Gal Gadot visits the U.S. for the first time as a teenager in New York, 1999
Born in Petah Tikva, Israel, Gal Gadot had her yes set on studying law and international relations, although the modeling world was calling to her from a young age.
After visiting New York City in the ‘90s and before serving in the Israeli Army for two years she took part in the Miss Israel contest and at age 18 she did what no one expected – she won. Gadot explains that she was totally shocked when her name was announced:
I was 18, I just graduated high school and I had some time in between going to the army. My mom figured, ‘Hey, why don’t I send your photo, you finished school and this like a proper pageant,’ whatever. I got in and I never thought I would win and then I won and then it scared me. I was like, ‘What? Miss Israel? All the responsibility of being Miss Israel?’