Stunning Celebrities We Totally Forgot Started Out As Beauty Queens

The world of pageants is steeped in glitz and glam. Tiaras and ballgowns, bouquets and jewels — it’s not for the faint-hearted. But did you know that some of your favorite celebrities actually started out as pageant queens and kings? It makes sense when you think about it! From high school and state contests to Miss World and Miss Universe, we take a look at the stars who’ve thrown on a sash and strutted up the runway.

Lynda Carter

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! 

Michelle Pfeiffer

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 

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!

Vanna White 

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!