Stunning Celebrities We Totally Forgot Started Out As Beauty Queens

Actor, model, singer, and songwriter — these are just a few of the titles that Lynda Carter has to her name. Oh, and you can add beauty pageant winner to the list, too! The gorgeous brunette told Outwire757 in 2018, “[The] Miss World contest fell in my lap. I’d never been in a beauty contest, but three weeks later, I was walking down the runway at the Hampton Coliseum!” This was back in 1972 — a year that saw Carter become Miss World USA and go on to place among the best 15 contestants at the Miss World pageant. She really is a real-life Wonder Woman! 

Scarface actress Michelle Pfeiffer has both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. But those aren’t her only awards! Before becoming an acclaimed actress, Pfeiffer took part in beauty pageants across Southern California. And in 1978 the timeless beauty was named Miss Orange County. Not long after, Pfeiffer went on to appear in the drama series Fantasy Island. “Hey, we all gotta start somewhere,” the actress captioned an Instagram post of a throwback picture from her pageant days.

Priyanka Chopra is one of Bollywood’s richest actresses. In 2016 she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, which is a pretty big deal – it’s the fourth-highest accolade that regular citizens can achieve! Ever wondered how she got there? Well, when she was 18 years old, Chopra was crowned Miss World 2000. “It gave me a trampoline to my acting career. It gave me a sense of self, a sense of confidence,” Chopra told Tatler in 2020. Sign us up!

You probably know Vanna White as the long-time host of Wheel of Fortune. She has been doing it since 1982, after all! But have you ever wondered what White did before that? Well, the star was a runner-up in the 1978 Miss Georgia USA pageant. She’s a winner in our eyes!

Fans might recognize Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater, Ugly Betty’s fashion queen. But Williams also has an illustrious history when it comes to beauty pageants — rather fitting, huh? She became both Miss Syracuse and Miss New York in 1983. Then, in the following year, she took the big one and became Miss America — and the pageant’s first black winner, for that matter. But her title was stripped when Penthouse magazine shared unapproved naked pictures of the star. Williams has since received an apology from previous Miss America CEO Sam Haskell. 

It’s perhaps unsurprising that the Israeli stunner Gal Gadot started out as a beauty queen. Back when the actress was 18, between finishing high school and entering the army, she won the 2004 title of Miss Israel. But Gadot was originally hesitant about the triumph. She told W magazine in 2017, “I never thought I would win, and then I won, and then it scared me! [...] Miss Israel? All the responsibility of being Miss Israel?!” Well, we think the real-life Wonder Woman has certainly proven herself!

Actress Sophia Loren is among the very few Golden Age stars who are still alive. She galvanized her career at just 16, competing in Miss Italia 1950. Loren was named Miss Elegance, which certainly set the tone for the rest of her dazzling career. Her success at the event sent her a trip to Rome, where the budding star immersed herself in the world of movies. Loren made a comeback to the pageant competition in 2001 — this time on the judging panel. And she didn’t stay away for long after that, either, coming back to crown the champion in 2010, too.

Vanessa Lachey is an actress and television host. You’ll probably recognize her as Entertainment Tonight’s correspondent for New York, as well as the host of MTV’s Total Request Live. But in 1998 she became Miss Teen USA. And since then, Lachey hasn’t been able to stay away from the world of pageantry. In 2001 the actress reported all the back-stage gossip from Miss USA, and she co-hosted Miss Universe in 2007. And, more recently in 2018, the actress was joined by her husband, Nick Lachey, to host Miss USA. She’s a beauty queen through and through!

It’s been 16 years since Carrie Underwood captured all our hearts and won American Idol. But that’s not the first title she had competed for. In 2003 the blonde beauty took part in the Miss Northeastern State University pageant. Underwood finished as a runner-up, but that hasn’t stopped her from dazzling audiences ever since!

Debra Messing will always be known as Will Truman’s flatmate, Grace Adler. But her talents didn’t begin with Will & Grace. The fiery redhead started her trade in high school, taking the lead in performances such as Grease and Annie. She became Rhode Island’s Junior Miss in 1986 and also took part in America’s Junior Miss scholarship scheme. What a talented youngster! 

Model and actress Candice Bergen is perhaps most famous for the role of her titular character Murphy Brown, for which she was awarded two Golden Globes and five Primetime Emmys. But you might also recognize her as the unsuspecting baddie in the 2000 movie Miss Congeniality. Funnily enough, it was unusual for Bergen to be on the other side of the panel. While working towards her degree, the budding star won the 1963 title of Miss University.

Lee Meriweather is a legend of TV and film and will always be remembered for playing Betty Jones in Barnaby Jones. But what about before this on-screen success? Meriweather didn’t have the most conventional entry into the world of pageants. Becoming a beauty queen never crossed her mind. Well, that’s someone she didn't know put her forward for the Miss San Francisco beauty pageant. The star went on to win, of course. And then she became Miss California in 1954 and later Miss America in 1955. What a steep trajectory!

Gretchen Polhemus has been a regular on the likes of ABC, ESPN, and Fox. But did you know that she was crowned Miss USA back in 1989? Yep! Oh, and she also came close to grabbing Miss Universe that same year, too. Impressive stuff! 

Diane Sawyer is pretty badass. Not only is she a top journalist and newsreader, but she’s also been highly successful in the world of pageantry. Back in 1963 Sawyer was crowned America’s Junior Miss, entering on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Sawyer has even been known to say that the event is what prompted her to think on her feet. Who knew pageantry could be such good training for the world of journalism?

Ali Landry first became known as “the Doritos Girl” when the crisp advert she’d starred in got played at the 1998 Super Bowl. She went on to act full time, appearing in films such as Bella. Before all this, though, Landry managed to squeeze in a stint in the world of pageantry. Yep, back in 1990, she became Miss Louisiana Teen USA. Then, in 1996 she won the title of Miss Louisiana USA. And to top off this success, the star-in-the-making became Miss USA that same year. Talk about a great 12 months!

Bond girl Michelle Yeoh has seen her career skyrocket since she appeared alongside Pierce Brosnan in Tomorrow Never Dies. The actress has recently played the Mirror Universe’s Emperor Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek, for example. And we can’t help but wonder if her experience of being crowned 1983’s Miss Malaysia was all the preparation she needed. That same year, Yeoh also became Queen of the Pacific and Miss Moomba. And not long after, the star worked with Jackie Chan for a TV ad. Pretty neat!

Eva Longoria famously played Gabrielle Solis for nearly a decade on Desperate Housewives, which led her to being put forward for multiple awards. But once upon a time, the actress was Miss Corpus Christi. Back in 1998 she represented her home city and went on to take the crown. That very same year, Longoria achieved a kinesiology degree from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. So she’s not just a pretty face!

In 2003, Halle Berry was voted FHM’s sexiest woman in the world. It’s not surprising, then, that she has competed in various beauty pageants over the years. In 1985 the actress was crowned Miss Teen All American, and in 1986 she won Miss Ohio USA. That same year, Berry also entered both Miss USA and Miss World — and was even the first-ever African-American competitor for the latter. The star clearly has fond memories of her pageant days. She shared a throwback snap to her Instagram captioned “Where it all began.” Berry hasn’t changed a bit! 

Hits such as “Baby One More Time” made Britney Spears the certified queen of pop. But where did it all begin? Well, remember The Mickey Mouse Club? Spears became part of the gang when she was just 12 years old. Yet that wasn’t the star’s first time performing in front of a crowd. The singer was appearing in pageants before she’d even started school. She’s clearly a natural entertainer! 

Remember Terry Lynn Huntingdon? You know, the beauty who starred in the 1962 film The Three Stooges Meet Hercules? Well, shortly before this, in 1959, Huntingdon was crowned Miss USA. She’s is, and will always be, a classic beauty!

Actress Sophia Bush was the beloved Brooke Davis in One Tree Hill. But that’s not the first time she’d won audiences’ hearts. Yep, as hardcore fans will probably know, the star became the 82nd Rose Queen. According to The Los Angeles Times, Bush admitted at the time that she, "wasn't expecting it" and that it was "a real shock.” Let’s be honest, though. She was probably the only one who was surprised!

Sharon Stone is one talented lady. She’s worked both on screen and behind it, and she used to be a model as well. Stone also became Miss Crawford County during her studies at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. But, according to Fox News, the actress only signed up to the pageant because of a $50 bet. It served her well, and in 1976 she entered the running for Miss Pennsylvania. Someone on the panel supposedly advised Stone to put her education on hold and focus on modeling. The rest is history! Ford Modeling Agency took the star under its wing just a year later in 1977.

Rihanna has some pretty amazing stats to her name. With 14 songs that have reached number one, nine Grammys, and a stunning 250 million records sold across the globe, the star has certainly cemented her place as a music legend. But she’s also a talented pageant winner, too. At high school, she became Miss Combermere after singing “Hero” by Mariah Carey. “I kind of laughed at these stupid pageants,” the singer said to the Daily Mail in 2007. “But my friends at school dared me to do it, and my military training came in handy for learning to balance books on my head for the catwalk.” Is there no end to her talents?

Tiffani Thiessen, A.K.A. Kelly Kapowski, was in the spotlight long before her role in Saved by the Bell. The star started modeling when she was just a kid. In 1987 she came first in the Miss Junior America pageant. And the following year, she entered Teen Magazine’s “Great Model Search” and went on to win. But it doesn’t sound like Thiessen wants the same things for her children. “I want to teach [my daughter] that eating right and exercising and being healthy is what's important, not what size jeans you wear," the actress explained to The Los Angeles Times back in 2016. 

Fashion influencer Olivia Culpo is a busy lady. Whether she’s appearing on the cover of magazines or attending red carpet events, Culpo always looks stunning. But perhaps 2012 was Culpo’s busiest year of all — she was crowned Miss Rhode Island USA, Miss USA, and Miss Universe. How does she find the time?

Katy Perry is known for her cheeky princess-of-pop persona. And it’s clearly an authentic trait! The singer was entering pageants when she was still at school. According to Vogue Australia, Perry’s mom would say “Second place is not good enough!” Hopefully, her mom is proud of how far she’s come today!

Presenter Kathie Lee Gifford has been the full-of-beans host of multiple shows including Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee and NBC's Today show, for which she was awarded her first Daytime Emmy back in 2010. And Gifford was crowned Junior Miss Maryland in 1970 when she was just 17. From there, she took the step up to America’s Junior Miss Pageant. But when judges learned that she’d befriended one of the people working on the event, she sadly wasn’t allowed to compete. At least she was able to put her friendly personality to good use later on in her career!

Kenya Moore may have modeled from a young age, but it wasn’t until 1993 that her career really took off. And this was partly down to pageant success. When Moore was 22, she was crowned Miss Michigan USA. After that, she came first in the Miss USA contest and, incredibly, was only the second black woman ever to do so. As if that wasn’t enough, the star went on to rank fifth in the 1993 Miss Universe pageant. See how she hasn’t aged a bit!

Is there no end to Selena Gomez’s talents? Hit songs? Check! Hit TV shows? Check! Pageant queen? Check — well, it looks that way from the photo she shared on Twitter, anyway! In it, little Gomez can be seen wearing a white ball gown and a tiara. And just look at the massive trophy the cutie is proudly clutching — it’s almost the size of her! 

Hilary Duff was the lead character in the TV series Lizzie McGuire when she was only 14. But she was a star long before that! Duff tweeted an adorable throwback snap of her beauty pageant days from when she was a youngster. She captioned the Tweet, “There are so many things wrong with this,” and while we kind of agree — the massive pink feather boa is a bit much — we still think she looks very sweet!

Broadcast journalist Gretchen Carlson has brought us the day's news on multiple shows, including The Early Show and Fox & Friends. But she also has a couple of beauty pageant titles under her belt! In 1988, she became Miss Minnesota, going on to take the title of Miss America the following year. And here’s a fun fact for you: she was the very first classical violist judges had voted as their number one! In her position as chairwoman for the Miss America Organization, Carlson switched the swimwear contest to interviews to change the emphasis from looks to life goals. What an icon!

Actress Delta Burke is perhaps most well known for her role as Suzanne Sugarbaker in Designing Women. And it seems her achievements were written in the stars. At high school, Burke was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” And she’s certainly done very well on the pageant circuit, too! The star was crowned Orlando State Miss Flame, for example, and in 1974 she became the youngest ever Miss Florida. Success? Tick!

Aishwarya Rai is one of India’s greatest actresses. Her work has seen her receive awards including India’s Padma Shri and France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. But her list of accolades doesn’t end there! In 1994 the gorgeous actress was crowned Miss World. Rai impressed judges when she said that Miss World should have “Compassion for the underprivileged, and not only for the people who have status and stature.” Beautiful on the inside and out!

Actress and singer Demi Lovato was catapulted to fame through films such as Camp Rock. But they also took part in beauty pageants when they were growing up. Mind you, the experience doesn’t seem to have given them happy memories. “My self-esteem was completely damaged from those beauty pageants,” Lovato said in her YouTube docuseries Dancing with the Devil.

Blake Shelton’s debut track, Austin, held onto the top spot of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for over a month. But his mom recognized his talent way before this. “My mom would enter me into pageants. Literally pageants...so I could sing in the talent portion,” Shelton told Kelly Clarkson on her talk show.

Shakira Caine, or Shakira Baksh as she was known, has starred in a handful of movies, including Some Girls Do and Son of Dracula. Yet it was her appearance in a 1971 Maxwell House Coffee commercial that really changed her life. The actor Michael Caine saw it and thought Baksh was simply stunning. And two years later, the pair were wed! But it wasn’t just Caine who was wowed by her beauty. The budding star was a runner-up in Miss Guyana, and in 1967 the then-19-year-old got third place in Miss World.

Before Justin Timberlake was the king of pop that he is today, he collected an astonishing six trophies at 1992’s International Supreme King competition. And the rest, as they say, is history. The next year, JT got involved in The Mickey Mouse Club at the age of 12. He really is a born superstar!

Sushmita Sen is a Bollywood legend. She was awarded Best Supporting Actress by Filmfare for her role in Biwi No. 1. And in 1994 Sen was named Femina Miss India. That same year, she made history by becoming the first contestant from India to be crowned Miss Universe. During the pageant, Sen was asked, “What for you is the essence of being a woman?” The actress replied, "Just being a woman is a gift of God that all of us must appreciate. The origin of a child is a mother, who is a woman.” Wow!

Television mogul Oprah Winfrey has had a stunning career in broadcasting. The Oprah Winfrey Show had an astonishing run from 1986 until 2011 and has the best ratings of all time when compared to other daytime talk shows. Way back in 1973, when Oprah was only 19, she became the first black woman to read the news on TV in Nashville. And the year before that? Well, she was Miss Black Tennessee, of course! We wouldn’t expect anything less! But you don't have to be a beauty queen to be beautiful, as these Hollywood stars prove.

Following her long stint as the icy blonde dragon tamer in Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke chose to return to her brunette roots. Either way, she's a total knockout — and a beautiful badass.

Zoe Saldana is so lovely that she is even beautiful when her skin is painted green. Yep, that's the stunning Saldana as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy. The multi-talented star has also been a digitized blue character in Avatar!

In the 1990s, Meg Ryan was America's sweetheart, and it's not hard to see why. Her quintessential girl-next-door looks made her everyone's biggest crush. If anyone deserves a comeback in the 2020s, it's our girl Meg!

Margot Robbie's beauty is undeniable whether she's chewing scenery as Harley Quinn or wowing the Academy as Tonya Harding. She's a natural talent, and we look forward to her every appearance on camera.

Taraji P. Henson is gorgeous with a fantastic personality to boot. When Access Hollywood asked her about her internet-breaking look at the 2021 Met Gala, Henson said, "There is nothing wrong with butt cleavage as long as it's waxed!" And who could argue with that?

As a natural on both stage and screen, Catherine Zeta-Jones transcends theatrical mediums. Sure, it doesn't hurt that she's very easy on the eyes — but not everyone has an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Tony, and a Screen Actors Guild award.

As the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz, Zoë Kravitz made her own name in no time through her acting career. We'll next see her in The Batman as Catwoman, too. So her unreal beauty is just the cherry on top.

Actress-turned-royal Meghan Markle has had a pretty intense time since she married Prince Harry in 2018. But the constant press coverage has not detracted from her beauty. She could easily have been queen material.

The '70s wouldn't have been the '70s without Farrah Fawcett and her highly coveted and feathered hairstyle. Not to mention that swimsuit poster. She is — and forever will be — the quintessential screen stunner.

This Spanish actress and model radiates beauty and has ever since she first broke out in 1991's Jamón, Jamón. Funnily enough, she actually worked with Javier Bardem on that movie — yet the pair didn't start dating until 2007. They've been married since 2010.

Best known for being Federico Fellini's muse in La Dolce Vita, Anita Ekberg had her biggest successes in Italian films. But before she was big in Europe, Ekberg was a favorite of gossip mag Confidential and a popular 1950s pin-up.

In addition to being beautiful, Jessica Chastain is an outspoken and powerful feminist. She told the Daily Mail in September 2021 that her husband finds it sexy that she earns more money than he does!

Known as having "earthy femininity," Ava Gardner tried her hardest to be more than just a sex symbol. But her much-publicized marriage to Frank Sinatra and her radiant beauty proved too powerful to overcome. Still, her true fans know that she had talent to burn.

Charlize Theron has taken on many iconic roles in the Hollywood repertoire. In front of the camera, her Oscar-winning turn in Monster proves she's got the talent to have a long-lasting career. And behind the scenes, she's also produced a handful of box-office hits. She's a force to be reckoned with.

Kate Winslet's so lovely that we can forgive her for letting Leo DiCaprio freeze to death in Titanic. Especially if she keeps giving us staggering performances such as her one in Mare of Easttown. It's that British charm!

Eva Mendes is married to Ryan Gosling, who also happens to be one of the most beautiful people on the planet. Mendes is currently raising their two, undoubtedly equally beautiful, children. It's been seven years since Mendes starred in a movie... and we're still talking about her!

This pin-up model and actress got the nickname "sweater girl" due to her uncanny ability to fill out any old granny sweater. Lana Turner's classic look captivated audiences of the 1940s and '50s — and has ensured she'll live long in the public's imagination.

This British actress is known for her personality as well as her beauty. Yep, Kate Beckinsale seems like she could be your cool best friend. An uncommonly gorgeous best friend, but still. Just check out her appearance on The Graham Norton Show — you won't regret it.

Rachel McAdams won everyone's hearts with a tear-inducing performance in The Notebook. But this natural beauty has gone on to breathe life into everything from Spotlight to Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. And no, she doesn't have man shoulders!

As a lawyer and activist, Amal Clooney is equal parts beauty and brains. It's no wonder she was the one who finally made George Clooney give up the bachelor life. Who wouldn't want to settle down with her?

Sure, Elizabeth Taylor had a lot of husbands. But can you blame them? Her classic beauty and talent as an actress make her a no-brainer as one of the most beautiful women of all time.

There's nothing better than a strong brunette, and Sandra Bullock fits the bill perfectly. She's extremely likable and genuine, not letting a successful career in acting change her. Need to know more? Bullock has also donated at least $5 million to the American Red Cross.

At only 29 years old, Laura Harrier easily makes this list. She's a model and actress and quite simply one of the most lovely people to grace the planet. The one million people who follow her on Instagram will no doubt agree!

As a classic cool girl, Jennifer Aniston has a reputation as chill and laid back... while still being stupendously beautiful. Her natural look makes her the envy of many. “I inherited good skin from my dad,” she confessed to the LA Times in 2019.

Naomi Campbell's been modeling since she was only 15 years old. At one time, she was one of the most highly demanded models of the '80s and '90s. One glance at Naomi Campbell and it's easy to see why.

As an Academy Award-winning actress with a humble and down-to-earth personality, Emma Stone is as accessible as she is lovely. But even though we love Stone as a redhead, did you know that the star is naturally blonde? Crazy!

Julie Andrews' talent is matched only by her beauty. This British songbird, best known for The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins, remains as lovely as ever to this day. And did we mention that voice? Ay carumba!

Not only is Reese Witherspoon gorgeous, but she's also one of the most charming and endearing celebs out there. Her teenage daughter looks like her younger clone, too. Those are some great genes.

She's easily secured her position as a top actress, and now Keira Knightley can brag about being one of the most beautiful women in the world. But that wouldn't be very British of her, so she probably won't.

This classic beauty is known for her unique voice and a look that could kill. Lauren Bacall's eyes were so beautiful, she landed one of Hollywood's favorite leading men: Humphrey Bogart. Their marriage was one for the ages.

Now she's often remembered for her tragic death, but during her time Natalie Wood was one of the most beautiful actresses around. You can't watch West Side Story without being blown away by her mesmerizing Maria.

This French siren was known as one of the first sex symbols of the 1950s. Brigitte Bardot's modeling and acting career ensured that her beauty was well documented, too. She was even the subject of an essay by Simone de Beauvoir!

Not only is Natalie Portman insanely gorgeous, but she also graduated from Harvard. Yep, Portman has an Oscar and a bachelor's degree in psychology. With people like her in the world, there's no hope for the rest of us.

Jennifer Lopez is known for being suspiciously ageless even after 30 years in the spotlight. Her beauty secrets involve simple things such as drinking water and moisturizing. Sounds too simple to be true!

Nicole Kidman's beautiful in such an ethereal and untouchable way, but she's actually known to be extremely friendly. She even earned the title of "Citizen of the World" because of her work with UNICEF. Keith Urban is one lucky guy!

Actress-turned-director Olivia Wilde is known for being ridiculously gorgeous. Wilde's eyes are basically mesmerizing, making her an easy contender for this list. Her directorial debut, Booksmart, is pretty good, too.

This Mexican-American actress is somehow in her mid-50s. Yet Salma Hayek doesn't look a day past 25! No one should be allowed to be this pretty and talented. Her humanitarian work is inspiring as well!

As the most glamorous actress of the 1940s, Rita Hayworth earned the title "The Love Goddess." She starred in over 60 films in addition to being a sought-after pin-up girl for WWII GIs.

This striking actress just makes sense near the top of the list. Lupita Nyong'o is insanely talented and kind, just to add to her great qualities. In 2019, for example, she blew audiences' minds in Us and then became the WildAid "Champion of the Year."

Angelina Jolie's known for her signature lips. But, if you take a moment to inspect the rest of her face, you'll come to the conclusion that Jolie's close to perfect. She's just as well known for her philanthropy away from the screen, too.

With an acting career spanning over multiple decades, Michelle Pfeiffer has landed some iconic roles. Most memorable? It has to be Tony Montana's girlfriend in Scarface. That or Grease 2.

It doesn't seem to matter if her hair is short or long, brunette or blonde, Scarlett Johansson is always stunning. Her ability to rock every look makes her an easy member of the top ten and an even better actress.

As she slowly but surely progresses to becoming queen of the free world, Beyoncé only seems to get more beautiful as the years go on. In 2020 she was one of Time's women who defined the past 100 years — which is fair enough.

This perfectly poised actress was a rare beauty destined for much more than stardom. Grace Kelly became the Princess of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier III in 1956, and it's not hard to imagine her catching his eye.

"I don't understand why people see me as beautiful," commented Audrey Hepburn. Maybe that's the secret to becoming one of the most beautiful women to have ever lived. Hepburn's timeless beauty is irreplaceable. So who managed to pip her to the number one spot?

As one of the original sex symbols, Marilyn Monroe's spot on this list makes perfect sense. There aren't too many people who would argue that this blonde bombshell shouldn't be at number one. And while Monroe was known for her looks and a ditzy blonde persona, she was actually a woman with more depth and intelligence than she was credited for.