Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher was discovered at a bar in Iowa where he was a college student. After competing and placing first in the “Fresh Faces of Iowa” competition, Kutcher was awarded a modeling contract. This led to his appearance in ads and commercials for Calvin Klein as well as walking runways in Paris and Milan.
It was Kutcher’s success as a model that landed him his breakout role as Michael Kelso on “That ‘70s Show.” This experience led to several comedic roles in films like “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” “Just Married,” etc. He continues to work in television as well.
Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum has been quite open about his humble beginning as a male dancer, even starring in the movie “Magic Mike,” which was loosely based on his experiences. Not everyone knows that Tatum also modeled early on in his career for brands like Abercrombie & Fitch and Nautica. His skills as a dancer ultimately led to his success, though.
In 2006, Tatum took Hollywood by storm with “Step Up.” As one of Hollywood’s favorite leading men, he has since appeared in many other movies. He’s best known for his roles in “Dear John,” “The Vow,” “She's the Man,” “The Dilemma,” and “White House Down.”
Chris Pratt
His character on “Parks and Recreation” has earned Chris Pratt the reputation of being a bit of a doof. But he certainly knows how to pose in front of a camera. Before his big break in acting, Pratt modeled for brands like Ralph Lauren.
After receiving minor roles in shows like “Everwood” and “The O.C.,” Pratt ultimately landed his gig on “Parks and Recreation.” From there, his career took off and he's now become a household name. He is most known for starring in films like “Jurassic World,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and “Passengers.”
Taylor Swift
Before Taylor Swift and her guitar produced multiple hits, she used it as a prop while modeling for Abercrombie & Fitch. Her modeling career didn’t last long though and was a publicity stunt arranged by her talent manager at the time. She and her family moved to Nashville to push her musical career.
With the help of her father, Swift’s career in the country scene took off. She has since released numerous hit albums, transitioning from country to pop over the years. In addition to a music career, Swift also has dabbled in acting in films like “The Giver,” and “Cats.”
Penn Badgley
Before Penn Badgley was stirring up trouble as Dan Humphrey in “Gossip Girl,” he was trying to make it big in Hollywood. In addition to making appearances in shows like “Will & Grace,” “What I Like About You,” and “The Young and the Restless,” Badgley did some modeling for Abercrombie & Fitch.
Badgley’s first major role was in “John Tucker Must Die,” helping him gain the recognition to earn his role in “Gossip Girl.” Despite never having actually gone to high school, the actor spent most of his youth portraying high school students. Today he’s best known for starring in the Netflix original “You.”