Diane Sawyer Then
Diane Sawyer is best known as the former news anchor for ABC World News. However, you might not be aware of the fact that she was the 1963 Junior Miss scholarship pageant representative for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She came in first place, winning the scholarship.
Diane Sawyer Then
Diane Sawyer Now
Diane Sawyer has since became one of the most famous journalists in the industry. She is known by millions of viewers and in 1997, she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame for all of her accomplishments and contributions to the industry.
Diane Sawyer Now
Lynda Carter Then
In 1972, Lynda Carter was crowned Miss World USA, meaning she went on to represent the U.S. in the Miss World contest the next year. She did not end up winning Miss World, but she did go on to become very well known.
Lynda Carter Then
Lynda Carter Now
Lynda Carter became a household name when she appeared as Wonder Woman in the TV series of the same name that ran from the 1975 until 1979. In 2020, she appeared in Wonder Woman 1984, in which she played Asteria alongside Gal Gadot, who took over the role of Wonder Woman. She’ll reprise that role in Wonder Woman 3.
Lynda Carter Now
Michelle Pfeiffer Then
When Michelle Pfeiffer was just 19 years old, she competed in and also won the Miss Orange County contest that took place in 1978. She later competed in the Miss California contest, in which she came in third place.
Michelle Pfeiffer Then
Michelle Pfeiffer Now
After her stint in the pageantry world, Pfeiffer went on to become a very successful movie star. Her breakout role came in 1983 when she appeared in Scarface, and she would go on to appear in huge films like Batman Begins, What Lies Beneath, and Dangerous Liasons.
Michelle Pfeiffer Now
Vanna White Then
Vanna White first became known when she came in second place in the Miss Georgia pageant in 1978. She attended the Atlanta School of Fashion and Design and also found some work as a model.
Vanna White Then
Vanna White Now
In 1980, she began her career in the game show world, when she appeared as a contestant on The Price Is Right. She later landed the job of co-host on Wheel of Fortune in 1982. She has been working on the show ever since, and she has been awarded a star on the Hollwood Walk of Fame in 2006.
Vanna White Now
Vanessa Williams Then
Vanessa Williams was crowned Miss Syracuse and then Miss New York in 1983. In 1984 she became known for becoming the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America.
Vanessa Williams Then
Vanessa Williams Now
After leaving the pageant world behind, Williams pursued a career in music and acting. She found major success in acting, winning several SAG and Emmy Awards throughout the years. She is best known for playing Wilhelmina Slater on the hit TV show Ugly Betty.
Vanessa Williams Now
Sarah Palin Then
Did you know that Sarah Palin was the 1984 Miss Wasilla pageant winner? She then continued to compete in the Miss Alaska contest that year, where she came in third place.
Sarah Palin Then
Sarah Palin Now
In 2008, Palin, who was Governor of Alaska, was named John McCain’s running mate in the Presidential Election. In 2014, she launched the Sarah Palin Channel, her own online news network.
Sarah Palin Now
Halle Berry Then
In the 1980’s, Halle Berry competed in several pageants and became Miss Teen All American in 1985 as well as Miss Ohio USA in 1986. She was the 1986 Miss USA first runner up. She also became the first African American Miss World entrant in 1986, where she placed in 6th place.
Halle Berry Then
Halle Berry Now
Halle Berry went on to become one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood. She became the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 2001 film Monster’s Ball.
Halle Berry Now
Eva Longoria Then
When Eva Longoria was a college student at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, she competed in and won the Miss Corpus Christi USA pageant competition. She later entered a talent contest that took her to Los Angeles and sparked her acting career.
Eva Longoria Then
Eva Longoria Now
After Longoria landed her first TV role in 1999, she made appearances in shows like Beverly Hills, 90210 and General Hospital. She became a household name when she landed the role of Gabrielle Solis on Desperate Housewaives, which ran from 2004 until 2012.
Eva Longoria Now
Olivia Culpo Then
Olivia Culpo became well known when she first won the Miss Rhole Island USA contest in 2012, which led her to compete in Miss USA, which she won in June 2012. She then represented the US in the Miss Universe Pageant in December 2012, which she also ended up winning.
Olivia Culpo Then
Olivia Culpo Now
Beyond the world of pageantry, Culpo has had success in becoming a social media personality with a large following on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. She frequently collaborates with fashion and beauty brands, and has modeled as well, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Olivia Culpo Now
Candice Bergen Then
While Candice Bergen was a student at the University of Pennsylvania, she was Homecoming Queen and also was crowned Miss University. She never ended up graduating, but she did pursue a modeling career that eventually led her to acting.
Candice Bergen Then
Candice Bergen Now
Bergen went on to have a very successful acting career, appearing in Murphy Brown as the title character from 1988 until 1998 and reprised the role in 2018 until 2019. She later starred as Shirley Schmidt in Boston Legal from 2005 until 2008 and many films as well.
Candice Bergen Now
Priyanka Chopra Then
Priyanka Chopra competed in the Femina Miss India competition in 2000, where she came in second place. She then won the Femina Miss India World contest, then the Miss World 2000 contest, and also the Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty – Asia & Oceana contests.
Priyanka Chopra Then
Priyanka Chopra Now
After winning all these titles, Chopra was offered many film roles. She starred in many Bollywood films and in 2015, she would break into the American film industry. She married musician Nick Jonas in 2018.
Priyanka Chopra Now
Michelle Yeoh Then
When Michelle Yeoh was just 20 years old in 1983, she won the Miss Malaysia pageant. She then went on to star in Hong Kong action films including Yes, Madam, Police Story 3: Supercop, and Holy Weapon.
Michelle Yeoh Then
Michelle Yeoh Now
After her continued success, she went on to star in major films like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha, Crazy Rich Asians, and Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings. She also stars as Philippa Georgiou in the Paramount+ series Star Trek.
Michelle Yeoh Now
Lee Meriwether Then
Lee Meriwether won the Miss San Francisco contest in 1954, which led her to compete in the 1954 Miss California competition, which she also won. She then competed in the 1955 Miss American contest, which she ended up winning.
Lee Meriwether Then
Lee Meriwether Now
After winning Miss America, she joined the Today show, which she worked on from 1955 until 1956. She went on to star in many movies and TV shows including Barnaby Jones, Batman, and The Time Tunnel. She also played Ruth Martin on All My Children.
Lee Meriwether Now
Vanessa Lachey Then
Vanessa Minnillo Lachey was crowned Miss South Carolina Teen USA in 1998, she then went on to win Miss Teen USA that same year. She was also named Miss Congeniality. She also hosted Miss Teen USA 2004 as well as Miss Universe 2007.
Vanessa Lachey Then
Vanessa Lachey Now
After pageantry, she went on to host MTV shows The Morning After and Total Request Live. She also worked as a New York City correspondent on Entertainment Tonight. She has had many acting roles on shows like City Girls, 30 Rock, The Bold and the Beautiful, and How I Met Your Mother.
Vanessa Lachey Now
Gal Gadot Then
When she was just 18 years old, Gal Gadot entered the 2004 Miss Israel competition on a whim, which she ended up winning. She said: “I never thought that I would win,” in an interview with Glamour magazine. She then competed in the 2004 Miss World contest. After that, completed her mandatory two years of military service, where she worked as a combat fitness instructor.
Gal Gadot Then
Gal Gadot Now
Gadot decided to pursue an acting career and she starred in 2008 Israeli TV show Bubot. She then landed the role of Gisele Yashar in the fourth installment Fast & Furious film franchise. She became a household name when she landed the role of Wonder Woman in 2016 in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and later in the standalone film counterpart, Wonder Woman.
Gal Gadot Now
Ali Landry Then
Ali Landry became Miss Louisiana Teen USA in 1990 and later won the 1990 Miss Teen USA contest. She also won the 1996 Miss Louisiana title. Landry also came in first in the 1996 Miss USA competition. She also competed in the 1996 Miss Universe pageant.
Ali Landry Then
Ali Landry Now
After the pageants, Landry pursued a career in modeling. She was the spokesperson for Doritos and appeared in commercials in the 1998, 1999, and 2000 Super Bowl games. She also competed on Fear Factor, which she ended up being runner up.
Ali Landry Now
Kenya Moore Then
Kenya Moore competed in and won the 1993 Miss Michigan USA contest. She then made history after becoming the second African American woman to win Miss USA. She came in 5th place in the 1993 Miss Universe competition where she represented the US.
Kenya Moore Then
Kenya Moore Now
Moore pursued ac acting career and had a myriad of guest roles on shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Meet the Browns, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Steve Harvey Show, and Under One Roof. She has appeared on many magazine covers including Seventeen, Glamour, Ebony, and Essence. She also appeared in many music videos. She is a cast member on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Kenya Moore Now
Sophia Loren Then
Sophia Loren competed in the 1950 Miss Italia pageant when she was just 15 years old. She won the title of Miss Elegance 1950. In 2001, she was president of the jury for the 61st edition of the same contest. She was crowned the 71st Miss Italia pageant winner.
Sophia Loren Then
Sophia Loren Now
Sophia Loren is best known for being a film icon, being named one of the greatest female stars of Classical Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute. She is the last surviving major star from the Golden Age of Hollywood as of 2022.
Sophia Loren Now
Oprah Winfrey Then
When she was just 17 years old, Oprah Winfrey competed in and won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant. She later won an oratory contest that helped her win a full scholarship to Tennessee State University.
Oprah Winfrey Then
Oprah Winfrey Now
Oprah Winfrey went on to become a powerhouse television personality as well as one of the wealthiest and most powerful Black women in the world. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1994. She has also won 18 Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2021, she became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Oprah Winfrey Now
Gretchen Carlson Then
In June 1988, Gretchen Carlson became Miss Minnesota. In 1989, she was crowned Miss America, becoming the first classical violinist to win the two titles. She made many TV show appearances after her win, including on The David Letterman Show.
Gretchen Carlson Then
Gretchen Carlson Now
After graduating from Stanford in 1990, she decided to forgo going to law school in order to pursue a career in journalism. She became a Fox & Friends anchor in 2006 alongside Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade. She then became one of the most prominent women to speak out in the early days of the Me Too Movement, helping bring down Roger Ailes, former Fox News Chairman.
Gretchen Carlson Now