Vanessa Lynn Williams is a multifaceted American singer, actress, and fashion designer who gained initial fame as the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1984. Her tenure was overshadowed by controversy when Penthouse magazine revealed plans to publish unauthorized nude photographs, prompting her resignation under pressure from the Miss America Organization in July 1984. Suzette Charles, the first runner-up from New Jersey, succeeded her. In a public gesture of reconciliation, Miss America CEO Sam Haskell issued an apology to Williams during the 2016 Miss America pageant for the scandal’s fallout.
Despite the controversy, Williams effectively transitioned into a successful music and acting career. Her debut album, “The Right Stuff,” released in 1988, included the hit single “Dreamin’,” which climbed to number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her follow-up albums, “The Comfort Zone” (1991) and “The Sweetest Days” (1994), were commercially successful and garnered several Grammy nominations, especially for the hit “Save the Best for Last.” She has continued to produce music, with albums such as “Everlasting Love” (2005) and “The Real Thing” (2009).
Williams has also made significant strides in acting. She won an NAACP Image Award for her role as Teri Joseph in the film “Soul Food” (1997). On television, she is recognized for her portrayal of Wilhelmina Slater in “Ugly Betty” (2006–2010), a role that earned her three Primetime Emmy nominations, and for playing Renee Perry in “Desperate Housewives” (2010–2012).
