Jennifer Garner goes from ‘band-geek chic’ to People’s most beautiful

Jennifer Garner has landed this year’s cover of People magazine’s “Beautiful Issue.”

The magazine cover, which hits newsstands Friday, was revealed by Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show Tuesday, complete with a surprise appearance by Garner.

“Do you think I should start really turning it up for school drop-off and stuff?” joked Garner, who was admittedly nervous about the reveal. “I think so! I think I’ll maybe wear some yoga pants, some leggings and maybe a ponytail — kind of a scrubby, just-woke-up or just-worked-out look.”

In the People story, Garner, 47, spoke about balancing Hollywood, business and motherhood. The “Alias” and “Camping” actress co-founded the baby-food company Once Upon a Farm, serves as an artist-ambassador for Save the Children and is mother to three kids with ex-husband Ben Affleck: 13-year-old Violet, 10-year-old Seraphina and 7-year-old Samuel.

Her childhood style in West Virginia as “band-geek chic,” she said with a laugh. “I was so not one of the pretty girls that I just bypassed insecurity and didn’t see myself as attractive at all. It was not part of my life. … Looks weren’t a big deal in my family. I don’t think my parents ever said, ‘You’re pretty’ and so we just didn’t think about it.”

Nowadays, when she arrives home from a glamorous photo shoot, her children immediately have a very specific request.

“They’ll look at me and say, ‘Can you wash your face? Can you put your hair in a ponytail and put your glasses and sweats on?’” Garner said. “And I see the compliment in that. They just want me to look like Mom.”

Pink, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock and Lupita Nyong’o have previously been featured on the cover of the annual issue.

ashley.lee@latimes.com

Twitter: @cashleelee