Vanessa Williams FINALLY Gets Her Miss America Apology – 32 Years Later
Vanessa Williams was tearful after receiving the public apology from the Miss America committee. [Photo: Rex]
It’s been 32 years since model, actress and singer Vanessa Williams became the first African-American woman to be named Miss America – and almost as much time has passed since she was stripped of the title.
Just months after winning the coveted title in 1983, Penthouse magazine published nude photographs of Williams without her permission.
Despite the fact that the New Yorker had posed for the photos years before entering the competition, the Miss America committee forced her to hand back her crown.
But now, over three decades later, Williams has received a public apology from the organisation.
“I want to apologise for anything that was said or done,” said Miss America CEO Sam Haskell.
Haskell took to the stage to formally apologise to his “friend” Williams. [Photo: Rex]
The 52-year-old, who’s still the only pageant winner who’s ever been asked to resign her title, was asked to serve as head judge on the committee this year and Haskell used the opportunity to apologise to the star.
“I have been a close friend to this beautiful and talented lady for 32 years,” he said. “You have lived your life in grace and dignity, and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you resigned.
“Though none of us currently in the organisation were involved then, on behalf of today’s organisation, I want to apologise to you and to your mother, Miss Helen Williams.
“I want to apologise for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be.”
Williams, who went on to star in the likes of “Desperate Housewives” and “Ugly Betty”, called the statement “unexpected” and “beautiful”, saying on stage that she “did the best [she] could” during the scandal.
“I want to thank everyone who has come up to me over the past 32 years and said, ‘You’ll always be MY Miss America’,” Williams said after this year’s pageant.
“I got a chance to be on the stage and represent what I represented back in 1984. Thank you so much for being so welcome to me.”
Williams and Haskell with this year’s winner. [Photo: Rex]
As well as forging an enviable acting career, Williams has had plenty of success in the music industry, too.
She’s sold over seven million records since her 1988 debut album “The Right Stuff” and won a Golden Globe, Grammy AND Oscar for Best Original Song for “Colours Of The Wind” from “Pocahontas”.
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