Business Side of Black Beauty: Pageant Winners’ Success Stories

Halle Berry 1986 Miss USA Pageant

Berry, Miss Ohio, was first runner-up in the 1986 Miss USA pageant. She also competed in the 1986 Miss World pageant.

After modeling in Chicago, she moved to New York City to pursue an acting career and the rest is history.

Her breakout roles included a part in 1991’s “Jungle Fever” with Wesley Snipes. She followed that up that same year with a supporting role in “Strictly Business“. In 1992 her role in “Boomerang” with Eddie Murphy made her a star. Her roles as the X-Men character Ororo Munroe, aka Storm in the movie franchise also earned her acclaim in the industry.

In 2002, Berry became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her lead role in “Monster’s Ball” with Billy Bob Thornton and the late Heath Ledger.

Berry also stars in the 2014 summer blockbuster, “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” According to Forbes, she’s worth $60 million.