While younger audiences may know Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, there’s a woman who filled the boots — and tiara — before her. Lynda Carter is the original Wonder Woman, who graced the small screen in the 1970s show of the same name. Lynda was a young actress who only had a few guest appearances on TV under her belt before she was skyrocketed to stardom as the iconic DC superhero.

At first, Lynda wanted to be a musician. She formed a band with her cousins in high school that turned out so good, they performed regularly in Las Vegas! She quit music in college, and set her sights on pageant circuits. Lynda won Miss World USA in 1972 representing Arizona. Acting came later, and the rest was history. To see photos of Lynda Carter throughout her life, from her pageant days, to her Wonder Woman era, to today, scroll through this gallery!