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By Alex Warner, Charlotte Chilton
published
Actors don't always get the roles they audition for. Rejection, after all, is part of show business. Still, there's a lucky handful—Liam Hemsworth, Rachel McAdams, and Shia LaBeouf to name a few—that have impressed the powers that be and got another role out of the deal. Ahead, 60 actors who ended up playing a part they didn't initially go for.
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Chadwick Boseman
The role:Drax the DestroyerinGuardians of the Galaxy
Who *actually* played it:Dave Bautista
The role they played instead:T'Challa inBlack Panther
Boseman said that after getting turned down for the role of Drax, the Marvel Studios casting director, Sarah Finn, said she kept him in mind when it came time to cast theBlack Pantherlead.
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Natasha Lyonne
The role:LornainOrange Is The New Black
Who *actually* played it:Yael Stone
The role they played instead:Nicky
Lyonne initially wanted to audition for Lorna, but she said they wouldn't let her since they had already decided they wanted her to be Nicky. Stone initially auditioned to play Nicky, so the two basically swapped parts.
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Sebastian Stan
The role:Captain AmericainCaptain America
Who *actually* played it:Chris Evans
The role they played instead:Bucky Barnes
Although Stan originally wanted the title role as Captain America, he said that everything ultimately "worked out" in his favor, and that he felt Barnes was a "much better role" for him.
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Stephanie Beatriz
The role:Amy SantiagoinBrooklyn Nine-Nine
Who *actually* played it:Melissa Fumero
The role they played instead:Rosa Diaz
After reading for Amy Santiago, Beatriz was told to come back and read for the character of Rosa. Beatriaz said she was really nervous about doing the screen test for Amy with Andy Sandburg, and added that she felt like the role of Amy was always supposed to be Fumero's since she felt more comfortable as Rosa.
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Chris Colfer
The role:Artie AbramsinGlee
Who *actually* played it:Kevin McHale
The role they played instead:Kurt Hummel
McHale originally auditioned for Artie and was turned down. But creator Ryan Murphy liked Colfer so much that he actually invented the character of Kurt specifically for him.
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Betty White
The role:Blanche DevereauxinGolden Girls
Who *actually* played it:Rue McClanahan
The role they played instead:Rose Nylund
TheGolden Girlsproducers originally wanted White to play Blanche, but then they had second thoughts. They feared Blanche would be too similar to a previous role White had as Sue inThe Mary Tyler Moore Show. So, they pulled a switch.
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Madelaine Petsch
The role:Betty CooperinRiverdale
Who *actually* played it:Lili Reinhart
The role they played instead:Cheryl Blossom
Petsch went in to read for Betty, but the producers had her in mind for something else. She thinks "they always knew they wanted me for Cheryl."
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Darren Criss
The role:Finn HudsoninGlee
Who *actually* played it:Cory Monteith
The role they played instead:Blaine Anderson
Criss said he wasn't too disappointed about not landing the role of Finn, and added that it kind of made sense considering he's "not a football guy." He added that it was a "dream come true" to play someone as "complex" as Blaine.
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Amanda Seyfried
The role:Regina GeorgeinMean Girls
Who *actually* played it:Rachel McAdams
The role they played instead:Karen Smith
Seyfried not only auditioned for the role of Regina, but she almost had it. Director Mark Waters said that she was "brilliant" as Regina, adding, "She played it in a much more ethereal, but still kind of scary way. She was more frightening, but oddly, less intimidating."
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Tom Felton
The role:Harry Potter and Ron WeasleyinHarry Potter
Who *actually* played it:Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint
The role they played instead:Draco Malfoy
Felton auditioned for the title role of Harry and Ron before eventually getting cast as Draco. He has said that he's "grateful" he was cast as Draco because he doesn't think anyone else could have done the job Radcliffe and Grint did.
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Cillian Murphy
The role:BatmaninThe Dark Knight
Who *actually* played it:Christian Bale
The role they played instead:Scarecrow
Murphy said he got so far into the audition process for Batman that he was able to try on the iconic Batsuit. But he added that he knew he wasn't going to get the role, saying it was "obvious" that it was going to Bale.
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Luke Pasqualino
The role:TonyinSkins
Who *actually* played it:Nicholas Hoult
The role they played instead:Freddie
Pasqualino says he was happy that he didn't end up getting cast as Tony. He didn't think he was ready for it. "I think it was right to go to Nick Hoult."
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Christopher Mintz-Plasse
The role:Dave LizewskiinKick-Ass
Who *actually* played it:Aaron Taylor-Johnson
The role they played instead:Chris D’Amico/Red Mist
Mintz-Plasse said that he auditioned for the role of Kick-Ass, but the director "hated" everything he did. Instead, he got the role of Red Mist.
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Lee Pace
The role:Star-LordinGuardians of the Galaxy
Who *actually* played it:Chris Pratt
The role they played instead:Ronan the Accuser
Back in 2012, Pace did an interview where he said he was auditioning for the role of Star-Lord and was "very excited about it." Pace didn't end up landing the title role, but did end up playing a smaller villain instead.
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Charisma Carpenter
The role:BuffyinBuffy the Vampire Slayer
Who *actually* played it:Sarah Michelle Gellar
The role they played instead:Cordelia Chase
Before landing the role of Cordelia, Carpenter wanted to be Buffy. Gellar also wanted to be Cordelia, but Joss Whedon thought she would make a better Buffy, so they swapped.
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Jeremy Strong
The role:Roman RoyinSuccession
Who *actually* played it:Kieran Culkin
The role they played instead:Kendall Roy
Creator and lead writer Jesse Armstrong said that Strong thought he would be good as Roman, but Culkin was "a slam dunk." He added that Strong "is the character" of Kendall.
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Colin Donnell
The role:Cole LockhartinThe Affair
Who *actually* played it:Joshua Jackson
The role they played instead:Scotty Lockhart
Donnell got close to playing Cole since he had auditioned for him a few times. Series co-creator Sarah Treem said that "he wasn't quite right," but she was such a big fan of him that she wrote the role of Scotty specifically for him.
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Mädchen Amick
The role:Lorelai GilmoreinGilmore Girls
Who *actually* played it:Lauren Graham
The role they played instead:Sherry Tinsdale
Amick said that she got really far into the testing process and almost played Lorelai, but then the network felt like she didn't seem old enough to be a mom. She was eventually brought back to play Sherry.
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John Krasinski
The role:Dwight SchruteinThe Office
Who *actually* played it:Rainn Wilson
The role they played instead:Jim Halpert
Krasinski was originally interested in auditioning for the role of Dwight, but he ended up convincing the casting directors to let him read for Jim. He had instant chemistry with Jenna Fischer.
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Carice Van Houton
The role:Cersei LannisterinGame of Thrones
Who *actually* played it:Lena Headey
The role they played instead:Melisandre
Houton said that she was asked to audition for the part of Cersei, but she couldn't do it because she was shooting something else. She was then offered the role of Melisandre, and said that "Lena couldn't be a better Cersei."
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Bella Thorne
The role:Emma DuvalinScream: The TV Series(2015-2-16)
Who *actually* played it:Willa Fitzgerald
The role they played instead:Nina Fitzgerald
Thorne turned down the main role because she thought the character, Nina, was more "iconic," adding that she's never died on screen before.
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Iwan Rheon
The role:Jon SnowinGame of Thrones(2011-2018)
Who *actually* played it:Kit Harington
The role they played instead:Ramsay Bolton/Ramsay Snow
Even though Rheon's role was memorable, it was also one of the most hated characters inGame of Throneshistory—and that's saying a lot.
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Jessica Capshaw
The role:Nurse Rose and Dr. Sadie HarrisinGrey’s Anatomy(2005-present)
Who *actually* played it:Lauren Stamile (as Nurse Rose), Melissa George (as Sadie Harris)
The role they played instead:Dr. Arizona Robbins
Capshaw auditioned for multiple roles in Shonda Rhimes' hit TV seriesGrey's Anatomybefore finally landing the role as Dr. Arizona Robbins.
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Heath Ledger
The role:Bruce WayneinThe Dark Knight(2008)
Who *actually* played it:Christian Bale
The role they played instead:The Joker
Ledger ended up winning a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the Joker.
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Lindsay Lohan
The role:Regina George inMean Girls(2004)
Who *actually* played it:Rachel McAdams
The role they played instead:Caddy Heron
Can you imagine thisMean Girlschangeup? Originally the producers wantedLohan to play Regina George. However, afterFreaky Fridaycame out and Lohan's popularity skyrocketed, they were worried the audience wouldn't like her as the villain.
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Rachel McAdams
The role:Cady HeroninMean Girls(2004)
Who *actually* played it:Lindsay Lohan
The role they played instead:Regina George
Director Mark Waters toldVulturehe thought McAdams was "too old" for the part of Cady, but found her age helped her play the intimidating Regina George opposite the younger Lindsay Lohan.
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The role:Peeta MellarkinThe Hunger Games(2012)
Who *actually* played it:Josh Hutcherson
The role they played instead:Gale Hawthorne
In 2011, Hemsworth toldMTVhe was interested in playing Peeta, but we think the casting directors got this one right.
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Alexander Ludwig
The role:Peeta MellarkinThe Hunger Games(2012)
Who *actually* played it:Josh Hutcherson
The role they played instead:Cato, a tribute
Clearly, Peeta was a coveted role in Hollywood. TheVikingsactor also wanted the part.
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Sandra Oh
The role:Miranda BaileyinGrey’s Anatomy(2005-present)
Who *actually* played it:Chandra Wilson
The role they played instead:Christina Yang
Oh revealed atPaleyFest LA in 2006that she saw the part of Christina Yang and was much more drawn to it, so she "asked for what she wanted" and we'd say it worked out for her.
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Isaiah Washington
The role:Derek Shepherd inGrey's Anatomy(2005-present)
Who *actually* played it:Patrick Dempsey
The role they played instead:Preston Burke
Even though Washington didn't get the role of Derek Shepherd, creator Shonda Rhimes reportedly liked his audition so much that she cast him as Preston Burke when the original actor dropped out.
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Rainn Wilson
The role:Michael ScottinThe Office(2005-2013)
Who *actually* played it:Steve Carrell
The role they played instead:Dwight Schrute
Wilson was thefirstpersonto audition for the role of Michael Scott. But he's a betterDwight if you ask us.
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Samm Levine
The role:Sam WeirinFreaks and Geeks(1999-2000)
Who *actually* played it:John Francis Daley
The role they played instead:Neal Schweiber
Apparently, Levine did aself-proclaimed "crappy" impressionof William Shatner for his audition. The results? He was cast as a geek with dreams of becoming a comedian instead.
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Courteney Cox
The role:Rachel GreeninFriends(1994-2004)
Who *actually* played it:Jennifer Aniston
The role they played instead:Monica Geller
Producers wanted Cox to play Rachel, but Cox said she wanted to play Monica. And that was that.
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Eddie Redmayne
The role:Tom RiddleinHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets(2002)
Who *actually* played it:Christian Coulson
The role they played instead:Newt Scamander inFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them(2016)
Redmayne toldEmpirehe auditioned for the part of Tom Riddle while in college, but "properly failed and didn't get a callback." Years later his dream of being in aHarry Pottermovie came true.
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Bethany Joy Lenz
The role:Brooke DavisinOne Tree Hill(2003-2012)
Who *actually* played it:Sophia Bush
The role they played instead:Haley James Scott
Lenz was a better fit for the girl-next-door character, which she had todye her blonde hair brownfor.
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Ed Westwick
The role:Nate ArchibaldinGossip Girl(2007-2012)
Who *actually* played it:Chace Crawford
The role they played instead:Chuck Bass
Creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage encouraged Westwick to read for Chuck Bass after not landing the part of Nate Archibald.
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Sara Paxton
The role:Lizzie McGuireinLizzie McGuire(2001-2004)
Who *actually* played it:Hilary Duff
The role they played instead:Holly
The role of Holly was a guest appearance in which Paxton played a former class president of Lizzie's.
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Hank Azaria
The role:Joey TribbianiinFriends(1994-2004)
Who *actually* played it:Matt LeBlanc
The role they played instead:David, the "science guy"
Azaria's guest role was reoccurring over the ten seasons, and he played one of Phoebe's love interests.
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Jon Favreau
The role:Chandler BinginFriends(1994-2004)
Who *actually* played it:Matthew Perry
The role they played instead:Pete Becker, the "ultimate fighting champion guy"
Favreau's role was also a love interest on the show, this time for Monica, and was reoccurring throughout the third season.
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Ashley Greene
The role:Bella Swan inTwilight(2008)
Who *actually* played it:Kristen Stewart
The role they played instead:Alice Cullen
"I originally auditioned for Bella, and so I read the first book and kind of fell in love with it," she toldMTVin an interview. "I went in and auditioned and actually they called me back in and said, 'No, you're not right for Bella,' so I was bummed, and then they brought me back for Alice."
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Miley Cyrus
The role:Lilly TruscottinHannah Montana(2006-2011)
Who *actually* played it:Emily Osborne
The role they played instead:Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart
Sorry, but we can't imagine anyone other than Cyrus playing Hannah Montana. Apparently, Disney agreed.
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Natalie Dormer
The role:UnknowninGame of Thrones(2011-present)
Who *actually* played it:TBD
The role they played instead:Margaery Tyrell
Dormer revealed that she auditioned for a different female role inGame of Thrones, but won't reveal who. She was initially hesitant to accept her current role as Margaery because the character was so similar to one she previously played inThe Tudors.
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Ashley Tisdale
The role:London TiptoninThe Suite Life of Zack and Cody(2005-2008)
Who *actually* played it:Brenda Song
The role they played instead:Maddie Fitzpatrick
Producers thought Tisdale was a better fit for Maddie Fitzpatrick, but the actress still got the chance to play a bratty role on Disney inHigh School Musicalas Sharpay Evans.
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Norman Reedus
The role:Merle DixoninThe Walking Dead(2010-present)
Who *actually* played it:Michael Rooker
The role they played instead:Daryl Dixon
The character, Daryl Dixon, didn't exist until Reedus auditioned. Producers were so impressed with him that they created the now-beloved character specifically for him.
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Paul Wesley
The role:Damon SalvatoreinThe Vampire Diaries(2009-2017)
Who *actually* played it:Ian Somerhalder
The role they played instead:Stefan Salvatore
Zach Roerig (who played Matt Donovan) and Michael Trevino (who played Tyler Lockwood) also auditioned for the role of Stefan Salvatore.
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Lucy Hale
The role:Hanna MarininPretty Little Liars(2010-present)
Who *actually* played it:Ashley Benson
The role they played instead:Aria Montgomery
Show creator Marlene King thought Hale was a better fit for Aria, but let the actress audition for both parts before sheultimately ended up agreeing with King.
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James Franco
The role:Peter Parker, AKA Spider-Man inSpider-Man(2002)
Who *actually* played it:Tobey Maguire
The role they played instead:Harry Osborn
Franco was apparently bummed he didn't land the lead role, but playing Harry still put the actor on the map in a big way.
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Jensen Ackles
The role:Sam WinchesterinSupernatural(2005-present)
Who *actually* played it:Jared Padalecki
The role they played instead:Dean Winchester
Rumor has it that Ackles had the role of Sam, that is, until Padalecki auditioned.
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Tom Hiddleston
The role:ThorinThor(2008)
Who *actually* played it:Chris Hemsworth
The role they played instead:Loki
This is just another case of an actor landing a supporting role after impressing producers while auditioning for the lead in a superhero movie.
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Sasha Pieterse
The role:Hanna Marin inPretty Little Liars(2010-present)
Who *actually* played it:Ashley Benson
The role they played instead:Alison DiLaurentis
"I never really auditioned for Alison. It was just, 'We really like you for this instead.' I'm so happy I ended up being Alison," Sasha said inan interview.
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Shia LaBeouf
The role:Neal SchweiberinFreaks and Geeks(1999-2000)
Who *actually* played it:Samm Levine
The role they played instead:Herbert
This was before LaBeouf landedEven Stevenson the Disney Channel, which ultimately led to a successful career, so we think it all worked out.
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Chelsea Peretti
The role:DetectiveRosa DiazinBrooklyn Nine-Nine
Who *actually* played it:Stephanie Beatriz
The role they played instead:Gina Linetti
Co-creators Michael Schur and Dan Goor wrote the role of Gina Linetti for Peretti.
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Liza Weil
The role:Rory Gilmore onGilmore Girls
Who *actually* played it:Alexis Bledel
The role they played instead:Paris Geller
The show's creator enjoyed Liza Weil's audition for Rory, but didn't see her playing the character. Instead, she created the part of Rory's overachieving prep school rival/friend, Paris Geller, for the actress.
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Sonequa Martin-Green
The role:MichonneonThe Walking Dead
Who *actually* played it:Danai Gurira
The role they played instead:Sasha Williams
And this isanothercase of a character being created for an actor after an impressive audition. Seriously, not a bad outcome.
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Janel Parrish
The role:Spencer HastingsonPretty Little Liars
Who *actually* played it:Troian Bellisario
The role they played instead:Mona Vanderwaal
Parrish was called back to audition for Mona after missing out on Spencer, but toldJust Jared Jrshe's happy with how it worked out: "I fell in love with playing Mona."
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Laura Prepon
The role:Piper ChapmanonOrange is the New Black
Who *actually* played it:Taylor Schilling
The role they played instead:Alex Vause
The showrunners didn't think Prepon had enough of a girl-next-door vibe to convincingly portray a person viewers would be afraid for in prison, so they molded the role of Alex for her instead.
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Erin Sanders
The role:Nicole Bristow onZoey 101
Who *actually* played it:Alexa Nikolas
The role they played instead:Quinn Pensky
Sanders landed the role of Zoey's other roommate instead, the quirky and brainy Quinn.
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Olivia Wilde
The role:Marissa Cooper onThe O.C.
Who *actually* played it:Mischa Barton
The role they played instead:Alex Kelly
The show's creator, Joshua Schwartz, revealed that he was between Mischa Barton and Olivia Wilde for the show's leading role. Ultimately, they decided Wilde was too tough and confident to portray the damsel in distress character, so they brought her back as the bisexual love interest of both Seth Cohen and Marissa Cooper.
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Rowan Blanchard
The role:Maya Hart onGirl Meets World
Who *actually* played it:Sabrina Carpenter
The role they played instead:Riley Matthews, the daughter of Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence.
Interestingly, Blanchard's costar, Sabrina Carpenter,originally auditioned for her roleas Riley Matthews—but producers switched the actresses around.
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Jason Dohring
The role:Duncan Kane onVeronica Mars
Who *actually* played it:Teddy Dunn
The role they played instead:Logan Echolls
Fun fact: Teddy Dunn originally auditioned for Logan Echolls. So, this was another case of actors swapping parts.
Alex Warner
Editor
I’m currently working at Dotdash Meredith as the Celeb & Entertainment E-Commerce Lead contributing affiliate content forPeople.comandInStyle.com. I’m basically like your personal shopper, from writing about that cozy loungewear set you didn’t know you needed to keeping tabs on the best sales and deals on the internet. I’m also a pro at finding affordable dupes for celebrity looks and I love to dig into the data to strategize content opportunities.
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