17 celebrities who started on reality TV

Most folks know Beyoncé from her many successful hits like “Crazy In Love” and “Single Ladies,” but did you know she got her start on a reality competition series called Star Search ? Although she and her bandmates lost then, Beyoncé, and her friend Kelly Rowland, would eventually be part of one of the most successful girl groups in history just a few years later. Destiny’s Child (1990-2006) has produced four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits and has received two Grammy awards for their work on “Survivor” and “Say My Name.” 

Before Mike The Miz became the big-shot WWE wrestler he is today, he got his TV start in 2001 on the MTV series The Real World. After, he appeared in its spin-off, The Challenge, where he competed four times and won twice. Currently, he stars in the USA Network series Miz & Mrs alongside his wife, WWE Diva Maryse Mizanin. 

After her breakout role in Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta, NeNe Leakes became a force in the entertainment industry. As if her roles as Coach Roz Washington and Rocky Rhodes in Fox originals such as Glee and The New Normal weren’t enough, Leakes starred as Madame and Mama Morton in the Broadway musicals Cinderella and Chicago.

Britney Spears first appeared on Star Search in 1991. Although she didn’t win, Britney went on to be in stage plays and different television shows. Eventually, she signed a recording contract with Jive Records and released her first album, ...Baby One More Time, in 1999. Since then, she’s released eight additional albums and headlined her Las Vegas residency from 2013-2017.  

Before Cardi B had a No. 1 album and several Hot 100 hits, she was simply a girl from the Bronx trying to make it big. In 2015, Cardi appeared on the VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop: New York . Although her time on the show was short, she used it to her advantage, eventually snagging collaborations with Meg The Stallion, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny, and Kehlani. 

Most people recognize Laverne Cox from her roles on popular networks like Netflix and CBS or her work as an LGBTQ+ advocate. But before originating the role of Sophia Burset on Orange Is The New Black, Laverne first appeared on a VH1 reality show titled I Want To Work for Diddy. Since then, she’s appeared in the remake of Charlie’s Angels, posed for the cover of TIME magazine, and received a Primetime Emmy nomination.

Do you remember Chase Adams from The CW drama One Tree Hill ? Before his time starring next to actors Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty, he appeared on the MTV reality series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. After wrapping up his time in Tree Hill, Stephen had starring roles in TV movies The Wedding Do Over and Hometown Christmas.

Karamo Brown has been a trailblazer in reality TV since 2004. Once he appeared on The Real World: Philadelphia, he became the first openly gay Black man cast on a reality television show. Currently, Karamo is one of the stars of the Netflix rebooted series Queer Eye while also hosting his syndicated talk show, Karamo. 

Elisabeth Hasselbeck rose to fame in 2001 during her time on the second season of Survivor. She gained even more notoriety between 2003-2013 when she appeared as a co-host on the ABC daytime talk show, The View. In 2009, she was awarded the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host.

Harry Styles is another mainstream artist who got his start on reality television. Harry and four other contestants, who were eliminated as solo acts on The X Factor , were brought together by Simon Cowell to form One Direction. They competed in the show's "groups" category and finished in third. After, One Direction signed a recording contract with Simon’s label and released their first album, Up All Night, which charted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Since the group’s disbandment, Harry has released three solo albums — all certified Platinum in the US.  

Like Harry Styles, Camilla Cabello was also a contestant on the TV competition show, The X Factor. After success with the girl group Fifth Harmony, Camilla released her first solo album, which reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200. She made her acting debut in the film Cinderella in 2021, where she starred alongside Idina Menzel and Billy Porter.

Although Jennifer Hudson is known for becoming the youngest woman to receive all four major entertainment awards (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony), some may forget that she got her start in 2004 as a finalist on American Idol. Even though she placed seventh, Hudson’s career skyrocketed shortly after with starring roles in films such as Dreamgirls and Sex and the City.

Many know Kelly Clarkson from her hit singles, namely “A Moment Like This” and “Stronger.” But we can’t forget she was the first-ever winner of the singing competition show American Idol. Today, Kelly is keeping busy by coaching new artists on the NBC show The Voice and hosting her daytime series, The Kelly Clarkson Show.  

There’s no doubt that Justin Timberlake became a household name while in the boy band NSYNC. However, JT first appeared on Star Search in 1992, performing as a country act named Justin Randall. After, he filmed The Mickey Mouse Club with stars like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and future bandmate JC Chasez. Since NSYNC, Timberlake has released five studio albums, received 10 Grammys, and has starred in a handful of films. 

Usher is another big-named musician who rose to fame in the ‘90s after competing on Star Search. His first album, Usher, performed okay on the charts. However, his sophomore record, My Way, really put him on the map. Since then, he’s released six studio albums, his most significant being his 2004 project, Confessions.

Jamie Chung, known for her leading role in the film Eden, is another celebrity who started out on the MTV series, The Real World. Since her time in San Diego with her roommates, Jamie has acquired quite an impressive resume. She has additional credits in Once Upon a Time, Grey's Anatomy, and This Is Us.  

Eva Marcille rose to fame after winning the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model in 2004. Since then, she’s graced the covers of magazines like Women’s Health and Fitness and Essence. Eva has also starred in scripted series such as The Game, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, and as of 2021, All the Queen’s Men on BET+.