"Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot is just one of several Hollywood stars who got her start in beauty pageants.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Future "Designing Women" star Delta Burke, then 17, was crowned 1974 Miss Florida and later represented her state in the Miss America pageant. Burke (seen here in 2010) won a talent scholarship from the Miss America organization, allowing her to attend a two-year study program at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Ali Landry, best known as the "Doritos Girl" from her 1998 Super Bowl commercial, found great success in beauty pageants starting in 1990, when she was crowned Miss Louisiana Teen USA. In 1995, Landry won the 1996 Miss Louisiana USA title and went on to win the 1996 Miss USA pageant.
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, who appeared on "Saved by the Bell" and in "Billy Madison," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and "Mortal Kombat" and is married to former tennis great Pete Sampras, was crowned Miss Teen USA in 1990.
A participant in pageants through her childhood, "Saved by the Bell" star Tiffani Amber Thiessen was crowned Miss Junior America in 1987 at the age of 13 and a year later won Teen magazine's "Great Model Search."
While growing up in Meadville, Pennsylvania, "Basic Instinct" star Sharon Stone won the title of Miss Crawford County in 1976, and was a candidate for Miss Pennsylvania. One of the pageant's judges suggested she leave school to pursue a modeling career in New York City. The following year she did so and the rest is history.
In 1984, future Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won the Miss Wasilla beauty pageant and finished third in the Miss Alaska pageant.
While a student at La Jolla High School, Raquel Tejada won the Fairest of the Fair beauty pageant at the San Diego County Fair in 1958. She later gained fame as actress Raquel Welch, but not before winning the Miss San Diego contest and placing second in the Miss Southern California pageant.
She failed to make it to the finals, but Kim Basinger was an America's Junior Miss contender from Georgia in 1971 before going onto an acting career that would earn her an Academy Award for "L.A. Confidential."
Michelle Pfeiffer was crowned Miss Orange County in 1978, and participated in the Miss California beauty pageant the same year, finishing in sixth place.
Cloris Leachman, best known for her TV roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," its spin-off "Phyllis" and "Raising Hope" as well as movie roles in such films as "The Last Picture Show" and "Young Frankenstein," competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Chicago in 1946.
"Entertainment Tonight" co-anchor Nancy O'Dell, then known as Nancy Humphries, was crowned Miss South Carolina in 1987 and went on to represent the state at the Miss America pageant in 1988. Two years later, she competed in Miss South Carolina USA 1990 and finished as first runner-up.
Lucy Lawless, who rose to fame as the "Warrior Princess" Xena and has since starred on "Battlestar Galactica" and "Spartacus," was crowned Miss New Zealand in 1989.
At the age of 17, Sophia Bush, who would go onto fame on the TV show "One Tree Hill," was named the 2000 Tournament of Roses Parade Queen.
"Wheel of Fortune" letter-turner Vanna White finished as the fourth runner-up in the Miss Georgia Universe competition in 1978.
Jeri Ryan is perhaps best known as playing Seven of Nine on "Star Trek: Voyager," but prior to being the dream date of male Trekkies worldwide, she competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Illinois in 1990, finishing as the third runner-up.
Country singer Kellie Pickler won the 2004 Miss Stanly County Pageant at age 17 and was the youngest competitor at the Miss North Carolina pageant that same year.
Debra Messing, who would go on to star in "Will and Grace" and "Smash," represented Rhode Island at the 1986 Junior Miss pageant.
Former "Entertainment Tonight" host Mary Hart competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss South Dakota in 1970, and finished in the top 10.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Future "Designing Women" star Delta Burke, then 17, was crowned 1974 Miss Florida and later represented her state in the Miss America pageant. Burke (seen here in 2010) won a talent scholarship from the Miss America organization, allowing her to attend a two-year study program at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Ali Landry, best known as the "Doritos Girl" from her 1998 Super Bowl commercial, found great success in beauty pageants starting in 1990, when she was crowned Miss Louisiana Teen USA. In 1995, Landry won the 1996 Miss Louisiana USA title and went on to win the 1996 Miss USA pageant.
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, who appeared on "Saved by the Bell" and in "Billy Madison," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and "Mortal Kombat" and is married to former tennis great Pete Sampras, was crowned Miss Teen USA in 1990.
A participant in pageants through her childhood, "Saved by the Bell" star Tiffani Amber Thiessen was crowned Miss Junior America in 1987 at the age of 13 and a year later won Teen magazine's "Great Model Search."
While growing up in Meadville, Pennsylvania, "Basic Instinct" star Sharon Stone won the title of Miss Crawford County in 1976, and was a candidate for Miss Pennsylvania. One of the pageant's judges suggested she leave school to pursue a modeling career in New York City. The following year she did so and the rest is history.
In 1984, future Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won the Miss Wasilla beauty pageant and finished third in the Miss Alaska pageant.
While a student at La Jolla High School, Raquel Tejada won the Fairest of the Fair beauty pageant at the San Diego County Fair in 1958. She later gained fame as actress Raquel Welch, but not before winning the Miss San Diego contest and placing second in the Miss Southern California pageant.
She failed to make it to the finals, but Kim Basinger was an America's Junior Miss contender from Georgia in 1971 before going onto an acting career that would earn her an Academy Award for "L.A. Confidential."
Michelle Pfeiffer was crowned Miss Orange County in 1978, and participated in the Miss California beauty pageant the same year, finishing in sixth place.
Cloris Leachman, best known for her TV roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," its spin-off "Phyllis" and "Raising Hope" as well as movie roles in such films as "The Last Picture Show" and "Young Frankenstein," competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Chicago in 1946.
"Entertainment Tonight" co-anchor Nancy O'Dell, then known as Nancy Humphries, was crowned Miss South Carolina in 1987 and went on to represent the state at the Miss America pageant in 1988. Two years later, she competed in Miss South Carolina USA 1990 and finished as first runner-up.
Lucy Lawless, who rose to fame as the "Warrior Princess" Xena and has since starred on "Battlestar Galactica" and "Spartacus," was crowned Miss New Zealand in 1989.
At the age of 17, Sophia Bush, who would go onto fame on the TV show "One Tree Hill," was named the 2000 Tournament of Roses Parade Queen.
"Wheel of Fortune" letter-turner Vanna White finished as the fourth runner-up in the Miss Georgia Universe competition in 1978.
Jeri Ryan is perhaps best known as playing Seven of Nine on "Star Trek: Voyager," but prior to being the dream date of male Trekkies worldwide, she competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Illinois in 1990, finishing as the third runner-up.
Country singer Kellie Pickler won the 2004 Miss Stanly County Pageant at age 17 and was the youngest competitor at the Miss North Carolina pageant that same year.
Debra Messing, who would go on to star in "Will and Grace" and "Smash," represented Rhode Island at the 1986 Junior Miss pageant.
Former "Entertainment Tonight" host Mary Hart competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss South Dakota in 1970, and finished in the top 10.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Before she was an actress, "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot got her start by winning the title of 2004 Miss Israel at the age of 18. She also went on to compete in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. Not only is Gadot not the first Hollywood star to get her start in beauty pageants, but she's also not the first Wonder Woman actress to do so.
Future "Designing Women" star Delta Burke, then 17, was crowned 1974 Miss Florida and later represented her state in the Miss America pageant. Burke (seen here in 2010) won a talent scholarship from the Miss America organization, allowing her to attend a two-year study program at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Ali Landry, best known as the "Doritos Girl" from her 1998 Super Bowl commercial, found great success in beauty pageants starting in 1990, when she was crowned Miss Louisiana Teen USA. In 1995, Landry won the 1996 Miss Louisiana USA title and went on to win the 1996 Miss USA pageant.
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, who appeared on "Saved by the Bell" and in "Billy Madison," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and "Mortal Kombat" and is married to former tennis great Pete Sampras, was crowned Miss Teen USA in 1990.
A participant in pageants through her childhood, "Saved by the Bell" star Tiffani Amber Thiessen was crowned Miss Junior America in 1987 at the age of 13 and a year later won Teen magazine's "Great Model Search."
While growing up in Meadville, Pennsylvania, "Basic Instinct" star Sharon Stone won the title of Miss Crawford County in 1976, and was a candidate for Miss Pennsylvania. One of the pageant's judges suggested she leave school to pursue a modeling career in New York City. The following year she did so and the rest is history.
In 1984, future Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won the Miss Wasilla beauty pageant and finished third in the Miss Alaska pageant.
While a student at La Jolla High School, Raquel Tejada won the Fairest of the Fair beauty pageant at the San Diego County Fair in 1958. She later gained fame as actress Raquel Welch, but not before winning the Miss San Diego contest and placing second in the Miss Southern California pageant.
She failed to make it to the finals, but Kim Basinger was an America's Junior Miss contender from Georgia in 1971 before going onto an acting career that would earn her an Academy Award for "L.A. Confidential."
Michelle Pfeiffer was crowned Miss Orange County in 1978, and participated in the Miss California beauty pageant the same year, finishing in sixth place.
Cloris Leachman, best known for her TV roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," its spin-off "Phyllis" and "Raising Hope" as well as movie roles in such films as "The Last Picture Show" and "Young Frankenstein," competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Chicago in 1946.
"Entertainment Tonight" co-anchor Nancy O'Dell, then known as Nancy Humphries, was crowned Miss South Carolina in 1987 and went on to represent the state at the Miss America pageant in 1988. Two years later, she competed in Miss South Carolina USA 1990 and finished as first runner-up.
Lucy Lawless, who rose to fame as the "Warrior Princess" Xena and has since starred on "Battlestar Galactica" and "Spartacus," was crowned Miss New Zealand in 1989.
At the age of 17, Sophia Bush, who would go onto fame on the TV show "One Tree Hill," was named the 2000 Tournament of Roses Parade Queen.
"Wheel of Fortune" letter-turner Vanna White finished as the fourth runner-up in the Miss Georgia Universe competition in 1978.
Jeri Ryan is perhaps best known as playing Seven of Nine on "Star Trek: Voyager," but prior to being the dream date of male Trekkies worldwide, she competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Illinois in 1990, finishing as the third runner-up.
Country singer Kellie Pickler won the 2004 Miss Stanly County Pageant at age 17 and was the youngest competitor at the Miss North Carolina pageant that same year.
Debra Messing, who would go on to star in "Will and Grace" and "Smash," represented Rhode Island at the 1986 Junior Miss pageant.
Former "Entertainment Tonight" host Mary Hart competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss South Dakota in 1970, and finished in the top 10.
