18 Iconic Women Whose Careers Began As Beauty Queens

Published on 08/18/2021
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NOW: Eva Longoria

Longoria’s acting career would be kickstarted by a talent contest that led her to move to Los Angeles. It didn’t take long before a theatrical agent came across her and quickly had her signing a contract. She would continue to audition for parts while headhunting for a period that lasted four years. Longoria’s biggest role would come in the early 2000s when she landed the role of Gabrielle Solis in the domestic drama series, Desperate Housewives.

NOW Eva Longoria

NOW Eva Longoria

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THEN: Olivia Culpo

Next up we have our youngest contestant on this list so far with Olivia Culpo, who was born on May 8, 1992, in Cranston, Rhode Island. Olivia attended St. Mary Academy – Bay View. When she graduated from school she enrolled at Boston University, but would not end up graduating. She would find far more success in pageantry than academia, however. When she won the Miss Rhode Island USA pageant in 2012, which was an especially impressive win, seeing as it was her first. She also won Miss USA in the same year.

THEN Olivia Culpo

THEN Olivia Culpo

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