Watching Amanda Bynes navigate the last couple of years has been, honestly, a bit of a rollercoaster for anyone who grew up with The Amanda Show. It’s weird. We want her to be that "Bring in the dancing lobsters" girl forever, but real life is messier than a Nickelodeon sketch. Between the start of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, she hasn't just been "vanishing" or "spiraling" like the tabloids love to claim. She’s actually been trying to build a very normal, very un-Hollywood life, even if the road there is kind of bumpy.
She's 39 now. That’s a far cry from the teenager we saw in She’s the Man.
The Reality of 2024 Amanda Bynes 2025 Career Pivots
Most people think she’s just sitting around, but 2024 was actually a huge year for her trying to find a "real" job. You might remember she launched a podcast with Paul Sieminski late in 2023. It lasted exactly one episode. People clutched their pearls, thinking it was a failure, but Amanda was pretty blunt about it: she didn't want to do it if she couldn't get guests like Drake or Post Malone.
So, she pivoted. Hard.
Throughout 2024, Amanda was laser-focused on becoming a manicurist. She’s been really open about failing the board exam a few times, which—honestly—is the most relatable thing a celebrity has ever done. She went back to school in April 2024 to study "manicurist theory" and practice her acrylics. She told her followers she just wanted a "consistent job." No red carpets, no scripts, just a 9-to-5 at a nail salon.
The Fashion and Art "Pop-Up" Era
By late 2024, things took another turn. She leaned back into her FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) roots. She teamed up with a designer named Austin Babbitt—you might know him as Asspizza—for a fashion collaboration. They dropped T-shirts and shorts featuring her original artwork.
Then came December 2024.
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She hosted a pop-up art show in Los Angeles. It was a big deal because it was one of her first "public" appearances in a decade where she was actually the creator. She exhibited pieces with names like "Lavender Dreams" and "Night." It felt like she was finally using that degree she worked so hard for while under the conservatorship.
The Health Journey and the Ozempic Truth
If you’ve seen the 2024 Amanda Bynes 2025 headlines, you’ve definitely seen the word "Ozempic." Amanda hasn't been shy about this. In March 2024, she admitted she’d gained about 20 pounds because of depression. She was feeling down, and like many of us, she struggled to find the motivation to "do opposite action"—her term for working out when you really just want to stay in bed.
By June 2025, she confirmed she was starting Ozempic.
She was very specific about the numbers, which sparked a lot of conversation online. She started at 173 pounds with a goal of hitting 130. By December 2025, she was down to 152 pounds. She posted a paparazzi photo of herself in ripped jeans and a Lady Gaga shirt, saying she usually hates those photos but felt "inspired" by her progress.
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It’s a complicated topic. Some fans worry it’s a sign of her old body dysmorphia issues—the ones that made her retire from acting in 2010 after seeing herself in Easy A—while others think she’s just being transparent about a tool she’s using to feel better.
Love and Personal Life Updates
There’s also been a shift in her personal life. The long-term saga with Paul Michael seems to be firmly in the rearview mirror. By September 2025, TMZ and other outlets confirmed she was dating a guy named Zachary. He’s apparently a bit older than her and runs a security and event business.
They started as friends. That’s usually a good sign, right?
They’ve been spotted walking around LA holding hands, looking pretty low-key. She even shared a selfie with him on her Instagram Stories, which is rare for her.
The OnlyFans "Controversy"
In April 2025, Amanda did something that made everyone do a double-take: she joined OnlyFans. Before you get the wrong idea, she was very clear that she wasn't posting "sleazy" or NSFW content. She’s using it as a way to charge a subscription fee ($50 a month, reportedly) to actually talk to her fans directly without the noise of Instagram comments.
It's a way to monetize her fame on her own terms.
What’s Actually Happening Now?
As we move through 2026, the "2024 Amanda Bynes 2025" era shows a woman who is effectively retired from acting. She has zero interest in returning to Hollywood. She’s dealt with some heavy stuff—psychiatric holds in 2023, deep depression in early 2024—but she seems to be in a more stable rhythm now.
Her current look is very "LA Indie":
- Bleached hair (sometimes two-toned)
- Her signature septum piercing
- The heart tattoo on her cheek
- Heavy, defined eyebrows
She’s not trying to look like the girl from What a Girl Wants anymore. She’s carving out an identity that’s a bit more "street" and a lot more authentic to who she is now.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers
If you’re following Amanda’s journey, it’s important to look past the "shock" headlines. Here is what we can actually learn from her transition:
- Respect the Pivot: Just because someone was a child star doesn't mean they owe the world a "comeback." Her pursuit of a manicurist license is a valid career move.
- Mental Health isn't Linear: 2024 showed us that even after a conservatorship ends, the work continues. Depression and weight fluctuations are part of the human experience.
- Support her Art: If you want to support her, look for her art collaborations rather than hoping for a movie reboot. The Asspizza collab showed there's a market for her creative vision.
- Verify the News: 2025 saw a lot of "deepfake" or altered videos claiming things about her past (like rumors involving Dan Schneider). Amanda herself has called these out as clickbait lies. Stick to her direct social media updates.
Amanda Bynes is essentially teaching us how to disappear from fame while still existing in the world. She’s not "gone," she’s just elsewhere—likely practicing her nail tech skills or sketching her next fashion line.
To stay updated on her latest projects, keep an eye on her official Instagram or her occasional TikTok posts, as she tends to delete her accounts or clear her grid frequently when she wants a fresh start.