Ever since McCain selected former beauty queen Sarah Palin as his running mate, we've been wondering what other public figures have sexy pageant pasts. So instead of the usual question "Where are they now?" we decided to ask "Where were they then?" In the case of the women in this gallery, they were sashaying around in evening gowns and answering questions about world peace as beauty pageant contestants. (Because if there's one thing we know, it's that competing in pageants is all about talent and scholarships, and has absolutely nothing to do with bathing suits.)
Check out our gallery of famous former beauty queens and let us know which ones look better now than they did in their sashes, and which have felt the cruel sting of beauty's fade since their reigns.
Famous Former Beauty Queens
NOW: Sarah Palin is the governor of Alaska and the polarizing Republican vice-presidential candidate.
Getty Images
THEN: In 1984, Palin was Miss Wasilla. She went on to compete in the Miss Alaska Pageant, where she was voted "Miss Congeniality."
Celebslap.com
NOW: Halle Berry is a high-grossing actress who is also the only African-American woman to have won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Getty Images
THEN: In 1986, Berry was making guys say Halle-lujah in her bathing suit and heels as Miss Ohio USA.
AP Images
NOW: 62-year-old Diane Sawyer is co-anchor of "Good Morning America" and one of the 100 most powerful women in the World, according to Forbes.
Getty Images
THEN: In 1963, Sawyer won the "America's Junior Miss" pageant as Miss Kentucky.
AP Images
NOW: "Designing Women" star Delta Burke continues to act in film and television, as well as running her own plus-size clothing label.
Getty Images
THEN: In 1974, Burke won the Miss Florida title. Her dramatic recital about soon-to-be-executed Queen Anne Boleyn, performed in a Southern accent, failed to win her the Miss America title.
AP Images
NOW: Eva Longoria is most famous for her role on "Desperate Housewives," and her marriage to NBA guard Tony Parker.
Getty Images
THEN: Longoria wasn't too desperate to win the title of Miss Corpus Christi USA in 1998.
People.com
Comments:
Add a comment
Friday 12 September
By Lulu
Halle Berry is the only African-American to win an Oscar for Best Actress. Hattie McDaniel (Gone with the Wind) and Whoopie Goldberg (Ghost) both won Oscars.
Reply
Saturday 13 September
By Monica
Lulu:
Halle Berry is the only African-American to win an Oscar for Best Actress. Hattie McDaniel (Gone with the Wind) and Whoopie Goldberg (Ghost) both won Oscars.
*****************************************************
True statement regarding Halle win...but, the difference is that Hattie McDaniel (Gone with the Wind) and Whoopie Goldberg (Ghost) won their Oscars for supporting role and Halle was for best actress, a first.
Saturday 25 October
By bijan666
You see the brilliant performance of Cathrine
Hepburn in " African Queen " and then you see
Whopee Goldberg or Halle Berry receiving Oscars for
their cheap run of the mill acting that is not even
worth the 99 cent section of any video store just
because they are happen to be African Americans.
That makes my stomach turn, sorry if politically incorrect , I have always been that way
Friday 12 September
By Tony Thaxton
General Wesley Clark made the comment that being a prisoner of war does not qualify you to be president of the USA. I have not heard much from him since he made that statement. However, I agree with him wholeheartedly. I am retired Army,and spent two tours in Viet Nam during McCain's incarcaration. I was in harm's way while he was signing statements for the NVA. He admitted it. So why is he a Hero?
Reply
Saturday 13 September
By Bill Adam
So What, we all spent time in Vietnam but how days were you tortured , caged, beaten, and exposed to inhuman treatment for 5 1/2 years???? You are making John McCains service to America trivial and do you want Americans looking at your service to America to be trivial as well?
Bill Adam
Saturday 13 September
By John
I agree with you. While what he did was commendable the other 800 prisoners also refused early release and most of those did not make any statements. I think this is a news media creation. I read an op ed in the Seattle Post recently from another prisoner who said no one was tortured after Ho died in 1969. He also said that all 800 were tortured before HO died and all were offered release if they would make statements and sign documents against the war and the US government. All refused.
Saturday 20 September
By Doc
The next time u r a pow and u r getting ur balls shoved up your butt, i wonder how many sheets of paper u will sign, dmaz
Saturday 20 September
By bobby
A true P.O.W only gives his name, rank, serial number and a hard way to go...........Then takes a bullet like a man!!!!!!!!!!!! McCain gave up vital information and should be brought up on charges!!!
Monday 06 October
By John
While I agree that being a POW does not make him qualified to be president, his years of political/life experience and bipartisan achievements make him qualified (period) and SO much more qualified than Obama.PLUS, maybe its his leadership in and out of the USAF; and maybe his family committment to their country and willingness to serve throughout his life.
Saturday 20 September
By Allie
I totally agree. Though being a prisoner of war is something scary and I'm sure unpleasant it does not qualify you to be the president. There are plenty other POW's out there, but most of them have their medals in back drawers or prefer not to talk about it. I wouldn't consider him a "hero" either, I mean who did he save? His plane was shot down by his own careless recklessness and he stayed in a prisoner of war camp. Sure it was a noble thing to stay there for those other people but it doesn't make him a hero. I know McCain is doing what he believes is best for our country, but that doesn't mean that he is right. The whole thing about McCain voting with president Bush 90% of the time is true, I have heard that from more than one source. As for my thoughts on Sarah Palin... I really don't care if she was a beauty queen or a tv news anchor. I just care about what she thinks right now, and frankly I do not agree with her at all. She is no where near ready to be vice president, or president. I have no doubt she is a nice person, but she is not the person I want to be a heartbeat away from running our country.
Saturday 20 September
By Tim
You don't hear from Clark because the corporate media is scared to death of Clark. They skewered him even though Clark was asked the question. He didn't volunteer the answer. He was asked by Republican Media mouthpiece, Bob Schieffer "Does McCain's POW status give him experience to be president?" The question was asked specifically so they could spin the answer into Clark criticizing a hero.
Saturday 20 September
By sgtrock101
Two tours?? What, were you on vacation? I gave up 9 months of my life in Vietnam, in and out of harms way (is that another way to say base camp rat?). Pssssh!! Give it a rest. POW camps were no tours and forced tortured signatures are not binding. Being a NATO desk commander is not a qualification to criticize a real American hero. Gen Clark is just a pretty face, waiting for lipstick, and a big cabinet position. He sold his soul for silver sheckles many years ago. And I am a real Vietnam combat soldier vet. I won't vote for a republican as punishment for this illegal war of personal revenge by Bush in Iraq and I won't vote democrate because of its race based candidate and guilt-riden white apoligists. Nader has my vote. He's way out there but has never lied to the American public.
Saturday 20 September
By Ron
Served under Gen Clark. If he says something, the odds are that he is wrong!
Wednesday 22 October
By Marc
How many years of torture did you endure?
Wednesday 22 October
By Kim
What the heck does that have to do with beauty queens????
Wednesday 22 October
By Jim Mulhern
Right on the mark. McCain killed further investigations for POW/MIA when he headed the board back on Nov. 10th, 1992. Senator Rob from NH and Jim Lucier former head of the Senate are witnesses. His father in-law Jim Hensley, put him in business as a politician he controlled for the mob. Hensley hung with the likes of Buggsey Segall and Myer Lansky bootlegging and taking over race tracks though murder. Jim Hensley did two tours in prison. His last prison sentence was shortened by Rienquist later Chief Justice. McCain had ties to Keating and Joe the Plumber is Sammuel Wurtzelbacker whose relative is Robert Wurtzelbacker the son in-law of Charles Keating. Robert was Ex. V.P. of the bank that brought us the "Savings and Loan" crisis. Also, three members of the Bush family worked for Leahman Brothers. George Herbert Walker, GW's first cousin was in charge of hedge funds and Neal and Jeb worked for the bank. Remember Neal with Silverado Bank scandal and then the Apex Oil scandel. There all crooks!! Oh, McCain used to chum with Gordan Liddy of the Watergate plumbers that had planned to blow up a number of government buildings. Liddy and that cuban crowd show up in the Kennedy assasinations working as CIA cutouts. We must stop hedge funds and derivitives. Only then can the market and banks be safe!
Wednesday 22 October
By Dave
Perhaps you don't know how long he endured the torture(5 1/2 years) and that he gave up opportunity for freedom so another could be set free instead. He also was a great encourager and leader for those around him. Perhaps you should read up on some of what he did before you judge him... wrongly. Or are you black and just too prejudice to see what a real American hero is like because he happens to be white.
Wednesday 22 October
By Nancy
My husband served for 23 yrs in the United States Army.He's our hero.It was not easy for him to leave us when he had to.And also not allowed to tell us where but I understood as an Army wife. I didn't like it but when I married him he did not hold anything back.But please let's not mix apple's with oranges.I also had six (6)cousins in Vietnam. And I'm sad to say not all came home alive. General Clark is correct by saying that all the soldiers in Nam were in harms way. But those that were POWs to compare fighting with torture,a arm that was not cared for and God knows what else. To diminish that and he is tempted with the offer that he can leave he says no.I don't know what this guy is thinking, but Senator McCain is not only a hero,he is a WARRIOR!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless our women and men in uniform.
Saturday 13 September
By Kim
I thought this article was about former beauty queens..not about who is qualified to run for president...but to expand on your comment about McCain..While I think being in a prison camp might not qualify one to be president..26 years within the system of our government..just might..While I haven't made up my mind about who I am voting for yet...anything negative can be said about any one of the candidates running for office..depending on the source of media we happen to be following..so..it is up to us to make sure we get our facts from non biased sources before we vote..Watching David Letterman..doesn't count...
Reply
Sunday 21 September
By B
IF we are to take these comments at face value then we are to assume that ALL POW's are qualified to become President of the United States? Yea, he is to be commended for his duty to our country, as any SOLDIER should be. However, we should also commend the families, husbands and/or wives that keep families together while the soldier is keeping our country safe. McCain came home to a wife that had been crippled in a horrible accident. The once swim suit model had been horribly disfigured some 3 years before his return. She spent months in a hospital undergoing surgery after surgery. And when McCain comes home, what does he do? He starts stepping out on her, cheating on her and years later when he finds someone that had enough money to finance a trip to the White House , he dumps his wife and kids for her. NOW THAT IS AN HONORABLE MAN !