The Miss USA pageant has once again rolled around in 2026, with a new hopeful looking to be crowned the country's premier beauty queen in Miami on August 27, succeeding Audrey Eckert of Nebraska.
The pageant, while controversial, has a storied history dating back to 1952. And several of its most notable contestants have since ended up as multi-platinum recording artists, TV stars, and even an Oscar winner.
Did you know Halle Berry competed at the Miss USA pageant in 1986? And went on to represent the country in a history-making run internationally as well?
© Getty ImagesHalle Berry's pageant roots
In the 1980s, teenage Halle began entering beauty pageants in Ohio, first experiencing notable success when she was named Miss Teen All American in 1985.
The following year, she participated in Miss Ohio USA, and won the pageant at just 19 years old, earning her spot in the Miss USA pageant.
© Getty ImagesHalle Berry at Miss USA 1986
That May, Halle competed in the 1986 Miss USA pageant. Her interview portion in particular is considered one of the strongest in the pageant's history, in which she explains her desire to become an entertainer and her hope to act as a "positive role model for not only women, but for all of the people of the United States," and to become "whatever it is you want to become" irregardless of sex, religion or race.
Her answer was reportedly awarded the highest score of the night, although she eventually just missed out on the crown, placing as the runner-up to Miss Texas Christy Fichtner.
© Getty ImagesHalle Berry at Miss World 1986
As is tradition, as the Miss USA runner-up, Halle represented the nation at the Miss World pageant in November, while Miss Texas represented the country at Miss Universe.
© Getty ImagesHer run at the pageant was a history-making one, as the first African-American to represent the United States at Miss World. She eventually placed in the top seven, losing the title to Giselle Laronde of Trinidad and Tobago.
© Getty ImagesHalle Berry's career after pageants
"Once you start winning these things it's like a snowball. And you have to go to the next one and if you when there you go to the next one, and I kept winning all the way until the Miss USA pageant where I did not win," the actress told W Magazine in 2016.
After she lost the Miss World pageant, Halle decided to focus on acting. She moved to New York City, making her film debut in 1989 in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. Her career continued to grow, and 15 years after her pageant run, she starred in Monster's Ball. That film in particular allowed her to make history once again, becoming the first African-American to win the Oscar for Best Actress.
