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.
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.
Katherine Heigl
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.
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”.
Sharon Stone
After graduating from high school, Sharon Stone won the title of Miss Crawford County and was a candidate to become Miss Pennsylvania. She moved in with her aunt in New Jersey and pursued a modeling career. Soon, she was signed to the Ford Modeling Agency in New York City.
Despite her global standing as a model, Stone wanted to pursue a career in acting. She soon had Hollywood under her thumb as well, and just a year later she was starring in Woody Allen’s film “Stardust Memories.” Since then she has appeared in films like “Basic Instinct,” “Casino,” and more.