Beauty pageants have long served as a launchpad for ambitious women to carve out thriving careers in entertainment. These crowned ambassadors of grace and intellect don’t just captivate audiences with their elegance—they often leverage the spotlight to master the craft of acting, emerging as beloved fixtures on the silver screen. Beyond their poise and charisma, many pageant winners possess a rare blend of emotional depth and storytelling prowess, seamlessly transitioning from the glitz of the stage to the demanding world of K-drama. Whether embodying the girl-next-door romantic lead, a cunning antagonist, or a morally complex antihero, these stars defy stereotypes, proving that pageant pedigree and artistic versatility make for a transformative alchemy.

Let’s take a look at some of the beauty pageant winners who transitioned into acting and made a name for themselves in the industry.

Lee Bo Young 

Before becoming one of South Korea's most renowned actresses, Lee Bo Young was a beauty queen. Winning the title of Miss Korea Daejeon Chungnam in 2000, she quickly transitioned from the pageant scene to modeling and eventually to acting. Lee Bo Young made her acting debut in 2003, and over the years, she has solidified her status as one of the industry's top actresses with notable works like “Mother,” “I Can Hear Your Voice," “Whisper,” and “Mine.”

Honey Lee

Lee Ha Nee, popularly known as Honey Lee, rose to fame after finishing fourth in the 2007 Miss Universe. Her success in the pageant circuit was just the beginning of her career in the entertainment realm. Lee Ha Nee began her acting journey in 2008 with the musical “Polaroid” and starred in numerous K-dramas such as “The Fiery Priest,” “Knight Flower,” “Partner,” “Indomitable Daughters-in-law,” “One the Woman,” etc.

Kim Sung Ryung

Kim Sung Ryung won Miss Korea in 1988 and went on to represent her country at the Miss Universe 1989 pageant. After her success in the beauty queen world, she transitioned into a news reporter before eventually turning into a sought-after actress. She has a rich catalog of acting works that include dramas like “The Heirs,” “A Virtuous Business,” "Kill Heel," “Political Fever,” and “Mrs. Cop.”

Lee Da Hae

Lee Da Hae, born Byun Da-hye, first gained attention after winning the 71st Miss Chunhyang Pageant in 2001. Under the stage name Lee Da-hae, she began her acting career with minor roles before landing her big break in the drama "My Girl" (2005), which catapulted her to stardom. Her other significant works include "Green Rose," "Sweet 18,” "The Slave Hunters,” "Hotel King," "IRIS 2,” "Nice Witch,” etc.

Kim Sa Rang

Kim Sa Rang was crowned Miss Korea in 2000 and represented South Korea at the Miss Universe 2001 pageant, where she won the ‘Best National Costume’ award for her stunning traditional Korean Hanbok. After her pageant success, she transitioned into acting and appeared in dramas like “Secret Garden,” “Mina,” “Tokyo Shower,” “The Goddess of Revenge,” “Abyss,” etc.

Oh Hyun Kyung

Oh Hyun Kyung won the Miss Korea title in 1989 with her real name, Oh Sang-ji, and represented South Korea in the Miss Universe 1990 pageant. She began her acting career with the stage name Oh Hyun Kyung and quickly made a name for herself. Some of her well-known works include "When the Phone Rings,” "Su Ji & U Ri,” "The Empire,” "Legendary Witch,” "First Wives Club,” etc.

With successful transitions from beauty pageant title holders to renowned K-drama actresses, these beauty queens have proven that there's so much more to them than just stunning looks.

SEE ALSO: Popular K-drama Actresses who are also Beauty Pageant Winners