American actress, singer, and fashion designer's relationship with the pageant
Vanessa Williams
Williams in 1984
Known for
Miss America (First African American) – 1984
Title
Miss America 1984 Miss New York 1983 Miss Syracuse 1983
Term
September 17, 1983 – July 22, 1984 (resigned)
Predecessor
Debra Maffett
Successor
Suzette Charles
Awards
Preliminary Talent (Voice), "Happy Days Are Here Again"[1] Preliminary Swimsuit[1]
Vanessa Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American actress, singer, and fashion designer. She initially gained recognition as the first African American winner of the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984 in September 1983. Several weeks before the end of her reign, however, a scandal arose when Penthouse magazine bought and published[2][3] nude photographs of Williams. Williams was pressured to relinquish her title and was succeeded by the first runner-up, Miss New Jersey 1983, Suzette Charles. She was the first Miss America to give up her crown. Thirty-two years later, in September 2015, when Williams served as head judge for the Miss America 2016 pageant, former Miss America CEO Sam Haskell made a public apology to her for the events of 1984.
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