Gal Gadot Opens Up About Her Pageant Past and Striving to Be More Than Miss Universe: ‘It Just Wasn’t Meant to Be’

Gal Gadot used to be a beauty queen back in 2004 when she won the title of Miss Israel. However, she revealed in a recent interview with Vanity Fair that she did not enjoy the experience. Despite competing for the Miss Universe crown that same year, the 35-year-old Wonder Woman actress admitted that she tried her best to avoid winning.

During the competition, Gadot recalled a funny moment when one of the judges, Paula Abdul, asked her a question and she pretended not to speak English well by saying, “Me no speak English, so sorry.” She did everything in her power to ensure that she wouldn’t be crowned Miss Universe.

It seems that even before becoming a Hollywood star, Gal Gadot had a knack for humor and quick thinking to navigate through challenging situations like beauty pageants.

Gal Gadot, known for her role as Wonder Woman, revealed in a recent Vanity Fair interview that being a beauty queen was not her cup of tea. The 35-year-old actress shared her disinterest in the pageant world in the November issue of the magazine. You can catch a glimpse of her thoughts in a video on Vanity Fair’s website.

She didn’t see it coming: Back in 2004, she was crowned Miss Israel with no intention of winning the Miss Universe title. Reflecting on that year during a Rolling Stone interview in 2017, she confessed that she entered the pageant just for the experience of it. Little did she know she would actually win.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, she discussed the upcoming release of Wonder Woman 1984, set to premiere on December 25, 2020. She shared her thoughts on the film, describing it as a deeper exploration of the hero’s journey. This time, the storyline delves into themes of greed and danger, which she believes are relevant to our current society. It’s worth noting that she was paid $300K for the first Wonder Woman film and a whopping $10M for the sequel, showcasing her rise to stardom.

Uninterested: The 5ft10in celebrity expressed, “Oh, wow,” when recalling an encounter with Paula Abdul during her time as a judge. Using a thick accent, she joked, “Sorry, no speak English,” as a tactic to prevent any unwanted outcomes.

Engaging in a dance: In this scene, the actress is situated on the far right next to Miss Canada. She then poses a thought-provoking question: “It seems like everyone is constantly chasing after more, but once you reach your goal, there’s always a new standard to meet – but at what cost? Are we at risk of losing ourselves in this never-ending race?” Gal expressed how emotional she becomes when watching the opening sequence of the movie 1984, featuring Lilly Aspell, who portrays a young Wonder Woman engaging in a physical challenge. She highlighted the importance of seeing representation on screen, noting that for males, the idea of being the hero and saving the day has been ingrained in them from the very beginning of cinema history.

Inspiring Role Model: Gal revealed that she gets emotional when watching the opening scene of the 1984 movie, where 12-year-old Lilly Aspell portrays the young Wonder Woman in a physical competition. She believes that seeing something visually is key to aspiring to become someone or something.

The Israeli actress also discussed the impact of portraying Wonder Woman, particularly on her own daughter. Gal, who has two daughters with her husband Jaron Varsano, shared that she showed the film to her eldest daughter, Alma. While Alma was thrilled to see her mother as a superhero, she found it difficult to watch her mom battle the villains on screen. They ended up skipping the scary parts, but Alma still loved the movie and felt proud of her mom.

Gal also addressed the criticism she faced for her rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine during self-isolation, with many on the internet calling them ‘out of touch.’ Despite the backlash, Gal remains positive and focused on inspiring others through her work.

Gal Gadot discussed the impact of her role as Wonder Woman, especially on her daughter Alma. As a mother to Alma, eight, and Maya, three, with husband Jaron Varsano, she shared that Alma was thrilled to see her mom as the iconic character but also found it hard to separate her from the action scenes. Despite intending to inspire with her portrayal, Gadot acknowledged that her efforts fell short of being truly impactful. The original video, featuring Gadot alongside Natalie Portman, Zoe Kravitz, Amy Adams, and others, was criticized for being out of touch when it was released in March during the COVID-19 lockdown. It all began with good intentions, as Gadot explained.

Her mentor, Patty Jenkins, joined her at the World Premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ Wonder Woman in 2017.
In a recent video, she began by addressing her followers from day six of self-quarantine, expressing her thoughts on the current situation in the world.
Acknowledging the global impact of the virus, she emphasized the unity of people from all walks of life during this tough time.
Inspired by a heartwarming video of an Italian man playing the trumpet for his neighborhood during the lockdown, she found beauty in the simplicity and unity that music brings.
Gal then proceeded to sing a song, followed by clips of other celebrities like Kristen Wiig, Jamie Dornan, Labrinth, James Marsden, and Sarah Silverman, each taking part in the message of solidarity and hope.

In March, Gal Gadot and her famous companions faced criticism for singing John Lennon’s Imagine during self-isolation. Many internet users labeled them as “out of touch” for singing about having “no possessions” from their luxurious homes.

In her Vanity Fair cover story from November 2020, Gal shared her thoughts on the video by saying: “Sometimes, you try to do a good deed, but it just doesn’t turn out the way you hoped.” She added, “My intentions were pure, and I just wanted to spread positivity and love to the world.”

Gal went on to explain how the well-known rendition of Imagine came about: “I initially reached out to a few friends, and then Kristen Wiig got involved. Kristen is very popular in Hollywood, and she brought more people on board. I started the project with good intentions, but unfortunately, it didn’t have the desired impact.”

In a recent article by Nancy Jo Sales for Vanity Fair, it was noted that Gal was contacted for a comment on Monday after facing backlash for her role as Cleopatra in an upcoming film directed by the same Wonder Woman director. The controversy surrounding the casting decision stemmed from confusion over Cleopatra’s heritage, with some mistakenly assuming she was African and black, when in reality she was believed to be ethnically Greek or Persian.

Gal, a mother of two, reflected on her tendency to speak bluntly, acknowledging that it can sometimes cause trouble. She shared how she has learned to subtly disagree with others by saying, “I don’t disagree with you, but,” ultimately standing by her truth rather than prioritizing approval from others. Adapting a philosophy of “I do me, you do you,” Gal expressed a preference for honesty over universal likability, emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself.

Another potential blockbuster? Armie Hammer is set to play Simon Doyle, with Gal Gadot taking on the role of Linnet Ridgeway in the upcoming film, Death On The Nile, from 20th Century Studios. Fans can mark their calendars for December 18th to catch this thrilling adaptation on the big screen.