“From Crowns to Careers: Discover the Unexpected Journeys of These Beauty Queens Turned Icons!”
Sophia Loren
Italian actress Sophia Loren entered the Miss Italia pageant in 1950 under the name Sophia Lazzaro; she was 15 at the time. The Golden Age of Hollywood starlet won the title of Miss Elegance.
Of course, the Academy Award-winning actress is better known for her work in Hollywood than pageantry, starring in critically acclaimed films such as Marriage Italian Style, Two Women, and Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Candice Bergen
While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Candice Bergen was crowned Miss University, her only pageant credit. But that didn’t stop her from playing head pageant lady Kathy Morningside in Miss Congeniality in 2001, opposite Sandra Bullock.
Bergen is arguably best known for her title role in the 1980s-’90s sitcom Murphy Brown.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is now one of India’s highest-paid actresses, appearing in Bollywood films such as Andaaz, Aitraaz, Krrish, and Don. Before tackling Bollywood and then Hollywood, Chopra Jonas was a beauty queen.
She competed in iconic competitions such as Miss India and Miss World. Chopra Jonas won the crowns of both pageants.
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams is not only an 11-time Grammy Nominated artist, but she’s also a Tony Award-nominated Actress for the musical Into the Woods. The singer has numerous hit singles, including “Save the Best for Last.”
