17 celebrities who became politicians

Dan Hallman/AP

Former reality TV star and real estate mogul Donald Trump isn't the first celebrity to enter the world of politics.

With a penchant for attention and widespread name recognition, celebrities have a unique advantage in politics, where simply getting noticed is the first step toward winning a political campaign.

From Ronald Reagan to Arnold Schwarzenegger, here are 17 celebrities who used their superstar status to jump-start their political careers.