16 Celebs You Didn't Know Were Once Beauty Pageant Queens

By Isabel Jones
Updated Sep 04, 2018 @ 4:45 pm
Credit: Photo Illustration: Getty Images, Shutterstock, Splash News

Miss America 2019 (which, yes, is happening in 2018) is right around the corner, and with it your annual excuse to watch Miss Congeniality judgment-free.

Though the nature of the competition has changed a lot through the last 98 years (this will be the first year without a swimsuit contest component), the gist of it remains the same: tiaras, evening gowns, and a universal desire for world peace. No matter what you think of beauty pageantry, there’s no denying that these competitions give young women a platform. Many pageant queens go on to do great things (ahem, Oprah, Diane Sawyer … ).

VIDEO: Miss America Is Ditching Its Swimsuit Competition

Scroll down below to see 16 women who made the transition from pageant contestant to celebrity.

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Katy Perry

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Katy (or, uh, JonBenét, if you drink the Kool Aid), competed in pageants as a child.

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Priyanka Chopra

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Before she stepped onto the Bollywood scene, Chopra was a star in a different galaxy: that of pageantry. At 18, the Quantico actress's career received a jumpstart when she earned the title of Miss World 2000. 

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Michelle Pfeiffer

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The future three-time Oscar nominee earned her crown as Miss Orange County in 1978. 

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Eva Longoria

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The future Desperate Housewife got her start as Miss Corpus Christi in 1998. 

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Britney Spears

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Before the Mickey Mouse Club, Brit was a local pageant queen — she began competing at just 3 years old. 

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Oprah Winfrey

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The talkshow queen-in-training earned the title of Miss Black Tennessee in 1971. 

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7 of 16

Halle Berry 

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The Oscar winner wore the title of Miss Ohio before competing (and placing sixth) in Miss World in 1986. 

8 of 16

Sophia Loren

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The Italian screen siren competed in 1950's Miss Italy contest, earning the title of Miss Elegance. 

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Lynda Carter

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Just four years before she'd be known as the face of Wonder Woman, Carter was better known as Miss World USA 1972. 

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Vanessa Williams

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Williams made history as the first African American to win Miss America in 1984, though a nude photo scandal forced her to relinquish her crown before her reign had ended. 

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Diane Sawyer

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The longtime TV journalist earned the title of America's Junior Miss in 1962. 

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Sarah Palin

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After earning the title of Miss Wasilla, the future politician went on to win third in the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant. 

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Olivia Culpo

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The occasional actress and model broke onto the scene when was crowned Miss Universe in 2012. 

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Gal Gadot

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Like her Wonder Woman predecessor, Gadot got her start in pageantry. She represented her country in the 2004 Miss Universe competition as Miss Israel. 

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Selena Gomez

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Sel's the most adorable pageant winner we've ever seen — the trophy's bigger than she is!

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Debra Messing

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The future Will & Grace star was Rhode Island's Junior Miss in 1986. 

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By Isabel Jones