Vanessa Williams Biography

As a child Vanessa loved performing music and received scholarship to study at Syracuse University as Theater Arts major in 1981 to 1983. In 1983, she represented New York in the Miss America pageant and became the first women of African-American descent to be crowned with the title. She also won both preliminary talent and swimsuit competitions before the final round. Unfortunately her triumphs were short lived. Before her historic win when Vanessa was young she posed for several nude girl-girl photographs for Penthouse and when the magazine published them in 1984 she was forced to give up the title of Miss America by the officials on July 23, 1984. The title subsequently went to first runner up, African Italian Suzette Charles.

After the crown scandal Williams regained her composure and moved forward with her career as an entertainer earning Grammy, Emmy and Tony award nominations. Her musical career began with her first release, the right stuff (1998). She also signed a recording contract and released several hit albums including the multi-million seller “The Comfort Zone” which featured the hit single “Save the best for last” and in 1996 she released her next album “The Sweetest Day”. After performing in television roles and music videos, she began appearing in films like Another You (1991) and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991). Her biggest hit film was Eraser (1996) where she was co-starred with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Vanessa reached another personal and professional pinnacle when she sang the American national anthem on a telecast of Super Bowl XXX.

On social issues Williams is well known for her outspoken support for gay rights, and also won the Human Rights campaign "Ally for Equality Award" in 2008. Vanessa has been married twice but both her marriages were unsuccessful. At present she is single and resides in Beverly Hills, California and Chappaqua, New York.