World leaders are often regarded as celebrities (or tyrants, depending on who you’re talking about), but we tend to forget that they were all once young adults just like the rest of us. Most of them weren’t born into the roles they worked so hard to achieve, even though it may seem like they were destined for greatness from the start.
Before they took on prominent positions in the public eye, these men and women likely had aspirations to achieve what may have felt impossible at the time. Taking a glimpse into the lives of those who would one day became unforgettable historical figures reveals a side to them that’s very different from their public personas.
These 17 images of world leaders years before they ever stepped onto the global stage are riveting—and they may have you rethinking history a little more than you’d expect!
1. Mahatma Gandhi: Gandhi was known around the world for spreading a peaceful message to everyone. He led the Indian independence movement and was the inspiration for many civil rights movements for years after he passed away.
2. Adolf Hitler: Hitler was a German politician who became infamous after taking control of the Nazi party in Germany. While his cruelty might have far exceeded any the world had seen before, this image of a young Hitler makes him appear as average as any other man his age.
3. John F. Kennedy: Kennedy was one of the most beloved presidents the country ever had. He was the 35th President of the United States, and much of his term was spent establishing relations with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. He was tragically assassinated in 1963, but his legacy lives on.
4. Richard Nixon: Nixon was the 37th President of the United States and the only one to ever leave office because of a public scandal. After Watergate, the public lost a lot of faith in him, and he was forced to resign. Decades before, however, he was just a regular boy in gym class.
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5. Nelson Mandela: Mandela served as president of South Africa for five years from 1994 to 1999. He was an anti-apartheid revolutionary who made great strides toward peace. When you think of world leaders that have had a dramatic impact on human rights, Mandela always comes to mind.
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