Katherine Heigl was signed to Wilhelmina Models at nine years old and often appeared in ads for Sears and Lord & Taylor. Her modeling career helped her snag some commercial gigs, the first one being for Cheerios. It wasn’t long before she started getting film roles.
Heigl dropped out of high school after her sophomore year to pursue her acting career. In 1999, she landed a starring role in the television drama “Roswell.” The role earned her a spot on Maxim’s “Hot 100List.” Heigl’s career peaked in the early 2000s after gaining fame on “Grey’s Anatomy” and in a few Blockbuster movies.
Jennifer Lawrence
Actress Jennifer Lawrence was just 14 years old when a talent scout approached her while on a family vacation in New York City. Her mother allowed her to take on some limited modeling gigs, including a short-lived stint with Abercrombie & Fitch.
Determined to make it as an actress, Lawrence dropped out of school and moved to New York. After several guest appearances, she snagged a recurring role on the sitcom “The Bill Engvall Show,” winning her a Young Artist Award for Outstanding Young Performer in a TV Series in 2009. Soon, she became the big star we all know and love today!
Marilyn Monroe
Before Marilyn Monroe became so iconic, she signed on to Blue Book Model Agency in 1945. Modeling under the name Jean Norman, she was deemed too curvy to appear in fashion photos. Instead, Monroe was often featured in men’s magazines as a pinup model and became an instant hit. She appeared on 30+ magazine covers in her first year.
In 1946, she was given a screen test with 20th Century Fox, after which she became destined for stardom. Working under the name Marilyn Monroe, her modeling career was quickly left behind in favor of work on the big screen.
Angelina Jolie
Surprisingly, Angelina Jolie didn't do so well as a model. She modeled for several teen brands in the ‘90s and even appeared in a JC Penney’s catalog showing off that year’s collection of prom dresses.
Jolie began acting at a young age, appearing in several of her brother’s films as a teenager. She also starred in a few music videos including Lenny Kravitz's video for "Stand by My Woman" in 1991 and Meat Loaf's video for "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" in 1993. She starred in her first Hollywood movie, “Hackers” in 1995, and quickly rose to stardom.
Sofia Vergara
It should come as no surprise that the gorgeous Sofia Vergara was once a model, however, that’s not how she got her start in the entertainment industry. She was discovered while walking on the beach in Colombia and went on to star in a Latin American Pepsi commercial. Vergara was later featured as the face of a Miller Lite ad campaign.
Once she moved to the States, her career took off. In 2009, she became a household name starring as Gloria Pritchett in “Modern Family.” The show’s popularity led to roles in films such as “New Year’s Eve”.