9 Celebrities You Didn't Know Got Their Start As Beauty Queens

There is no clear path to the top for a celebrity, every celebrity in Hollywood had to start somewhere. Some make it on the runway by performing in commercials, appearing on reality TV, or knowing someone in the industry, while yet others begin as beauty pageant queens.
In fact, quite a few famous faces in Hollywood got their start on the pageant circuit. Among those marquee names: Oscar winner Halle Berry, who competed in a number of pageants in her home state of Ohio as a teen and young woman before landing her very first movie role, in Spike Lee’s 1991 film Jungle Fever. Among the titles she won before her big break, she has crowned Miss Ohio in 1986.
All of these celebrities have made their mark on the beauty pageant circuit, which might have given them the advantage to become as successful as they are today. Discover who won the crown and what they've been up to since (and while you're at it, you might want to learn more about the lives of other renowned faces, such as Oprah Winfrey, Vanessa Williams, and Halle Berry!)

#1 Halle Berry

Source: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock

Halle Berry had fewer superpowers than Storm in X-Men, but she was just as talented. In the 1980s, the Academy Award winner built up her name by competing in pageants. She was named Miss Teen All-American in 1985, Miss Ohio USA in 1986, and Miss USA first runner-up in 1986. She finished sixth in the Miss World contest.

#2 Britney Spears

Source: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

Britney Spears was winning trophies long before she sang the iconic song Toxic. The singer rose to prominence as a member of The New Mickey Mouse Club, alongside Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling. But before Disney, she was a kid in a tiara, competing in Louisiana pageants at the age of three. Unfortunately, she does not remember her beauty pageant days fondly.

#3 Vanessa Williams

Source: Shutterstock

Vanessa Williams is possibly the most well-known former pageant queen. She was named Miss America for the first time in 1983, but she was dethroned when nude images were published by Penthouse without her permission. But that didn't stop her from going on to have a long and successful career as an actress in iconic TV dramas such as Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives.

#4 Carrie Underwood

Source: Shutterstock/Tinseltown

Carrie Underwood competed for Miss Northeastern State University in 2003 before winning American Idol in 2005. Unfortunately, the country singer finished second at that time. The Oklahoma native graduated with a journalism degree and went on to have significant singles like Before He Cheats and Blown Away, so the loss was perhaps a gift in disguise for the country star.

#5 Oprah Winfrey

Source: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

Oprah Winfrey, talk show presenter, actress, and everyone's favorite interviewer, began her career as Miss Black Tennessee in 1971. Who would have guessed? According to her website, she won the title at the tender age of 17. Winning the pageant drew the attention of the local Black radio station, and she was recruited part-time to do the news during high school. She attributes her success as a beauty queen to laying the groundwork for her profession as a reporter.

#6 Michelle Pfeiffer

Source: Gorgeouspfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer appears to be the quintessential California girl and was even designated one in the 1970s. As a teenager, the Scarface actress won Miss Orange County in 1978 and went on to participate in Miss California before becoming an actress. In 2021, she posted a "Throwback Thursday" photo of herself from her pageant days with the statement, "Hey, we all gotta start somewhere." The 19-year-old is seen spinning in her sash in the collection.

#7 Priyanka Chopra

Source: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

Priyanka Chopra was Miss World before she became a famous actress and the bride of Jonas Brother. The actress won the pageant in 2000 and had previously competed for a number of smaller titles. "I'm so excited for her and hope this is the beginning of an incredible journey," she stated in a 2021 interview with Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu when Harnaaz won Miss India Universe.

#8 Tiffani Thiessen

Source: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

Tiffani Thiessen of Saved By the Bell won the Miss Junior America pageant before starring as Kelly Kapowski on the popular '90s show and winning Zack Morris' heart. She began her modeling career as a child, competing in the Miss Junior America pageant in 1987 before joining Teen Magazine's "Great Model Search" in 1988.

#9 Gal Gadot

Source: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock

Gal Gadot is both Wonder Woman and Miss Israel 2004. The Israeli model and actress went on to compete in Miss Universe. She then revealed to W Magazine that it was entirely her mother's idea. "I jumped in and never expected to win, but then I did, and it scared me. 'What?' I thought. Do you miss Israel? All the pressures of being Miss Israel?"
She went on to say, "I was quite mischievous. I wasn't behaving properly. I'm a really good person, but I was terrified of winning again because I didn't want to win the Miss Israel pageant and then I won, so I thought, 'Oh no, I don't want them to choose me again!' So I arrived late for all of the rehearsals, and I didn't dress appropriately for breakfast."