As anyone who's seen Miss Congeniality knows, Miss United States isn't a beauty pageant ... it's a scholarship fund. And for these five women, walking away with the crown (and a hefty chunk of pocket change!) was just the beginning. In honor of today's MADE, read up on a few high profile ladies who used their pageant success to jump-start their careers!
If you followed the 2008 presidential elections, you might remember that Sarah Palin's got some old pageant gowns gathering dust in her closet. The former Miss Wasilla placed third in the Miss Alaska pageant in 1984, then went on to become Governor of Alaska (and VP nominee, don'tcha know)!