Famous Pageant Winners

From Halle Berry to Oprah Winfrey - Famous Pageant Winners and Losers

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Oprah Winfrey - Miss Black Tennessee 1971

Before becoming an Emmy Award-winning television talk show host, Oprah Winfrey won the 1971 Miss Fire Prevention and Miss Black Tennessee titles. When asked what she would do with a million dollars, Winfrey delighted the judges when she blurted out, "I'd be a spending fool!" She competed in the Miss Black America Pageant, but failed to make the finals. Oprah began her career in broadcasting at Nashville's radio-WVOL while she was in high school.

At age, she became the youngest person and the first African-American woman to anchor the news at Nashville's WTVF-TV. In 1985, the A.M. Chicago Show which she hosted, was re-named The Oprah Winfrey Show - which became the highest rated talk show in television history. That year, she made her acting debut  as "Sofia" in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple.  She was nominated for both Academy Award® and Golden Globe honors.

In 1988, she started Harpo Studios, her production company, based in in Chicago, which now produces The Oprah Winfrey Show.

In 2000, Oprah and Hearst Magazines launched O, The Oprah Magazine, a monthly women's lifestyle magazine.

In 2006, she fulfilled her dream of  founding an elite private educational program for impoverished African girls when she founded The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy.

• View Oprah Winfrey movies

Halle Berry - Miss Ohio USA 1986

     

Halle Berry's pageant titles include: Miss Teen All American, Miss Ohio-USA, first runner-up to Miss USA®1986, and 4th runner-up to Miss World 1986. She won the coveted role of Queen in the Alex Hailey mini-series, Queen, on the TV series Knots Landing and Living Dolls, and starred in the movies Jungle Fever and The Flintstones. 

She is the first African-American woman ever to win an Academy Award for her performance in the film, Monster's ball in 2002.

• 2002 Academy Award:  Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Monster's Ball
• View Monster's Ball DVD
• Purchase Halle Berry movies

Diane Sawyer - America's Junior Miss 1963

Chosen as America's Junior Miss 1963, Diane used her pageant scholarship money to attend Wellesley College, worked as a weathergirl, then press aide to Richard Nixon during his presidency and after his Watergate resignation. 

In 1981 she was named co-anchor of the CBS Morning News. Initially dismissed by some critics as an unqualified beauty queen, Sawyer earned high marks and was hired as a Sixty Minutes correspondent, co-anchor of Day One, Turning Point, and, finally, ABC's PrimeTime Live.  Sawyer ranks as one of the highest paid newswomen in television history.

Vanessa Williams - Miss America 1984 

The first African-American woman ever to win the Miss America Pageant, Williams was a stand-out won both the swimsuit and talent competitions at the national contest.

Sadly, she was asked to resign when Penthouse magazine published sexually-explicit photos she had posed for earlier.

Despite initially appearing to be ruined by scandal, she rebounded and achieved fame as a recording artist.  1988 marked her professional debut, with her first album, The Right Stuff.  It was followed by four hits: Dreamin, Darling I, He Got the Look which earned her first three Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. Vanessa's album, Colors of the Wind, won an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and a Grammy Award for Best Song in a Motion Picture.

She has conquered Broadway, starring as the lead in Kiss of the Spider Woman, and films.  In 1996 she starred opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the action film, Eraser.

In 2006, she added television stardom to her repertoire when she was signed to play Wilhelmina Slater on the ABC hit, Ugly Betty.

• Vanessa Williams: ABC TV bio
• View Vanessa Williams movies
• Purchase Vanessa Williams music

   

Aishwarya Rai - Miss World 1994

Hailed by 60 Minutes as "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World", Aishwarya Rai earned the titles of Miss India and Miss World 1994 before becoming the leading lady of Bollywood and an international sensation.

• View Aishwarya Rai movies
• Watch Aishwarya Rai on The Early Show

Jeri Ryan - Miss Illinois 1989

Jeri Lynn Ryan competed as Miss Illinois in the 1990 Miss America Pageant. There, resembling the 'Toon character, Jessica Rabbit, she won the swimsuit competition and placed as 4th runner-up. A graduate of Northwestern University, Jeri was a national merit scholar.

She has enjoyed a successful television career, appearing numerous shows including: The O.C., Dark Skies, Melrose Place, and Murder, She Wrote.  She starred as the sexy Borg character, "Seven of Nine," in Star Trek: Voyager and later later as teacher Ronnie Cook in the hit series Fox TV's Boston Public.

    

• View Jeryi Ryan DVDs

Mary Ann Mobley - Miss America 1959

Mobley, Miss Mississippi 1958, won the 1959 Miss America title after she switched from a prim aria to a mock strip tease in the talent competition.

She later appeared in two Elvis Presley movies, and co-hosted the Miss America Pageant with husband Gary Collins.

• View Mary Ann Mobley movies

Julie Bryan Moran - America's Junior Miss 1980

Julie Bryan Moran was named America's Junior Miss 1980 before graduating magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism. 

Her broad career in television and journalism has included Wide World of Sports, Movie Time for E! and NBA Inside Stuff; and Entertainment Tonight.

Deborah Norville - Georgia's Junior Miss 1976

Norville, the Inside Edition anchor who was embroiled in controversy when she replaced Jane Pauley on Today, was Georgia's Junior Miss in the 1976 America's Junior Miss Pageant.

Leanza Cornett - Miss America 1992

Leanza Cornett, Miss America 1992, who was the first Miss Florida to win the Miss America title, has appeared as a reporter on Entertainment Tonight, co-hosted numerous shows including Lifetime Network's New Attitudes, and starred in Barefoot in the Park.

She is married to Mark Stienes, reporter for Entertainment Tonight.

Sharon Stone - Miss Crawford County 1976

Screen queen Sharon Stone, of Basic Instinct fame, honed her instincts for performing in small town pageants where she won the titles Saegertown's Spring Festival Queen and 1976 Miss Crawford County. When a Miss Pennsylvania Pageant judge suggested she try modeling, she contracted with the Eileen Ford Agency and her career was launched.

Stone eventually switched to acting, starring in Basic Instinct, Sliver, and Intersection, and rapidly becoming one of the highest paid actresses in film history.

• View Sharon Stone movies

     

Lindsay Bloom

Bloom, the 4th runner-up at Miss International, achieved fame playing sexy blonds on TV sitcoms: Daisy on The Dukes of Hazards, Ray Krebb's girlfriend on Dallas, and Vega$. Later, she dyed her trademark blond tresses brunette to play Stacy Keach's sidekick, Velda, on Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.

Delta Burke - Miss Florida 1973

One of the best known "losers" at the Miss America Pageant, Delta competed as Miss Florida in the 1974 contest. She failed to make the top ten after performing her British dramatic recital about soon-to-be-executed Queen Anne Boleyn, with a Southern accent.

Later, she trademarked the role of former beauty queen as Suzanne Sugarbaker on the hit series, Designing Women, and starred in Filthy Rich and Love and Curses and All That Jazz.

Delta's other pageant titles included Miss Florida Flame, Miss Veteran's Day, Miss Orlando Action Princess, and Miss All-American Girl.

Jamie Nicole Dudney - Miss Tennessee 1993

Miss Tennessee 1993 now appears as Georgia in the daytime soap, As the World Turns.

Lara Dutta - Miss Universe® 2002

The elegant Miss Universe® 2002 from India has gone on to enjoy film success in her native countries famous Bollywood.
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Bobbie Eakes - Miss Georgia 1981

Eakes, who competed as Miss Georgia in the 1982 Miss America Pageant, won the role of Macy on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Mary Frann - America's Junior Miss 1961

Mary Frann won the 1961 America's Junior Miss title before going on to star as Joanna Loudon on the hit sitcom Newhart.

She attended Northwestern University and founded the America's Junior Miss Council in 1995.  Frann died in 1998.

Phyllis George - Miss America 1971

Phyllis, who won the 1971 Miss America title as Miss Texas, was the only winner to drop her crown on live television. 

She went on to become the first successful female sports anchor (NFL Today) and starred on Candid Camera, People, and CBS's The Morning News. She later served as First Lady of Kentucky with (now ex-) husband, John Y. Brown.

Tiffani-Amber Thiessen - Miss Junior America

Thiessen parlayed her titles, Miss Junior America and winner of the 'Teen Magazine Model Search, into a successful television career. The actresses roles include Saved by the Bell and Valerie Malone on Beverly Hills 90210 (She replaced Shannen Doherty).

Gina Tolleson - Miss World 1990

Gina's titles include Miss South Carolina, Miss World USA, and  Miss World 1990.  She enjoys an entertainment career and is  married to actor Alan Thicke.

Marilyn Van Derbur - Miss America 1957

Marilyn Van Derbur, Miss America 1958, remains one the most respected Miss Americas ever.  Her road to the national crown was serendipity, according to the book Miss America: In Pursuit of the Crown". 

According to the book, Marilyn Van Derbur was literally drafted into the Miss University of Colorado Pageant by her sorority sisters when she was called out of a meeting for a long distance phone call.  Marilyn nearly panicked. 

In 2003, Miss America 1958, Marilyn Van Derbur, publishes "Miss America By Day", her account of growing up as a victim of sexual abuse.  The revelation that a tremendously respected former Miss America had been the victim of incest is met with a huge outpouring of public sympathy - and a flood of contact from women across the country with similar stories.  Overnight, Van Derbur becomes an advocate on the issue and an inspirational model of hope for sexual abuse survivors worldwide.

• More about Marilyn Van Derbur

Raquel Welch - Miss San Diego

In her era, Raquel Welch was considered to be one of the world's sexiest women. Her titles included Miss Photogenic, Miss La Jolla, Miss Contour, Miss San Diego and 1957 Miss Fairest of the Fair. The judges placed her only second in the Miss Southern California Pageant. 

Her film credits include the memorable role of prehistoric babe in One Million B.C.  Her career break came when she appeared with Mae West in the film, Myra Breckinridge. On Broadway, she starred in Woman of the Year and in Victor/Victoria.

Her business acumen has been demonstrated through her highly successful line of Raquel Welch wigs.

• 1974 Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical or Comedy for The Three Musketeers
• 1987 Golden Globe nomination for Right to Die
• View Raquel Welch movies

Bridgette Wilson-Sampras - Miss Teen USA 1990

Bridgette won the 1990 Miss Teen USA title representing Oregon (she was the second contestant from the state to win the national title. Bridgette went into acting  and appeared on Saved By The Bell, Billy Madison, the Arnold Schwarzenegger film, Last Action Hero,  Mortal Kombat, Love Stinks, Shop Girl, I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Wedding Planner.

In 2000, she married tennis star Pete Sampras, with whom she has two sons, Christian and Ryan.

• See Bridgette Wilson movies

   

Michelle Yeoh - Miss Malaysia 1983

Named, Miss Malaysia in 1983, most Americans know her as Pierce Brosnan's sidekick, Chinese secret agent Wai Lin, in the James Bond flick, Tomorrow Never Dies.  But the former Miss Malaysia (1983) is known throughout Asia as a kung-fu queen who has starred in nine movies including the mega-hit, Police Story III: Supercop. And, yes, she performs her own dangerous stunts.

• View Michelle Yeoh movies

   

Paula Zahn - Miss Teenage America 1973

After competing in numerous pageants and making the finals of the 1973 Miss Teenage America Pageant, Zahn entered television journalism, wracking up credits on The Health Show, ABC's World News This Morning, and CBS This Morning with Harry Smith. 

She now anchors the CNN news program Paul Zahn Now, which focusing on exposing intolerance and social injustice.

• Paula Zahn - Bio - CNN  

Kathie Lee Gifford -Maryland's Junior Miss

Before rising to TV fame as star of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Kathie Lee Gifford represented Maryland in the America's Junior Miss Pageant.

She was quietly disqualified when she inadvertently broke the rules by chatting with a man in public. Reeeeege?!

Kathie Lee Gifford music CDs

Karen Morris Gowdy - America's Junior Miss 1974

Karen Morris was crowned America's Junior Miss of 1974.  She graduated from the University of Wyoming and married Curt Gowdy Jr.  Karen's career in acting has included playing Dr. Faith Coleridge for almost a decade on the Emmy-winning Ryan's Hope. 

Mary Hart

Famed for her insured legs and perennial perkiness, the anchor of Entertainment Tonight competed as Mary Johanna Harum, Miss South Dakota, in the 1970 Miss America Pageant. She made the top ten, but lost to Phyllis George.  

Hart later co-hosted PM Magazine and co-hosted with Regis Philbin before moving on to E.T. fame.

Cheryl Lynn Herring

Cheryl, who competed as Miss Virginia and 4th runner-up in the 1977 Miss USA® Pageant. She later appeared in the ABC soap opera, General Hospital, as Lucy Quartermaine Coe.

Laura Herring

Laura, the first Latina to win the Miss USA®title (1985), went on to marry a European count and star in the daytime television series, Sunset Beach, as Carla on General Hospital, and in the sexy film, The Forbidden Dance

Kelly Hu

Kelly Hu, the former Miss Teen USA of Chinese-Hawaiian lineage, has achieved success in the entertainment field, starring in Martial Law opposite Sammo Hung.

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Cloris Leachman

Cloris Leachman studied drama at Northwestern University before competing in the 1946 Miss America Pageant as Miss Chicago where she was named a semifinalist.  Although Cloris failed to win that national title, she used her scholarship earnings to study drama with Elia Kazan.

Leachman became a respected actress who has been nominated for over 20 Emmy awards, won four Emmy awards, and earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, The Last Picture Show. 

    

Leachman's dozens of credits include the hit TV series The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Texasville, Kiss Me Deadly, and Danielle Steel's Fine Things.

Marla Maples (Trump)

Before becoming the second Mrs. Donald Trump, Marla was named Miss Photogenic and placed fourth in Georgia's Miss Teen Pageant. In 2007, she was hired to co-star in the television series, The Ex-Wives Club.

• View Marla Maples biography

Imelda Marcos

Before reigning as First Lady of the Philippines by the side of Ferdinand Marcos, Imelda Romualdez reigned as Miss Manilla 1953.

Ali MacGraw

           

MacGraw, a model and contestant in a "prettiest waitress" pageant in 1957, achieved overnight fame playing Ryan O'Neal's lover dying from leukemia in 1970's hit film, Love Story.  The role earned her an Academy Award nomination for best Actress and a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Drama.

MacGraw's film career has including playing the leading lady to some of Hollywood's greatest actors.  MacGraw starred in Goodbye, Columbus (1969) for which she won a Golden Globe award for "New Female Star of the Year", The Getaway (1972) with Steve McQueen, Convoy (1978 with Earnest Borgnine, Players (1979), China Rose (1983) with George C. Scott, and The Winds of War (1983) with Robert Mitchum.

Equally well known for her romantic life, MacGraw married film producer Robert Evans in 1971.  After falling in love with co-star Steve McQueen during the filming of The Getaway, she divorced Evans and married McQueen.  They divorced in 1978.

Although her career lost momentum after the marriage, she later returned to the spotlight to appear in Glam (1997) and Natural Causes (1994) and to produce her best-selling yoga video, Ali MacGraw: Yoga Mind & Body.

Vera Miles

She won the 1948 Miss America swimsuit competition, but placed only third to a marimba-playing Minnesota farm girl (BeBe Shopp), who won the crown.

Still, Miles went on to enjoy a successful acting career, appearing on television's Marcus Welby and Kojak, and in numerous films including the Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) for which she became famous, and The Wrong Man (1957) with Henry Fonda.  Miles was a regular leading lady in John Wayne films including The Searchers (1956),The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Hellfighters (1968).

          

• View Vera Miles movies