Most celebrities are good-looking people. Case in point: Monica Bellucci, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz —must we go on? It’s not surprising that these gorgeous stars started modeling before they received acting credits on the big and small screens.
It’s also known that some actors shot to fame by walking the runway for prominent designers, while others honed their chops as fashion brand models. Who would forget Channing Tatum’s Abercrombie & Fitch ad or Mark Wahlberg’s Calvin Klein gig? Actress Kirsten Dunst, on the other hand, started out as a child model.
Out of the many models who have tried entering the busy world of show business, several of them found their luck. From the runway to Hollywood’s red carpet, a number of them also found more success in acting. Find out below which actors were models first before they became movie stars:
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie tried modeling while in high school under her mother’s direction. This experiment was unsuccessful, though we think that the cinematic world should be thankful for it. She later attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and trained there for two years. By the early ’90s, her first leading role came in the sci-fi thriller Cyborg 2. She began sweeping acting awards shortly after until she landed the A-list ranks.
Besides acting, Jolie wrote, directed, and produced the 2011 movie In the Land of Blood and Honey. She has been the world’s highest-paid actress several times, demanding a salary of $20 million for a single role. In recent years, she portrayed the titular character in the blockbuster film Maleficent. With a net worth of $120 million, it’s likely that Jolie also has funds that are locked up in investments and trusts.
Ashton Kutcher
Originally from Iowa, Ashton Kutcher was approached by a talent scout and was asked to be a model. His modeling career peaked when he joined a competition and ended up winning the “Male Model of the Year.”
Fast forward to several years later— he’s one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors. His career has spanned the runway, feature films, TV sitcoms, and one top-rated prank show His work on the show Two and a Half Men has been his most successful in terms of his acting earnings. He reportedly earned a cool $800,000 per episode or roughly $20 million per season. Kutcher has also distinguished himself in venture capital firms, launching his own company called A-Grade Investments. Through his company, he has supported startups, such as Uber, Spotify, Airbnb, and Soundcloud. He’s also a doting husband to actress Mila Kunis and father to their two kids.
Brad Pitt
While trying to break through into the Hollywood scene, Brad Pitt honed his talents, doing a stint in advertisements for Levi’s jeans. In pursuit of better and bigger things, he left college weeks short of finishing his degree. He moved to California and landed his first film role as a background part in the film Hunk.
The ’90s were filled with pleasant surprises as he starred in a supporting role in Thelma and Louise. His skills were recognized, and he was hired to star in the award-winning movie A River Runs Through It. He received tremendous praise for his subsequent performances in the movies Seven and 12 Monkeys. His dedication to his film roles has taken him up the A-list ranks, and his newfound passion as a producer has earned him untold additional millions— perhaps earning more than his acting salary.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields gained widespread attention as a teen from both her role in the film Pretty Baby and her Calvin Klein ads, but she actually began modeling at only 11 months old. Getting an early start in the limelight somehow meant that she was born to be a star.
Growing up, her mom encouraged her to join the show business, so she took ballet, piano, and horse riding lessons. At age 14, Shields was Vogue magazine’s youngest fashion model ever. She also became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces during this time because of her dual career as an actress and fashion model. By the early ’80s, she abandoned her show business career to attend Princeton University, earning her degree in French literature. She later continued making appearances in television shows, including Friends, Two and a Half Men, and Law and Order: SVU.
Cameron Diaz
Although mainly known for her work as an actress, Cameron Diaz began modeling at age 16, traveling and working worldwide. She spent five years as a model and landed high-profile campaigns and print work before auditioning as a lead actress in The Mask, where she marked her name as a true star.
Since appearing in the hit comedy film, Diaz has maintained an A-list presence. More movie work rolled in the next few years, including My Best Friend’s Wedding and There’s Something About Mary. She appeared in many other films, increased her credit score, and earned millions of dollars from salaries alone. In 2014, she retired from acting, and so far, she has stuck to her announcement. Diaz has not appeared in any movie or television project since the 2014 release of Annie. In 2015, she married Benji Madden and they now have one kid.
Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum’s first experiences working in front of a camera came with fashion campaigns such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Dolce & Gabbana, and Armani. His first taste of the entertainment scene came when he was cast in Ricky Martin’s She Bangs music video as a dancer. It would later become clear that he could do many things, appearing in blockbuster films, from Dear John to G.I. Joe.
Thanks to a lucrative deal that paid off for his movie Magic Mike, he earned around $90 million. Tatum also tried his hand at producing, teaming up with Dito Montiel in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. His investment planning included producing all of his films and putting up his two production companies, Iron Horse Entertainment and 33andOut Productions. Just recently, the 41-year-old actor paid $5.6 million for a home in the Brentwood neighborhood.
Corbin Bleu
Another actor who started appearing in commercials at a young age is Corbin Bleu. He started modeling when he was only two years old. Starting with Nabisco and Hasbro, he moved on to companies like Gap and Macy’s. He made his stage debut at age six and enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts.
Bleu appeared on The Amanda Show and Malcolm & Eddie before landing the role of Chad Danforth on High School Musical in 2006. He also has a contract role with the soap opera One Life to Live, where he portrayed Jeffrey King. In addition to his movie and TV career, he has also gassed up his music career and released two albums, Another Side and Speed of Light. In recent years, he devotes his time to various charities. Since 2013, Bleu has been in a relationship with Sasha Clements.
Hayden Panettiere
Like Brooke Shields, Hayden Panettiere’s first stint as a model came at only 11 months old. Instead of selling soap, however, she appeared in an advertisement for a Playskool toy train. Much of her childhood was spent acting on many soap operas, including Guiding Light, Touched by an Angel, and One Life to Live. She received approval for her performance in the TV movie If You Believe.
While Panettiere spent most of her life in front of the camera, she was also a sought-after singer. She then secured one of the most notable television roles on the series Heroes, which elevated her career to a new degree. She became even more famous when she began appearing in the musical series Nashville, playing the lead character Juliette Barnes. The show aired for six seasons, and she garnered a number of award nominations.
James Marsden
Between The Notebook and the X-Men movies, James Marsden’s crossover appeal as both a romantic villain and an action star has been evident for more than a decade. Before he was either of these two things, he was a model for the Versace brand.
The actor studied broadcast journalism while in college. After a year and a half, however, Marsden quit college to work as an actor. He made his TV debut in 1993, guest-starring on The Nanny and Saved by the Bell. The following year, he starred in his first film, and soon followed by more credits in TV projects and a range of independent movies. Since 2019, he has starred as Ben and Steve Wood in the Netflix comedy series Dead to Me. He is set to star in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and The Boss Baby: Family Business.
Jason Lewis
Before appearing in the hit HBO show alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Jason Lewis was a top model in Europe for fashion lines such as Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, and Hugo Boss. Fresh out of college, he worked in Paris and Milan for some of the biggest fashion names.
In his early acting work, Lewis made his film debut in the romantic comedy Next Stop Wonderland and had a recurring role in Beverly Hills 90210. After various TV and movie roles, he landed his most memorable role as Jerrod Smith in SATC shows and movies. From there, he made investments in popular TV programs, appearing in CSI, Charmed, and How I Met Your Mother. He also became a regular cast in movies, featuring in Mr. Brooks and The Attic. Lewis’ most recent projects were in 2018 in Half Magic and Midnight, Texas.
Jennifer Connelly
Before her debut performance in the 1984 film Once Upon a Time in America, Jennifer Connelly appeared in both television and print ads. She started appearing on covers of Seventeen and Muppet Magazine at the age of 10. Even with her early success, Connelly remained unknown to the general public until her performance in the 2000 movie Requiem for a Dream. She earned heaps of high praise for her role in this film to the degree that The New York Times published about it.
Connelly’s next career-elevating role was in the acclaimed film A Beautiful Mind in 2001. She won 10 honors for her performance and has appeared in other popular films, such as Blood Diamond and The Day the Earth Stood Still. Outside acting, she has served as the face of Revlon cosmetics, Shiseido Company, and Balenciaga fashion advertisements.
Jennifer Lawrence
While trying to catch her big Hollywood break, Jennifer Lawrence did some modeling stint on the side. It’s pretty safe to say, however, that she won’t need to do more modeling with her current credit reports. Ever since beginning her acting job, she has established her name in the list of Hollywood’s rich and famous. As of 2019, the movies she has starred in have grossed more than $6 billion worldwide. She was also the world’s highest-paid actress for two consecutive years in 2015 and 2016.
Aside from her work in the show business, she is also an outspoken advocate for Planned Parenthood. She founded her own eponymous foundation in 2015 with the mission to advocate for the Special Olympics and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. By 2018, the 30-year-old star ventured into business, launching her own production company called Excellent Cadaver.
Josh Duhamel
Between landing a role on All My Children and playing college football, Josh Duhamel had a brief but impressive modeling career. His initial plan was to become a dentist, but he ended up leaving college with only one-and-a-half credits left to complete. Instead of finishing his education, he “followed a former girlfriend to northern California.”
Once he arrived in California, he started his career as a model, even winning an international modeling and talent competition. Coincidentally, the runner-up of that modeling and talent contest was fellow actor Ashton Kutcher. Anyway, Duhamel’s first acting roles mainly were in music videos: Christina Aguilera’s Genie in a Bottle and Donna Summer’s hit song I Will Go With You. After he studied acting, he was offered the role of Leo du Pres on All My Children, where he garnered a Daytime Emmy Award in 2002.
Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl’s modeling career began with a national ad for Cheerios. She started modeling at nine years old when her aunt sent her pictures to Wilhelmina Models. She then appeared in magazine ads, TV commercials, and Sears and Lord & Taylor catalogs. While attending high school, Heigl sometimes had to skip up to three months of school in order to shoot films, but she tried to balance her movie and modeling work by making it up on holidays and weekends when possible.
Heigl made her big-screen debut in the early 1990s when she starred in King of the Hill and television movies, such as Wish Upon a Star. She had a bustling 2000s, as she was cast as Dr. Isobel Stevens on the hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. She earned a new degree of fame during this show, which led to more opportunities on the silver screen.
Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst could undoubtedly afford to be picky after completing her role as Spider Man’s love interest, Mary Jane. When the superhero film grossed $114 million in its first three days, it set a new record for the most fantastic opening weekend ever, catapulting the actress into an international degree of fame. However, it wasn’t her first experience with the celebrity life.
Kirsten started modeling at the age of three and had been in over 100 advertisements by 12. Kirsten knocked out Christina Ricci of The Addams Family for a leading part in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles. She had a streak of popular movies after this film, including Little Women in 1994, Jumanji the following year, and Small Soldiers in 1998. By the end of the decade, she’d received excellent reviews for her performance as Lux Lisbon in Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides, and a year later, she’d solidified her place as a Hollywood star with the lead in the comedy Bring It On. Her success in Spider-Man would only add to that.
Leighton Meester
On the hugely famous show Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester skyrocketed to stardom as Blair Waldorf. She’s still gaining a degree of fame these days because of her part on ABC’s Single Parents. Her interest in performing began after Leighton appeared in a local theatrical performance of Wizard of Oz when she was a child. Meester got her start modeling and acting in advertisements. She has also worked with big companies such as Vera Wang, Jimmy Choo, and Ralph Lauren as part of her modeling assignments.
From here, she moved into the acting world. Meester made her acting debut in the series Law & Order and has since been in several television shows and feature films, including Country Strong, Monte Carlo, and Killer Movie. She has also collaborated on music and wrote songs with some well-known artists, including Cobra Starship. Leighton has also been on Broadway in the play adaptation of Of Mice and Men.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan’s breakout performance in Mean Girls in 2004 was the reason Hollywood directors wanted her on speed dial. The witty adolescent comedy film won her the title of the teen queen after grossing $67 million at the box office. Lohan began her career investments in the entertainment industry at the age of three, modeling for Ford and appearing in over 60 TV commercials, including The Gap and Wendy’s.
After beating Scarlett Johansson to the role of the winsome twins in The Parent Trap, the Disney producers got so smitten with her that they immediately offered a multi-picture deal. Freaky Friday, a body-swap comedy starring Jamie Lee Curtis, was released in 2003 and was swiftly succeeded by Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and Herbie: Fully Loaded in the following years. Lindsay took on guest parts in US comedy Ugly Betty, served as a guest judge on Project Runway, and launched her own pants brand, 6126, in an attempt to reclaim the popularity she had experienced in her career’s early years.
Michelle Trachtenberg
Few people acquire celebrity status at the age of three, but Michelle Trachtenberg has successfully done it, thanks to a gorgeous visage and a thriving commercial career. She eventually made it to the big screen and became a certified Hollywood star. The attractive actress rose to fame through the films and TV shows, such as All My Children, Meego, Harriet the Spy, EuroTrip, and others.
Trachtenberg has been known for his incredible look since she was young. She had her first television appearance when she was three years old in an advertisement for Wisk detergent and appeared in more than 100 ads. The police series Law & Order was her first project. A string of sitcoms like The Adventures of Pete & Pete followed, but her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl cemented her incredible degree of fame. Trachtenberg films infrequently these days, but we can assume that this is only a temporary hiatus, and her fans will soon be able to enjoy her superb performance.
Mischa Barton
Most nine-year-olds haven’t thought about what they want to be when they grow up, but Mischa Anne Marsden Barton had already begun to create a successful acting career at such a young age. She compiled a remarkable resume on TV and stage due to her talent and beautiful appearance, making her one of the most promising actors of her generation.
The precocious actress debuted on Broadway in New York, playing the lead in Tony Kushner’s drama Slavs! Barton switched to screen production in search of a new opportunity to advance her career, and she was able to make her feature debut in 1997 with Lawn Dogs. During this time, she worked as a model for Ford Modeling Agency, where she worked on campaigns for Calvin Klein, Gitano, and Vogue, among others. Barton spent the next few years working in film and television productions while attending Manhattan’s Professional Children’s School, where she earned her degree in 2004.
Raven-Symone
Raven-Symoné is best known for her role as Olivia on the classic NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, in which she played the youngest member of the family. Little do we know that her career was only getting started when the iconic Bill Cosby-sitcom ended in 1992.
Symone started in the business as a child model, modeling for some of the most well-known brands at the age of ten. On the other hand, she is also a singer, who has released four albums of her own, all of which have become best-sellers. In 2003, she received her breakout role as Raven Baxter in the Disney sitcom, That’s So Raven. The show proved an extreme degree of popularity, and during its four-and-a-half-year run, it received the best ratings ever for a Disney. In the same year, she starred in the Disney film, The Cheetah Girls and released her debut album, This is My Life, the following year. Symone is one of the most well-known child artists, who has successfully become a famous actress, singer, and model.
Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson may be the favorite actor of every Twilight fan, but he has successfully made his way to become a household name. Like so many other superstars, the 35-year-old star did not have his career given to him on a silver plate. To have a supplemental income when he was only a teenager, he worked as a photo model for British fashion firms and publications and developed a passion for film. He was named the face of Dior Homme Fragrances in 2013 and the first brand ambassador for its menswear range in 2016.
Pattinson began looking for professional jobs after an agent saw him in a performance of Tess Of The D’Urbervilles. Following a few minor roles in made-for-TV movies, he earned a major part in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire in 2005 that launched him to an incredible degree of fame. Later, he starred in the Twilight film series, where he portrayed the vampire Edward Cullen. Meanwhile, Pattinson made other films, such as Love and Distrust and Remember Me.
Tom Welling
Tom Welling has risen on the Hollywood cinema scene as one of the most promising young actors of his generation. His career began after a catalog shoot scout discovered him. He eventually accepted an invitation to be a print model for Abercrombie & Fitch after heeding the person’s advice to try his hand at modeling. He has been carving his investments in this industry ever since.
After gradually realizing that he wanted something more, Wellling turned his attention to another sector, acting, and moved to Los Angeles. He auditioned for any available roles while working as a model to fund himself in this city. The actor secured a guest appearance on Judging Amy. In search of a better opportunity, he entered a nationwide search for a new face to represent Superman or Clark Kent, the famed DC Comics superhero. Welling luckily got the part to bring Smallville to the small screen. Even though he had little acting experience, he displayed a superb interpretation of his role, letting the show experience a significant success across the country.
Famke Janssen
Famke Janssen has risen as one of the most famous stars from the Netherlands. She is outstandingly capable of well-maintaining her degree of fame in the Hollywood film industry, making a remarkable transition from model to actress. The now-56-year-old actress began modeling at a young age after coming to the US in 1984 to do some modeling gigs for Chanel. She gradually developed a strong interest in acting, leading her to pursue a career in this field rather than continue her illustrious modeling career.
Soon after, Janssen made her cinematic première in Fathers & Sons, followed by a few small-screen appearances in TV shows Melrose Place and The Untouchables. However, the limelight did not shine on her until she starred as diabolical Xenia Onatopp in the 1995 James Bond blockbuster GoldenEye. As a result of being in this top-rated film franchise, she became the center of the world’s attention. Her success lasted until the year 2000, when her next film, X-Men, was released. Following her exceptional success, she appeared in several films for at least the next two years, including The Ten,100 Feet, and Taken.
Rebecca Romijn
Rebecca Romjin started as a famous supermodel before switching to acting and becoming a well-known actress of the 21st century. She modeled for renowned brands, such as Christian Dior and Victoria’s Secret, and spent a decade being the face of major fashion houses before deciding to focus on making an investment in the acting world and she evidently succeeded.
Romijn is most known for her portrayal of the shape-shifting Mystique in the 2000 film X-Men. Following her triumph in that film, she starred in the sequel, X-Men 2, in 2003. It boosts her career and, in any case, ensures her future as an actress. She has appeared in the TV shows King & Maxwell and The Librarians. To top it all, she presented the reality show Skin Wars and has worked as a voice artist on various projects, including video games.
Andie MacDowell
Andie MacDowell, a former model who successfully transitioned to acting, struggled in an industry that sought to write her off right away. She relocated to New York in 1978 and signed with Elite Model Management, which led to yet another move—this time to Paris. She launched her modeling career in earnest, posing for Vogue, Armani, and Bill Blass. MacDowell’s modeling degree took off with a series of prominent Times Square billboards and national TV campaigns for Calvin Klein. Because of the ad campaign’s prominence, she pursued an acting career.
She initially played the role of Jane in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. MacDowell, however, made her mark in St. Elmo’s Fire, where her performance proved she was more than just a pretty face. The star found her stride on the big screen in the next decade, with superb performances in flicks like Green Card and Footloose. She starred in the Hallmark Channel’s small-town drama Cedar Cove and appeared in the comedy sequel Magic Mike XXL.
Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich has been in high demand since she first appeared on a magazine cover at 11. She was already one of “Revlon’s Most Unforgettable Women in the World” before turning 12 and became the world’s youngest cover model. As a pre-teen, she earned $3,500 each day and appeared on 13 magazine covers. Jovovich appeared in ads for other high-profile companies such as L’Oreal, Banana Republic, Christian Dior, Donna Karan, and Versace throughout her career.
She then began to exhibit an interest in acting not long after achieving a considerable degree of success as a model. She made her breakthrough in the film The Night Train to Kathmandu and went on to star in several other films. Her acting career eventually took off in 1991 in the movie Return to the Blue Lagoon, and played Christian Slater’s love interest in Kuffs the following year. Jovovich eventually received her starring roles in the sci-fi picture The Fifth Element and the Resident Evil film franchise. To add to her string of bows, she has her own production company, Creature Entertainment.
Tricia Helfer
Tricia Helfer has had a successful degree of fame in both the modeling and film industries. She walked the runway for Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Gianni Versace, among others. As an actress, the 47-year-old star is well known for her portrayal as Cylon model Number Six in the television show Battlestar Galactica. She has also secured a foothold in Hollywood with Dark Blue, Lie to Me, and Lucifer.
Success knocked on Helfer’s door when the 17-year-old her went to the local movie with her pals. At the time, a modeling agency scout saw the young blue-eyed beauty and agreed to take the stranger’s offer to try her hand at modeling. From here, the rest was history. She won the Ford Models’ Supermodel of the World competition in 1992. Following her victory, she signed a contract with the well-known Elite Model Management. Helfer soon walked the runways of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses and graced the covers of Elle and Maxim. Though she ended her modeling career, she kept participating in promotions and promoting different products. Helfer then moved closer to Hollywood the next year and made an appearance on TV.
Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger gained a prominent degree of fame in Hollywood for her performances as Helen of Sparta in Troy, Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds, and Dr. Abigail Chase in National Treasure. She started by relocating to Paris to pursue a modeling career. In 1992, she represented her country in the Elite Model Look and went on to work for labels such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, and Christian Dior.
Kruger also appeared on the covers of Vogue Paris, Cosmopolitan, and other magazines. She gave up modeling at the age of 22 despite being at peak of her career to pursue acting. After a few minor roles in French films, Kruger had her big break in Michel Vaillant. She is also recognized for her commitment to the fashion industry, knowing she is the global ambassador for L’Oreal and the face of Calvin Klein’s fragrance Beauty.
Olga Kurylenko
Olga Kurylenko is an excellent actress who played Nika Boronia in the film adaptation of the video game Hitman. She also starred in the 22nd James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, as the Bond girl Camille Montes. Kurylenko was first noticed at the age of 13 by a female model scout visiting Moscow. The next thing she did was sign a contract with the Madison modeling agency in Paris, which completely transformed her life. At 18, she already graced the covers of Vogue and Elle magazines.
She also worked as the faces of Bebe, Clarins, and Helena Rubinstein, among others. Her great modeling career paved the way for her to have an acting career, which led to some enticing roles and receive acting credits. Kurylenko’s international prominence as a Bond girl boosted her popularity even further, getting the chance to work alongside Tom Cruise in the sci-fi film Oblivion.
Monica Bellucci
Monica Bellucci is best known for her role in The Matrix franchise for her portrayal of Persephone, but acting wasn’t her first work. She started out as a model for well-known brands like Dior and Dolce & Gabbana before trying her hand in acting. Among the acting projects listed to her credit are Bram Stoker’s Dracula and The Passion of Christ by Mel Gibson, where she played Mary Magdalene.
She has been voted as one of the hottest women of all time and received several accolades, including winning a European Golden Globe in 2005. The 56-year-old star was also a recipient of the Silver Ribbon for Best Supporting Actress. The actress may not be making movies lately, but she maintains to have an impressive net worth given her career as a model and actress. Perhaps we will see more of her in the future.
Kate Upton
American swimsuit model, Kate Upton, was signed up right then and there when she answered a casting call for the Elite Model Management. In line with her new career, she moved to New York, where she became part of the IMG models. She later became the face of Guess before appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Upton also appeared in other fashion magazines before trying her hand in acting.
Her first-ever film was The Other Woman. She later appeared in The Layover before agreeing to star in The Disaster Artist under James Franco’s directing. She received a nomination at the Teen Choice Award for her role in The Other Woman to her credit. Though her modeling career has slowed down, and she hasn’t been seen on any films lately, we are confident that her husband is taking care of her family. She is currently married to Justin Verlander and is enjoying their time together in their Hollywood abode.
Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson hoped to get a degree in law by working as a model to fund her studies. When she met success in the modeling industry, however, she had a change of heart in her career. She was one of the most sought-after supermodels during the 1980s. She was a familiar face in the Elle fashion magazine for six years. Time Magazine later dubbed her as Elle “The Body” Macpherson. One of her achievements was being on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for five years.
It was not just in modeling that Macpherson worked on. She also became an actress, starting with playing Joey Tribbiani’s love interest in Friends. Her other acting projects included Sirens, The Mirror Has Two Faces, and Batman & Robin. She also has her own line of lingerie, fitness wear, and even maternity clothing. Macpherson sure knows how to handle her career, which helped her improve on her net worth.
Brooklyn Decker
Brooklyn Decker started out her career as a model when she was discovered in a mall. After winning the Model of the Year award in 2003, she furthered her career by moving to New York. She later auditioned for the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and it was in the following year when she graced it. Decker had already appeared in several fashion magazines like Teen Vogue, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan, just to name a few.
Aside from modeling, the 34-year-old star also dabbled in acting. She first appeared in the film, The Devil Wears Prada, but her role was uncredited. She finally received her much deserved credit in Lipshitz Saves the World. She also appeared as a guest in TV shows like Chuck, Royal Pains, and Ugly Betty. Though her choice of films did not propel her to the limelight instantly, her time as a Swimsuit Illustrated helped her gain fans on screen.
Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne is a model-turned-actress who had a successful run on the catwalk. She did not pursue a degree since she followed the footsteps of her sister, Poppy, in becoming a model. Though she did not become an immediate success, Christopher Bailey of Burberry saw and cast her for their 2011 campaign. By 2012, she had already walked in nine fashion shows, and she was just getting started.
Delevingne was not reliant on her modeling career to earn money. She pursued acting jobs too with Anna Karenina being her first film. Her TV debut was in the Playhouse Presents. She has since taken on more acting roles, such as in The Face of an Angel, Reincarnation, and Paper Towns. Delevingne also dabbled in music but did not pursue a record since her handler stated that she would have to change her name.
Jaime King
Jaime King has been a professional model at the age of 14. Everything started after she was invited to become a model in New York following being spotted at a fashion show in Nebraska. She took advantage of the opportunity and began traveling back and forth too. By the time she reached 16 years of age, she was already shooting for magazine covers as well as promotional campaigns for Seventeen, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Allure while still making a career out of walking down runway shows.
King also ventured out into acting. Her first stint was on MTV as a co-host for House of Style. Among the films to her credit include Happy Campers, Pearl Harbor, Bulletproof Monk, Sin City, and The Spirit. She also appeared on TV in The O.C. and The Class. It is not surprising that she got better at choosing the projects that she wants to appear in. After all, this has helped her in her career considerably.
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks may have started out as a model, but her current income is from her successful run as a TV host. She was only in high school when she began modeling. By the time she was 16, she had already signed up with Elite Model Management and moved to Milan. Two years later, she was part of the 1991 Paris Fashion Week and later booked 25 shows during her first season. It only shows that Banks was model material.
She has walked for major fashion brands like Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta, and Giorgio Armani, to name a few. She later expanded her career by appearing on TV. Her first-ever TV appearance was in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Her film debut was in Higher Learning. She was also spotted in Love Stinks, Coyote Ugly, and more. She has also put her investment money on Ty Ty Baby Productions or Bankable Productions as it now calls itself.
Claudia Schiffer
German model Claudia Schiffer has stunned the world with her grace on the catwalk and her supermodel look. It was her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot that helped her gain notoriety in the fashion industry. She rose to fame when she graced the cover of Elle magazine then later became the face of Chanel. Schiffer gained superstar status when she also appeared on the cover of Vogue and campaigned for Guess Jeans.
Schiffer certainly knows not to put all of her eggs in one basket since she also took on other roles as well. She tried her hand in acting, with the film Richie Rich being her debut film. She also appeared as cameos in movies such as Zoolander and Love, Actually. Though her modeling career has somewhat slowed down, her investment planning has certainly paid off since she has enough money to secure her future.
Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski has been working as a model since she was 14 years old after she became part of Ford models. Her early modeling career was for teen print catalogs, as well as fashion brands like Nordstrom and Kohls. The young lady, however, has also been pursuing her other interest, which was acting. As she was often given the role of a bully or a cheerleader, she focused on modeling first until she made a name for herself that would let her choose projects.
Her biggest break was in Treats, which opened the floodgates for her. She even got commercial roles for Nikon and Carl’s Jr! However, it was appearing in the music video for Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke did she rise to stardom. Though the video itself was controversial, it did help her career. Perhaps a financial adviser has taught her how to invest her money wisely, too, as she has an impressive real estate portfolio herself.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s first-ever modeling experience was with Profile. Her first modeling job was when she appeared in Levi’s commercial when she was just 16 years old, while her big break came in 2004 when she appeared in Teen Vogue. She later debuted in the catwalk alongside Naomi Campbell. She also appeared in Victoria’s Secret fashion show in 2006 but only became an international model after two years. More modeling projects came her way after that.
Whiteley also put investments in her acting skills after appearing in the film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Her second film was in Mad Max: Fury Road, where she portrayed the pregnant wife of Immortal Joe. It is not clear if she will be pursuing acting or will be sticking to modeling. To date, she is with Transporter star Jason Statham, and they have a son between them. The couple looks quite dashing together.
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell is a name that will be forever remembered in the fashion industry as one of the highest-paid and most successful supermodels to date. She was one of the most sought-after models from the 1980s all the way to the 1990s. Beth Boldt of Synchro Model Agency discovered her while she was out window shopping. She later appeared on the British version of Elle even before she reached 16 years of age. Campbell was just one of the first supermodels, including Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, and Claudia Schiffer.
The model’s net worth is not limited to just modeling, but she also has interests in music and acting. She already appeared in different movies and TV shows like Zoolander, I Feel Pretty, Empire, and American Horror Story: Hotel. She has several investments to her name, so it is not surprising that she can sit back and enjoy the fruits of her career.
Gal Gadot
The Israeli beauty, Gal Gadot, may have sealed her acting career by taking on the mantle of Wonder Woman, but she started out as a model. She competed in different beauty pageants, which is not surprising given her physique and natural beauty. Thanks to her participation in the Miss Universe in 2004, Gadot became a successful model in her own right, working with different brands.
After getting her degree, Gadot made an about-turn with her career and pursued acting instead. She auditioned to become a Bond Girl for the film Quantum of Solace, but although this did not pan out, she earned quite a fan base when she became part of the Fast & Furious franchise. She also appeared in Knight & Day and Date Night. The model-turned-actress is known for her skills in martial arts, which have won her part of DC’s Wonder Woman.
Molly Sims
Molly Sims has made a name for herself as a model. She gained notoriety when she first appeared in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition. Sims did pursue a degree at Vanderbilt University but later dropped out to continue with her modeling career. Ever since she became a model, the 48-year-old star has taken on several roles, such as being a spokesperson for Old Navy clothing. She also appeared in House of Style under MTV! She has done plenty during her modeling career, making her one of the most sought-after names back then.
Aside from modeling, Sims also built her own jewelry line called Grayce. She was also spotted doing acting work in The Benchwarmers, The Pink Panther 2, Yes Man, as well as Fired Up. Although Sims has taken a step back in her modeling and acting, she enjoys being a mother to her son, Brooks, with her husband, Scott Stuber.
Gisele Bundchen
Gisele Bundchen had carved her name in the modeling industry since she started when she was just 14 years old. Her big break came when she was included in the New York Fashion Week back in 1996. Though her early years were tough, she walked the runway in “Rain” for Alexander McQueen’s 1998 Spring collection because she knew how to walk the slippery runway, even wearing high heels. She later landed more jobs for different brands, which propelled her to the limelight.
Thanks to Bundchen’s success as a model, she opened the doors for more models from Brazil. To her credit, she appeared in 37 international editions of Vogue and has walked several times down the runway for high fashion brands. She has also become part of Victoria’s Secret’s angels and dabbled in acting when she appeared in the film, Taxi.
Abbey Lee Kershaw
Australian model Abbey Lee Kershaw first signed with Next Management in 2007 and was later dubbed the “Next Superstar.” Her debut walk was in New York Fashion Week in 2008, with a total of 29 shows. She may have fallen on the runway because of her high heels or fainted because of a tight corset, but these incidents did not affect her career at all. Kershaw’s career was going nowhere but up!
Of course, the model looked to other projects to help establish herself, not just in the fashion industry but also in acting. She appeared in the film Mad Max: Fury Road. Her other films include Gods of Egypt, The Neon Demon, and The Dark Tower, while her recent work was Lovecraft Country. Her modeling and acting career has certainly helped her earn more investment money to use for her personal needs.
Jamie Dornan
Before starting his acting career, Jamie Dornan was well-known within the modeling world as the Golden Torso. While he indeed wanted to become an actor in his early years, he first pursued modeling at the persuasion of his family. His first public appearance was in the TV show Model Behaviour. He eventually modeled for fashion brands like Calvin Klein, Armani, Hugo Boss, and Abercrombie & Fitch. His A-list status garnered him the label ‘Golden Torso’ by the New York Times in 2006.
He pursued his acting career in 2006 through an appearance in Marie Antoinette. He initially found difficulty getting acting roles due to his prior modeling work, which was often associated with bad acting. Regardless, Dornan found his big break when he joined the cast of The Fall, alongside Gillian Anderson. He became world-famous when he starred in the Fifty Shades franchise, opposite Dakota Johnson. Other film credits to his name include A Private War, My Dinner with Hervé and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.
Marilyn Monroe
Regarded as one of the most famous women in Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe has made a significant mark in popular culture. Initially working as a factory worker during World War II, she was discovered by David Conover in 1945. She immediately rose to prominence by becoming a well-known pin-up girl. Banking on her newfound success, she began her acting career by signing on to numerous film studios, like 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures. While she returned to modeling by 1950, she immediately continued acting.
Monroe cemented her status as one of the sexiest women in Hollywood and a pop icon in 1953. Three movies defined that status: Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and How to Marry a Millionaire. In addition, her cover and centerfold features on the first edition of a man’s magazine made her famous beyond measure. Her other film credits include The Girl in Pink Tights, The Seven Year Itch, and River of No Return.
Halle Berry
Before she became an award-winning actress, Halle Berry was first well-known as a model. During the 1980s, Berry joined several beauty contests. In 1986, she became Miss Ohio USA and was the first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant. She tried to pursue a modeling career in New York City. However, she mainly focused on acting, with her first role in the TV series Living Dolls. During the 1990s, she found considerable success, with her most successful film, the biopic Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. Her performance in the movie got her an Oscar nomination, making her the first African American woman to achieve such an honor.
At the turn of the 21st century, she gained even more success, starring Storm in the X-Men series and winning an Oscar for her performance in Monster’s Ball in 2001. Once again, she brought an honor to the African-American community for being the first woman of color to win the said award. While she stopped modeling a long time ago, her natural beauty made her one of America’s most beautiful women. Outside of acting, she makes investments towards women’s and children’s rights. Recently, Berry made her directorial debut in Bruised, which was released in 2020.
Charlize Theron
While Charlize Theron has become a highly accomplished actress, she started as a model during her teenage years. When she was 16, she got a one-year modeling contract in Italy after winning a competition. She moved to the US after a year of modeling and continued her career there. She trained as a ballet dancer in New York until an injury ended this career path. Eventually, she moved to Los Angeles, where she started in the acting field. Through talent agent John Crosby, Theron made her acting debut in 1995 in the movie Children of the Corn III.
Two years later, Theron got her big break when she starred in The Devil’s Advocate. This began her rise to fame, with some film credits to her name include Trapped, Sweet November, and The Yards. She achieved worldwide fame in the 2000s, with her acclaimed roles in Monster, North Country, and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. For her performance in Monster, she won her first Oscar.
Uma Thurman
While Uma Thurman is well-known for her leading lady roles, acting wasn’t her start in the business. She began her career at the age of 15 in fashion, thanks to her mother, Nena von Schlebrügge, a model and a favorite at Vogue magazine. She appeared in Vogue and Glamour magazines within the first year of her career. In 1987, however, she soon found a passion for acting and made her acting debut in the thriller Kiss Daddy Goodnight. The following year, she dropped out of prep school to make an investment in herself to further her career.
She was already quite promising in the first years of her acting profession and became an A-list actress for her performance in the Quentin Tarantino movie, Pulp Fiction, in 1994. In her first collaboration with the famed director, she became iconic and praised by critics. She continued to work together with Tarantino in the film, Kill Bill, which was also well-received.
January Jones
While she has been known as an actress, January Jones started as a model. She began her career at the age of 18 in New York City. She was in high school at the time a modeling scout discovered her. She became the face of various fashion brands, such as Versace, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Clearasil. She also made it to the cover of different fashion magazines, like GQ, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and Bazaar. While she achieved considerable success in modeling, she eventually ventured into the acting field.
She debuted in 1999, mostly getting minor roles during her starting years. Eventually, she got her big break in 2007, when she was cast as Betty Draper in Mad Men. During the series’ run from 2007 to 2015, she earned two Golden Globe and an Emmy nominations for her role and won a Screen Actors Guild Award. In recent years, she mostly focused on doing TV series, with her latest being Spinning Out in 2020. Outside of acting, she has investments in marine conservation.
Lily Collins
Aside from being an actress and the daughter of musician Phil Collins, Lily Collins is an accomplished model in her own right. While she had a minor role at the age of 2, she began her career as a model during her teenage years. She became a debutante in 2007 when she was chosen by fashion brand Chanel to wear one of its gowns. Concurrent to her modeling career, she also wrote articles for fashion magazines, such as Vogue, Seventeen, and Elle Girl. This is in line with her journalism skills, which she got a degree from the University of Southern California. Eventually, she ventured even further into acting.
In 2009, she starred in two episodes of 90210. She subsequently appeared in films, such as The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Rules Don’t Apply, and Mirror, Mirror. Her breakout films were To the Bone and Okja, which were released in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The two films were both critically acclaimed. Collins’ recent projects include Emily in Paris, Mank, and Inheritance.
- Suki Waterhouse
While she has since expanded her career, Suki Waterhouse continuously does her first job in the entertainment business, modeling. She started her career at the age of 16 in London. Three years later, she became a lingerie model for retail giant Marks and Spencer. She also modeled for brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Swatch, H&M, and Topshop. She also graced the covers of Lucky, L’Officiel, Vogue, and Elle magazines. Building on her modeling success, she ventured into photography, acting, and business.
She started her acting career in 2010 and got her first leading role in the dystopian thriller The Bad Batch in 2016. Other films she appeared in include Jonathan, Billionaire Boys Club, and The Divergent Series: Insurgent. Waterhouse showcased her photography skills in a photo exhibition of in 2013. As for her business, she, along with Leo Seigal and her best friend Poppy Jamie, had an investment in launching her line of accessories called Pop & Suki. In 2016, the brand was featured in fashion magazines and many celebs wore some of its products, like Taylor Hill, Lady Gaga, and Jessica Alba.
Ian Somerhalder
Ian Somerhalder is now a staple of television, but he made his start as a teen model. He started modeling at the age of 10. While the brands he was modeling for aren’t known, he made some modest successes during this time. However, he put his modeling on hold at age 13. At age 17, he decided to pursue acting instead and made an investment in it. He made his acting debut in 2000 when he starred in Young Americans and got his big break in 2004 when he was cast as Boone Carlyle in the hit series Lost.
He then got another significant role on TV. This time, he was cast as Damon Salvatore in the hit drama series The Vampire Diaries. During the series’ run, his performance was generally well-received by critics and made Somerhalder endearing to many teens who watched the show. His recent project was the sci-fi series V Wars, which only lasted for a season. Outside acting, Somerhalder has been deeply involved in various charity causes, like LGBT-related assistance, animal welfare, and environmentalism. He participated in the clean-up in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010.
Sharon Stone
While Sharon Stone is well-known for her lengthy acting career, she made her start in modeling, albeit a short one. After joining the Miss Pennsylvania pageant during the mid-1970s, she pursued modeling after being convinced to drop out of college. She later signed on to Ford Models in New York. She then moved to Europe to further her career, but she decided to focus on acting instead.
She made her acting debut in 1980 as an extra in Woody Allen’s movie Stardust Memories. Stone subsequently appeared in films and TV series throughout the 1980s, like King Solomon’s Mines, Above the Law, and Bay City Blues. During the 1990s, Stone rose to prominence, and her appearance in Total Recall was highly received. However, it was her sensational role in Basic Instinct that made her into a big star. Other films and TV series she starred in include Casino, Bobby, and Ratched. While she had suspended her college studies in the past, Stone continued and managed to complete her degree in 2016.
Josh Holloway
While Josh Holloway is well-known as an actor today, he used to be a model for numerous fashion brands in Los Angeles. After stopping pursuing his college degree due to financial troubles, Holloway moved to Los Angeles for greener pastures. Sure enough, he made a name for himself as a print and runway model. He became the face of Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, and Donna Karan. He started acting in 1999, appearing in an episode of Angel. Before that, he made an appearance in the music video for Aerosmith’s Cryin’ back in 1993.
After having minor roles on TV, he got his big break when he starred as Sawyer Ford in the hit series Lost back in 2004. During its six-year run, Holloway became very famous and was even voted as one of the top hunks in America. After Lost, his next major project was Colony, which lasted from 2016 to 2018. Currently, he is part of the cast of the TV series Yellowstone since 2020.
Lily Cole
While Lily Cole has become a successful entrepreneur and actress, these successes couldn’t have made been possible without her modeling career. Cole began her career at the tender age of 16. Even before that, she was already photographed in 2001 at age 13. Immediately, she became sought after by fashion photographers due to her distinctive red hair. She modeled for countless fashion brands and magazines, like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Versace, and DKNY. Her prominence was quite noted when she became one of the models for the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Concurrently to her modeling career, Cole started her acting career in 2007 when she starred in the comedy St Trinian’s. She had her first lead role in the fantasy film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in 2009. While she is still committed to modeling, she has expressed her desire to transition to acting, according to a 2010 interview with Elle. Outside of acting and modeling, Cole has made an investment towards many charitable causes like PETA, WaterAid, and the Elton John’s foundation. She is the founder of the incubator and innovation group, Impossible.
Christie Brinkley
Before she became a successful actress and entrepreneur, Christie Brinkley wowed the world during the peak of her modeling career in the 1970s and 1980s. She was discovered by photographer Errol Sawyer back in 1973. She was immediately introduced to Elite Model Management and, eventually, Ford Models. She subsequently appeared on magazines, such as Glamour and signed a 25-year contract with cosmetics brand CoverGirl—among the longest contracts within the modeling world. However, it was her cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue that catapulted her into international fame. Over the years, Brinkley has appeared on hundreds of magazine covers, with many commentators and fans noting her girl-next-door and peppy vibe.
Banking on her modeling success, she expanded her career into acting, with her first appearance on National Lampoon’s Vacation in 1983. She eventually appeared on numerous films and TV shows, with her latest being in The Goldbergs in 2019. She also ventured into business, with investments in beauty products, real estate, and alcoholic products.
Lauren Bacall
One of the most iconic actresses in Hollywood history, Lauren Bacall, couldn’t have achieved such success and prestige without her modeling career. When Bacall studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1941, she worked as a fashion model and a theater usher. While she started her acting career in 1942, she first found considerable success as a model. She mainly appeared in Harper’s Bazaar and graced the covers of Vogue and Life magazines. Through her modeling, she found a breakthrough in her acting career when she appeared in To Have and Have Not in 1944.
Since then, Bacall has made a serious investment towards her acting career instead of modeling. Some of the movies to her name are The Big Sleep, The Shootist, and The Mirror Has Two Faces. For her contributions to the industry, she was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2009. This is in addition to her numerous wins and nominations over the years, including Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
Rene Russo
While Rene Russo has become a highly successful actress, she has made her career start as a model. After working numerous odd jobs for her family, she was discovered in 1972 and was signed into Ford Models. She quickly became a prominent model during the 1970s and 1980s. She appeared on the covers of Vogue, Mademoiselle, and Cosmopolitan. She is noted for her tenacious and confident vibe. However, her modeling career slowed down in the latter half of the 1980s. This was when she ventured into acting and eventually made a serious investment in it.
She made her acting debut in 1987 on TV but achieved her first commercial success when she starred in Major League in 1990. She starred in some mildly successful movies until she received her breakout role in Lethal Weapon 3, opposite Danny Glover and Michael Keaton, in 1992. She then achieved even greater success, starring in Get Shorty and In the Line of Fire, both of which were critically received. Recently, she became globally known as Frigga, Thor’s mother, in the Thor series. Her other recent films include The Intern, Velvet Buzzsaw, and Avengers: Endgame.
Kellan Lutz
Kellan Lutz used to be a model before he officially became an actor. A student of chemical engineering, Lutz started modeling when he was young. His first gig to stardom was when he did the reality TV show Model Citizens in 2004 that helped him gather more modeling gigs. He also appeared in many advertisements, including an ad for Hilary Duff’s fragrance With Love… Hilary Duff in 2006. While modeling, he was scouted by a talent agent. Lutz was oozing with acting potential, which made him easy to bag on roles in a number of 2000s films. Some of his acting credits are Stick It, Accepted, and Prom Night, while his breakthrough role came with the movie, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Eclipse.
He continues to do modeling projects on the side until now, even when he has successfully made a name in the acting industry. One of his latest projects was with Calvin Klein for an undergarment campaign and his recent contract with Ford Models.
Agyness Deyn
Agyness Deyn is an actress and a former model. The English star rose to fame for her runway appearances in the late 2000s. She was considered one of the top models of the decade before retiring from the glitzy industry in 2010. Since her retirement, Deyn has focused on acting. She starred in movies such as Clash of the Titans, Electricity, and Patient Zero, among others, and has also launched a career in music. She lent her voice for Five O’Clock Heroes’ song, Who, and even appeared on its music video.
Aside from this, Deyn also started a business and launched her own fashion line that showcased her interest and love for the fashion industry. As Deyn does acting and fashion design at the same time, she juggles her career with being a doting mother. Deyn is now a mother-of-two and is enjoying every bit of it.
Dree Hemingway
Dree Hemingway is not only known as the great-granddaughter of famous author Ernest Hemingway. She has also made a name for herself as a renowned model and actress. She started as a print ad model in the 2000s. Hemingway showed off her killer catwalk skills for luxury brand Givenchy in 2009. The same year, Hemingway also walked for Calvin Klein in New York and Topshop in London. She considers these years as one of her prime years in the field of modeling as it opened many opportunities for her to land more projects.
While doing modeling, Hemingway ventured into acting just like her actress mother, Mariel Hemingway. She leaned more into accepting independent films, such as Sean Baker’s Starlet, Listen Up Philip and While We’re Young—both in 2014. Currently, Hemingway is working on her latest movie credit, Run with the Hunted.
Joy Bryant
Joy Bryant did not imagine that she will likely become a famous actress in the future. While she was a student, she was discovered by a modeling talent. This opened opportunities for her to make enough money to pay her bills. She then landed print modeling gigs for Vanity Fair, InStyle, Playboy, and other magazines. Just as she thought she is set to have modeling as her main source of income and career, Bryant entered the acting industry in 2001.
She made her debut in Carmen: A Hip Hopera, a movie by Robert Townsend. She also starred in Antwone Fisher, to which her role became her breakthrough in the acting industry.
Aside from acting, Bryant has ventured into a business to expand her fortune. With wise money management skills to boot, Bryant put up her own production company named Hot Sauce, which she co-founded with Samantha Taylor Pickett.
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg is a known Hollywood actor with many talents to boot. Aside from acting, he is a producer and a former rapper. He is known for his roots as a musician. However, many may not know that Wahlberg became a model first before becoming an actor and rapper. He first displayed his modeling skills in a series of Calvin Klein ads in 1992. Wahlberg showed off his physique for top brands and magazines and even worked alongside supermodel Kate Moss. While he pursued a modeling career, opportunities for music and acting showed up for Wahlberg.
He released two albums in the early 1990s entitled Music for the People and You Gotta Believe. In 1994, Wahlberg wowed the American audience with his debut appearance in the movie Renaissance Man, which became the start of his high-flying Hollywood career. Because he is now an established personality in the industry, Wahlberg has expanded his interests into a business. Right now, the actor is a successful restaurateur, where he put much of his investment planning decisions on.
Alexis Bledel
It does not come as a surprise that Alexis Bledel’s sweet personality and beautiful face once graced many fashion magazines. Bledel started as a fashion and print ad model in the early 2000s before joining the entertainment industry. The 39-year-old beauty is a frequent model for magazines such as Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl, Elle Girl, Seventeen, and Glamour, among others. She is included in the Teen People’s list of 25 Hottest Stars under 25, further boosting the degree of popularity she has as a newcomer in the industry with her looks and charisma. She made her feature film debut in Tuck Everlasting. This signaled more acting projects for her, such as Sin City and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants film series.
Bledel is still active in the business until today. She can be seen in The Handmaid’s Tale as Emily Malek since 2017, to which she earned Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried has been under the spotlight even before her teenage years. She has already been posing for print advertisements and commercials at the tender age of 11. She then ventured into the world of acting when she turned 15 with a recurring role in As the World Turns, a CBS hit soap opera, as Lucy Montgomery, showing off her excellent acting chops. Her debut role sealed her place in Hollywood as a teen star. She also appeared in All My Children as Joni Stafford. As one of the most popular young actresses of her time, Seyfried bagged a major role for the hit chick flick Mean Girls, Mamma Mia, and Jennifer’s Body.
Seyfried has stepped back on acting in the past several years as she focused on her married life and motherhood. Now a doting mother, she chooses to spend more time with her family while accepting a few projects on the side. She now enjoys life on her farm, which she and her husband purchased as an investment.
Chace Crawford
Chase Crawford has all the looks of a model. Before becoming an actor, Crawford has juggled various jobs since he was in high school to make ends meet, pay his bills, and existing money loans. He worked as a model for Hollister; in an Abercrombie & Fitch store; and as a car valet attendance to fund his lifestyle. Crawford took up college but dropped it off to focus on his acting career.
As an actor, Crawford’s breakthrough project is the hit The CW teen drama series, Gossip Girl, where he played Nate Archibald for five years. He also made a name as a movie actor when he landed roles for The Covenant, Twelve, and What to Expect When You’re Expecting, among others. His stable career in Hollywood is proof that Crawford is not just a pretty face in the industry. He has proved his acting chops in the competitive industry, and he knows that he is here to stay.
Eddie Redmayne
Eddie Redmayne is an English actor and model. He was a full-time model in the 2000s, being the face of Burberry with Alex Pettyfer in 2008. He also posed with British model and actress Cara Delevigne in 2012 for the same brand and appeared on Vanity Fair as one of the models in the annual Best Dressed List. Redmayne is also named as one of the best-dressed British models.
However, fate has other plans for the star. Although he could not have a stable career in modeling, Redmayne was able to make it big in the entertainment industry.
From being a West End theatre actor, he was able to create a name of his own in 1996 when he started appearing for TV shows and films. In 2016, Redmayne became a full-time actor when he reached international stardom for J.K Rowling’s movie adaptation of the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. This boosted his fame and fortune and gave him a whopping net worth of $4 million to date, giving him the financial freedom to make investments outside his career.
Freida Pinto
Freida Pinto is a popular Indian actress who gained international stardom in many American and British films. The now-36-year-old star received several acting and modeling project offers during her college days, but she declined them all. She wanted to focus on her studies and finish her degree in English literature first before diving into the entertainment business. After receiving her diploma, Pinto worked briefly as a model and worked for the Elite Model Management in India. She posed for brands such as Vodafone, Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, De Beers, eBay, and many others.
Pinto then ventured into acting with the film debut Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, which gave her prominence in the industry. Her role earned her multiple international awards, including Palm Springs International Film Festival Award for Breakthrough Performance and Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Drama. She then took her fame to another level with other movies after the said successful and award-winning film.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow is one of Hollywood’s most popular A-list actresses, whose fame has lasted for decades. Before she started acting, however, many may not know that she used to be a model. While Paltrow was building her career in acting, she is also the face of one of the world’s luxury makeup brands. She has been the face of Estée Lauder’s Pleasures perfume since 1995, as well as the ambassador of the American fashion brand Coach. While enjoying a modeling career, Paltrow has slowly proved her acting chops in movies. Some of her famous films include The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Royal Tenenbaums, and her recent Ironman movies, giving her prominence in Hollywood.
Aside from acting on the side, Paltrow has established her name as a businesswoman with her lifestyle brand GOOP. The Ironman actress put up significant investment savings to fund this international brand, advocating health and wellness.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis has been in the industry since she was 14 years old. She rose to fame for her portrayal of Jackie Burkhart in the hit Fox TV series That ’70s Show. Kunis also appeared in Family Guy as Meg Griffin. She showed off her excellent acting chops and potential in comedy movies, leading to many film offerings under the romantic-comedy theme, such as her iconic movie with Justin Timberlake Friends with Benefits. Before Kunis gained fame as an actress, she was a commercial model. She posed for various brands, including a Lisa Frank commercial in 1993.
In recent years, Kunis remains a reputable actress who never loses a movie project and the degree of stardom despite marrying and having kids. She is known for her portrayals in Bad Moms and its sequel Bad Moms Christmas. Kunis remains active in the industry. She enjoys her fame alongside raising a family with her husband, Ashton Kutcher.
Nikki Reed
Nikki Reed rose to fame through her role as Rosalie Hale, one of the vampire characters in the hit The Twilight Saga movie series. Before landing on her breakthrough role, though, she has done a few minor roles on the big screen. Some of her film credits are Thirteen, which was released in 2003. In this film, she earned her Best Debut Performance award from the Independent Spirit Award and several other nominations. The actress also appeared in the hit teen drama series The O.C. Before venturing into acting, Reed was a teenage model. She once posed for the fashion brand Abercrombie and Fitch.
Incidentally, she married Ian Somerhalder, who also played a vampire in the top series The Vampire Diaries. The two have been married since 2015. Reed is busy with her own lifestyle brand BaYou, which she has been focusing on making a big name as a sustainable wedding ring provider.
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde is an American-Irish actress best known for her role as Remy Hadley in the hit medical-drama TV series House. She became a household name for five years that paved the way for her to do more films, such as The Lazarus Effect and Tron: Legacy. Wilde is also an award-winning director. She gained recognition for Booksmart, her first movie credit, which took home the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Many may not be aware that Wilde used to be a model before becoming an actress. In 2004, she posed for the fashion brand Abercrombie and Fitch. While her modeling career did not pan out, unlike other stars, Wilde showed off what she’s got in her photos which would pass as a supermodel. While doing acting projects, Wilde is making news with her romance with One Direction singer Harry Styles.
Penn Badgley
Penn Badgley is known for his role in The CW teen drama series Gossip Girl. He played Dan Humphrey in the hit show, earning six Teen Choice Award nominations. The actor is also recognized for his excellent acting performance in The Young and the Restless. Before being included in the Gossip Girl cast, Badgley was into modeling. He was able to sell clothes for Abercrombie & Fitch, just like other young stars before gaining attention as actors. Badgley’s adorable and impressive looks cannot be denied that he can gain many contracts for brand endorsements until now. His degree of charisma is undeniable. Aside from acting, Badgley has also been into music.
Currently, Badgley is part of the Netflix thriller series You since 2018 as Joe Goldberg. He is now happily married to Domino Kirke and they now have a beautiful son together.
Reese Witherspoon
In case you don’t know, your favorite Reese Witherspoon started as a model before becoming a well-known actress. At the tender age of seven, she was already selected to become the face of a florist’s TV advertisements. From here, the degree of her motivation to become an actress was beyond palpable. She took acting lessons and left school to pursue an acting career.
Reese’s hard work and sacrifices have definitely paid off, as she is now one of the most famous and successful actresses in the industry. She was one of the highest-paid actresses in the world as of 2019 and even one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2006 and 2015 by Time. Forbes also listed Reese as the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2019. With these feats, who would have thought the young commercial model would turn out to be as big and famous as Reese is today?
Scott Disick
Before Scott Disick became a part of the controversial Kar-Jenner family, he used to be a book-cover model. Yep, when Kourtney Kardashian’s former partner was a teenager, he used to work as a model for the Heartland book series, which started in 2000. The young Scott looked every inch dashing with his young and innocent face on the cover that would make every girl crushing hard on him back then.
Fast forward to 2007, Scott started to be seen on the hit reality TV series Keeping Up with the Kardashians with his then-girlfriend, Kourtney. From here, he became not just an integral part of the show but of the famous family as well. He got the credits for being a socialite and a reality star with his own clothing brand line, called Talentless, a nod to the insults reality stars received for being in reality shows.
Sofia Vergara
Another model-turn-actress success story is Sofia Vergara. She was only two semesters away from completing her degree when she decided to leave college and pursue her modeling and acting career. With her perfect stand, beautiful physique, and gorgeous face, the now-48-year-old star quickly received model and TV works. She started in a Pepsi commercial when she was only 17, and from here, the rest was history.
Sofia graced the cover of two fictional magazine Blush issues back in the ‘90s for the TV sitcom Just Shoot Me. Today, the model is now known as an actress, TV producer, and presenter. Sofia has been the highest-paid actress in American TV for seven consecutive years, from 2013 to 2020, an award-winning star, and is married to Joe Manganiello. The hit TV series Modern Family will never be complete without her, and she’s now one of the America’s Got Talent judges since 2020.
Victoria Beckham
You may know Victoria Beckham as a member of the all-girls ‘90s group Spice Girl, but long before she becomes Posh Spice, she was already a model. The socialite used to post for photographs before she joined the band in 1994. In fact, in 1991, she joined the Laine Theatre Arts to study dancing and modeling. The model in her eventually came out when she took the catwalk in 2000 for Maria Grachvogel, making her London Fashion Week debut. From here, she started to make a name in the fashion world and made her investments to become one of the famous faces of different designer brands and a fashion designer herself.
Her eponymous label was launched in 2008 and became a fixture in New York Fashion Week, starting in 2011. Victoria also launched a beauty brand called Victoria Beckham Beauty and continuously makes a big name in the industry.
Victoria Justice
Aside from being a young actress, Victoria Justice was also a model for Guess Kids when she was young. She used to be the face of its knitted cardigans, along with three other girls. Many might not know that Victoria was a model before she came to prominence on the hit Nickelodeon series Zoey 101. Here, she played the credit role of Lola Martinez and later became known as Tori Vega on Victorious.
The now-28-year-old star is also seen on the big screen in the movies The Boy Who Cried Werewolf, Fun Size, and The First Time, among others. At the age of 22, she had her lead role on the MTV series Eye Candy. Victoria is also a singer and has recorded some of her shows’ soundtracks, like the Nickelodeon musical, Spectacular. Victoria’s latest projects are the movie Trust and the upcoming film Afterlife of the Party.
Whitney Houston
Before Whitney Houston started belting out high-note songs, she posed and smiled as a fashion model in the ‘80s. Did you know she got credits for being the first woman of color to grace the cover of Seventeen, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and Young Miss magazines? She also appeared on a TV commercial for Canada Dry soft drink. Her girl-next-door charm back then made her a favorite teen model.
From here, she started her colorful recording career after signing with Tara Productions. The Queen of R&B was born, who didn’t only gather the hearts of many but different accolades as well. She remained one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) recognized her seven studio albums and two soundtrack albums, all certified diamond, multi-platinum, platinum, or gold. A true gem, she was.