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