From Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Sushmita Sen and Priyanka Chopra, many celebrities have participated in beauty pageants before they became known in their respective careers. We take a look at some of the celebs who were once crowned as beauty queens.
Jacqueline Fernandes
Jacqueline Fernandez won the Miss Sri Lanka Universe pageant of 2006. While on a modelling assignment in India in 2009, she got an offer to join Bollywood. She made her Bollywood debut in Sujoy Ghosh’s Aladin opposite Riteish Deshmukh.
Priyanka Chopra
In 2000, Priyanka Chopra was crowned as the most beautiful woman in the world at the Miss World pageant held at the Millennium Dome, London. An aspiring engineer, Priyanka decided to be a part of the Indian film industry and played prominent roles in several Bollywood films. Currently, she is playing the role of Alex Parrish in the ABC drama Quantico (2015– Present).
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Aishwarya Rai dropped out of college in the early 90s to pursue a career in modelling. She won the title of Miss World in 1994. Aishwarya made her acting debut with the 1997 Tamil film Iruvar. Her Bollywood debut was also in the same year opposite Bobby Deol in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya.
Sushmita Sen
Sushmita Sen started off by winning the title of Femina Miss India, when she was a teenager. In the year 1994, she made India proud by winning the prestigious Miss Universe title. After her reign as Miss Universe, Sushmita decided to join Bollywood. She made her Bollywood debut in 1996 in the movie Dastak.
Lara Dutta
Lara Dutta was a renowned model. In 1995, she became the winner of the Gladrags Megamodel contest. In 2000, Lara went on to become the second Indian to receive the title of Miss Universe. She made her debut in Bollywood with the film Andaaz opoosite Akshay Kumar.
Dia Mirza
Dia Mirza started working as a marketing executive for a media firm while studying in college. Simultaneously she started off modelling for TV and print commercials. Dia won the title of Miss Asia Pacific in the year 2000. After that she made her Bollywood debut in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein opposite R. Madhavan.
Gal Gadot
Gadot is known for her several talents, including a passion for biking. She won the Miss Israel title in 2004 and went on to represent her country at the 2004 Miss Universe beauty pageant. Her most notable performance has been her role of Gisele in the “The Fast and the Furious” series.
Katy Perry
Perry won a beauty pageant title when she was a kid. The former beauty queen was a singer at the church during her schooldays and pursued a career in gospel music as a teenager. Today, she is one of the most well-known pop singers in the world, and has also received a Prime time Emmy Award nomination for her 2015 Super Bowl performance.
Juhi Chawla
Juhi started off her career as a model and was a reckoned face back in the days. She was crowned Miss India in the year 1984, following which she made her acting debut in the year 1986 in the movie, Sultanat. She, however, received much acclaim with the super success of her movie, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in the year 1988, opposite Aamir Khan.
Halle Berry
Berry took part in several beauty contests in the 1980s and was crowned Miss Teen All American and Miss Ohio USA in 1985 and 1986, respectively. Subsequently, she took part in the 1986 Miss USA contest and was declared the runner-up. In 2002, she became the first African-American actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the movie “Monster’s Ball” (2001).
Sharon Stone
While being a student at Edinboro University, Stone participated in Miss Pennsylvania as Miss Crawford County. On the suggestion of one of the pageant judges, she left her school to pursue a career in modeling. Today, she is one of the most well-known faces in Hollywood, known for her roles in movies such as “Basic Instinct” (1992) and “Casino” (1995) for which she received an Academy Award nomination.
Ali Landry
American actress Ali Landry won her first pageant in 1990 when she clinched the title of Miss Louisiana Teen USA. Six years later, she competed in the Miss Louisiana USA title and became the first former Miss Louisiana Teen USA to win the title. The same year, Landry was also crowned Miss USA and went on to represent her country at the Miss Universe contest, where she was eliminated after judges’ question round. Since then she has made a number of television appearances, including her portrayal of Rita Lefleur in the sitcom “Eve” (2003–2006).
Gul Panag
Gul Panag started her career as a model and won the Miss India contest in 1999. Gul made her debut in Hindi films in the year 2003, with the film Dhoop.
Zeenat Aman
Zeenat Aman won the Miss Asia Pacific 1970 title. Her most prominent ad campaign was the Pond’s 7 day to better complexion. She began her career in Bollywood by doing a small role in O.P. Ralhan’s Hulchul.
Diane Sawyer
In 1963, Sawyer won the annual national America’s Junior Miss scholarship pageant. She remained America’s Junior Miss from 1962 to 1965. Sawyer is a well-known face of American television journalism, having anchored ABC’s flagship program “ABC World News.” She was also one of the staff members at the White House during the term of President Richard Nixon.
Dayanara Torres
Torres was invited to participate in the Miss Puerto Rico pageant at the age of 17. She represented her country at the 1993 Miss Universe Pageant, which she eventually won. She also participated in the Miss International pageant and reached till the semi-final stage of the contest. The same year, she stood second at the Queen of the World contest. Torres is now an accomplished singer, actress, model and a writer. She is also the brand ambassador for UNICEF.
Sophia Bush
At the age of 17, Bush was named as the Tournament of Roses Parade Queen. Today, she is an accomplished actress, director, a spokesperson and an activist. She is most famous for her role as Brooke Davis in the television series “One Tree Hill” (2003-2012). Bush has also appeared in several movies such as “John Tucker Must Die” (2006), “The Hitcher” (2007) and “The Narrows” (2008).
Michelle Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer won the Miss Orange County pageant in 1978 and went on to participate in Miss California contest the same year where she finished sixth. She is best known for her role in “Dangerous Liaisons” (1988), “The Fabulous Baker Boys” (1989), and “Love Field” (1992), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.
Lucy Lawless
Lawless won the 1989 Mrs. New Zealand competition at the age of 21 and is best known for her role in the internationally successful series “Xena: Warrior Princess” (1995–2001).
Mary Hart
Hart was crowned Miss South Dakota in 1970 and was a semi-finalist in the 1971 Miss America pageant. Later, she went on to host the famous American gossip and entertainment round-up program “Entertainment Tonight” from 1982 to 2011.
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria was crowned as Miss Corpus Christi, U.S., in 1998 while pursuing Bachelor of Science in kinesiology at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She is an accomplished television actress, producer, director, activist and a businesswoman. Longoria is most recognized for her role in the television series “Desperate Housewives” (2004–2012).
Barbara Eden
Known for playing the famous role of Jeannie in the sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie” (1965–1970), Eden was crowned as Miss San Francisco while studying theater at the City College of San Francisco. She then went on to participate in the Miss California contest. Eden was nominated twice for the Golden Globe award for her role in “I Dream of Jeannie.”
Sophia Loren
Loren participated in Miss Italia contest in 1950 and was selected as one of the finalists. The contest proved to be a stepping stone for her future career in films. Loren went on to become one of the most famous actresses of all time, and also received her first Academy Award in 1962 for her performance in an Italian movie, “La ciociara” (1960). In 1991, she was given an honorary Academy Award for her contributions to the film industry.
Sarah Palin
The former Governor of Alaska was a multi-talented student who vice-captained her school basketball team and helped it win the Alaska State Championship. She was also a member of the cross-country running team and was head of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In 1984, she finished third in Miss Alaska pageant in which she participated as Miss Wasilla. Today, she is an American politician, a commentator and an author.
Oprah Winfrey
The billionaire talk show queen was crowned Miss Black Tennessee at the age of 17. Following her title victory, she was hired by a local radio station to do part-time news. Four decade later, Winfrey became one of the most popular faces on American television as the host of her talk show “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (1986–2011).
Vanessa Williams
Williams became the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1984. However, she relinquished the title after Penthouse magazine published her unauthorized nude photographs. A well-known film and theater actress, Williams has also appeared on various TV shows, including “Ugly Betty” (2006–2010), “Desperate Housewives” (2004–2012), and “The Mindy Project” (2012– Present).