Vanessa L. Williams (b. 1963)

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Biography

Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American singer, actress, model, producer and dancer. She gained recognition as the first black woman to win the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She would later resign her title amid a media controversy surrounding nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine. 32 years later, Williams was offered a public apology during the Miss America 2016 pageant for the events.

Timeline

The story of Vanessa L. Williams, told in moments.

1983 Event

Crowned Miss America 1984. First Black woman to win the title in the pageant's 63-year history. Seven weeks before the end of her reign, Penthouse published unauthorized nude photos taken years earlier. She was pressured to resign.

What was it like being the first Black Miss America? Did the Penthouse scandal feel like the world punishing your success? How did you survive being pressured to resign?

1992 Event

Released "Save the Best for Last," which spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The former scandal became a footnote. Three Grammy nominations followed. Her album The Comfort Zone sold over two million copies.

Was 'Save the Best for Last' sweet revenge? Did five weeks at number one erase the scandal or just overshadow it? Was the comeback always the plan?

2002 Life

Starred as the Witch in Sondheim's Into the Woods on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination. Her career spanned pop music, Broadway, film, and television. Best known on TV as Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty.

How does Broadway compare to pop music and TV? Was the Tony nomination for Into the Woods a different kind of validation? Is Wilhelmina Slater your most fun role?

2015 Event

Received a public apology from the Miss America Organization during the 2016 pageant broadcast. 32 years late. She accepted it graciously.

What did that 32-years-late apology from Miss America feel like? Was accepting it graciously genuine or strategic? Do you define yourself beyond that pageant?

In Their Own Words (3)

I am lucky to have three daughters who are completely different. I look at my daughters and I have different relationships with all three and there are parts of each personality that are very special.

2012

The wiser you get, the more experience you have, and the more you see people for who they are as human beings, as opposed to figures you have to fight against.

2012

I think there's a time to work, and everyone has to kind of adjust. And then there's a time to relax, and be the mom or take the kids on vacation when you need to wind down. So it's a matter of planning, and being able to map out your year or your week or let's start with the day. It is just being multi-tasking and being available.

Vanessa Williams: 'Vacation' (April 6, 2004), 2004

Artifacts (15)

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2011

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2012

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