side of her head shaped like a zig-zag. 

The star has had an incredible career, having starred in the popular television drama "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" since 1999. Mariska is the winner of a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her performance on the show.

Before she was Olivia Benson on "Law and Order," Mariska appeared in a number of films and TV series. Her debut came in 1984 when she was featured in a music video for "She Loves My Car" by Ronnie Milsap. After that, the actress had a small role in a horror film called "Ghoulies." 

Some of the other TV shows Mariska has been involved in include "Freddy's Nightmares – A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series," "Baywatch" and "In the Heat of the Night." The star also made guest appearances on "Falcon Crest" and "Seinfeld."

At 59, Mariska is still looking gorgeous despite being occupied by her role as Olivia Benson and as a full-time mother to her three children. In a throwback Instagram photo she shared on June 15, 2023, Mariska’s fans flocked to the comment section and fawned over her, praising her for her timeless beauty and smile. Keep on reading to learn more about Mariska and how her beauty has not changed throughout the years. 

Mariska inherited her beautiful face from her parents, Mansfield and Mickey, who were both known for their respective reputations as a model and a bodybuilder. Mariska followed in her mother’s footsteps by entering beauty pageants. She was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA and also competed in the Miss California USA competition. She later attended acting school before she went on to start her career.

She is best known for starring as Captain Olivia Benson on the NBC drama series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." It was in this role that Mariska's strong resemblance to her mother became apparent. Even she herself brought it to light when she shared a beautiful photo of her face side by side with her mother. 

Mariska, who is now 59 years old, told People Magazine the resemblance to her mother is an honor and tribute to her, and that it helps her feel as if “she is still with me.” Decades later, and a lifetime without her mother, Mariska reminisced on her career in comparison to her mother’s. She said in the same interview: 

“My mother was this amazing, beautiful glamorous sex symbol — but people didn’t know that she played the violin and had a 160 IQ and had five kids and loved dogs … She was an inspiration, she had this appetite for life, and I think I share that with her.”

After being compared to her mom for the majority of her life, she has now embraced the similarities. She said:

"Someone once said about (remembering) my mother: 'All you have to do is look in the mirror.'"

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Mariska happily turned 59 on Jan. 23, 2023, and it's clear she will always carry on Mansfield's legacy. But whether that includes cosmetic surgery or treatments remains to be seen. While she isn’t against procedures, having once said, “if you want to do something to help you look more refreshed, I’m all for it,” she doesn’t see the effects of aging as the be-all and end-all.

“Things are sagging a bit – I’m not going to lie. But am I going to be upset about the sag or am I going to look at my three gorgeous kids and my husband and count my lucky stars?” she told Ladies’ Home Journal, according to Style Caster. 

On an Instagram post that she shared on June 15, 2023, Mariska posted a throwback photo of herself in an unspecified year. In the photo, the actress wore a cropped white shirt with “Sleeping Beauty” on it. She added the hashtags "#WayBackWednesday and #SleepingBeauty" to the post’s caption. 

As expected, Mariska’s fans rushed to the comments section and talked about how beautiful she was.

“Just as beautiful today as you were then 💕,” one of her fans commented. 

“Beautiful then and beautiful now! 🥰❤️ And that Sleeping Beauty shirt is EVERYTHING! 👑🌹,” a fan wrote. 

“Stunning then and always,” another echoed. 

“😍😍 that smile never disappoints!! It can instantly change my mood,” a fan complimented. 

Some of Mariska’s celebrity friends also commented on her look. “You should cut all your T shirts like that!” Ali Wentworth suggested while Debra Messing commented that she was such a “Cutie!” Kathryn Gallagher expressed her shock at Mariska’s photo: “Omg.” 

Are you a fan of Mariska Hargitay? What can you say about her throwback photo? Do you agree that she looks beautiful then and now? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friend and other Mariska Hargitay fans!