Shape Magazine – “Celebrity Photos: Then and Now, Photos of 15 Former Beauty Queens. See how former Miss USA and Miss Universe winners have aged gracefully–and learn their secrets for staying Fit and Fabulous
November 05, 2013
Julie Hayek looked so amazing in a bikini, she scored the highest swimsuit scores during both Miss USA and Miss Universe (and by the looks of her current photo, not much has changed!). After her year representing America, she returned to UCLA, where she graduated with a degree in biology, then worked as an actress with roles in Dallas, Twin Peaks, Matlock, Hunter, and The Tonight Show. Later Hayek moved to New York to become a model by day, stock trader by night. She’s currently a real estate agent and is writing a book on health and fitness.
Key to confidence: “Visualization and meditation helps build confidence. Backstage I would envision my favorite, most positive moment: I was a cheerleader at UCLA, and my favorite routine was for a song called ‘Celebrate,’ so I would mentally imagine performing to that song in front of 60,000 fans. We all have strong, positive moments in our lives, and if we focus on those images when we’re feeling fearful, it will help dissolve those fears and empower you to do better.”
Healthy eating philosophy: “When it comes to food, keep everything in balance. I don’t deny myself, I just eat smaller portions. And fill your refrigerator with fresh fruits that are already cleaned and arranged in glass bowls. When you’re in a grazing mood and you open the fridge, they will be there ready for your consumption.”


Las Vegas Sun “Photos: 1983 Miss USA Julie Hayek Still Models 30 Years Later.”
By Robin Leach Original article
Thursday, June 6, 2013 | 11:11 p.m.
Defying conventional thinking, pageant princesses prove time and again that beauty does come with brains, and those slinky gowns and sexy swimsuits aren’t the wardrobe markers of ditzy blondes and brunettes.
In fact, many of the contestants of the Miss America, Miss USA and Tropic Beauty pageants held in Las Vegas have gone on to remarkable careers on Wall Street and in Washington and Hollywood. They’ve had successful TV careers, become leaders in the legal, education and medical fields and run for Congress.
It was 30 years ago that Julie Hayek became Miss USA 1983 and was first runner-up in the Miss Universe Pageant. In her role, she met presidents, prime ministers and heads of states around the world. A year later, she graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in psychology.
Julie has had a successful real estate and financial career in New York and will be in Las Vegas next week for the 62nd Annual Miss USA Pageant at PH Live in Planet Hollywood. She’ll dazzle the hopefuls because at 52, she still models swimwear and had a 10-day assignment for a fitness company just last year.
“I’m asked all the time: Is it my diet? Is it my exercise routine? Is it my attitude? Or is it all of them?” she told me. Julie, who won the highest scores in the swimsuit categories of Miss California, Miss USA and Miss Universe, is still fit and fabulous and wants to share those secrets with the world. She’s finishing her book “No-Rules Dieting: Eat, Drink and Be Merry.” You could call it “Beauty Queen Secrets.”
“I always wanted to maintain my competitive edge, so I made it my business to know everything about fitness and health. I’ve tried every diet and exercise regime since modeling in high school. Everywhere I go, I’m asked how I stay in such great shape, so I decided to put my secrets into a book.”
Julie loves good food, fine wine and chocolate. “I believe in keeping everything in balance, though. I don’t believe in restrictions; I believe in moderation. It’s important to listen to your body,” she said.
Her hints emphasize drinking lots of water with sliced lemons, unlimited papaya to change body chemistry, edamame as a snack and a freezer filled with favorite “go to” foods such as homemade turkey meatloaf and spicy lentils. Julie also fills her fridge with plastic bags of fresh, cleaned, sliced fruit for instant eating.
Her one secret weapon for keeping the body long and lean? Leg lifts for the tush. “I’m proud of my age. I feel fantastic, and I want to stay in great shape for many years to come,” she summed up.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.