18 Iconic Women Whose Careers Began As Beauty Queens

Published on 08/18/2021
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NOW: Halle Berry

In the 90s, Berry began her acting career in earnest when she got her big break in the 1992 romantic comedy called Boomerang where she costarred with Eddie Murphy. She then featured in the 1994 family comedy called The Flintstones. Berry would continue appearing in mostly mild family comedies until 2001, when she shocked audiences with her revolutionary role in 2001’s Monster’s Ball. She would end up winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for the role, becoming the first woman of color to do so.

NOW Halle Berry

NOW Halle Berry

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THEN: Eva Longoria

Actress and producer Eva Longoria was a beauty pageant contestant years before she became an actress, and a highly successful one at that. Longoria is a Corpus Christi, Texas native and was born on March 15, 1975. After she graduated from high school and ended her enjoyable time waiting at Wendy’s, Longoria entered the Miss Corpus Christi beauty pageant in 1998, which she won. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from the Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

THEN Eva Longoria

THEN Eva Longoria

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