There’s no point in discussing it — this woman is known by nearly everyone on Earth. And not just by those who own a TV, as Angelina Jolie is also deeply involved in environmental and poverty issues as a UN Goodwill Ambassador. Her path to success wasn’t easy, quite the opposite.

Today, we’re showcasing some of her early photos, where she appears both sensual and attractive, but we’ll also share a few words about the challenges she had to overcome. At 46, Angelina is still remarkably elegant and alluring.

The photo shoots featured here mostly took place before the actress turned twenty. The images show that Jolie was comfortable in front of the camera, experimenting with various looks.

Born into an acting family with father Jon Voight and mother Marcheline Bertrand, her upbringing likely played a big part in shaping her perception of herself and the world.

Jolie has an older brother, James Haven, and was born in Los Angeles, but the children later moved with their mother to New York City. The actress has openly admitted that by the time she turned twenty, she had experimented with many drugs and was lucky to have survived that phase.