Vanessa Williams
Since She's Getting Divorced, We Thought We Would Recount Her Career So Far
Especially The Penthouse Scandal - Some Pics Of Which Are In The Gallery

Vanessa Lynn Williams was born on March 18, 1963, to Milton and Helen Williams. Milton and Helen both held advanced degrees in music therefore they were perfect for getting Vanessa started in Piano and the French Horn. But, it was her beautiful and silky voice that came naturally to her. It would become so much her love that she would continue to pursue singing through college at Syracuse University as a Theater Arts major.

As Vanessa's beauty and graciousness matured, she started competing in beauty pageants. Before she knew it, she had been crowned Miss New York. In doing so she would have to go on to represent New York in the Miss America pageant. So on to the pageant she went, not knowing if she could do the same thing again. But Vanessa proved everyone wrong. She did do it. As a matter of fact, she went on the become the first African-American to ever win the Miss America crown.

Vanessa Williams made history twice: first, in 1983, when she was became the first black woman to be chosen Miss America; and again, in 1984, when she was forced to relinquish her crown after Penthouse published photos of her taken years before. They weren't just nude photos, but an edgy (for the time) girl/girl series of pics with a white girl where they simulated sex acts, including what appears to be a 'rim job', among others.

See The Vanessa Williams Gallery

"Perseverance. I never aspired to be a role model and I don’t live my life to be one, but if I am admired, it’s for my strength and perseverance-that’s what’s most important for me” - Vanessa Williams

Place of Birth: New York, N.Y., USA
Sign: Sun in Pisces, Moon in Capricorn
Children: Jillian, Melanie, and Devin (with Hervey); Sasha Gabriella (with Fox)

Some Of Her Many Credits
MOVIES
Shaft — 2000
Light It Up — 1999
Dance With Me — 1998
Hoodlum — 1997
Soul Food — 1997
Eraser — 1996
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man — 1991
Another You — 1991
The Kid Who Loved Christmas — 1990
Under the Gun — 1989
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal — 1989
The Pick-Up Artist — 1987

TV
The Odyssey — 1997 (Movie)
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1996 (Episode)
Vanessa Williams and Friends: Christmas in New York — 1996 (Special)
Bye Bye Birdie — 1995 (Movie)
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child — 1995 (Series; voice only, "Beauty and the Beast" episode)
Nothing Lasts Forever — 1995 (Mini-Series)
The Essence Awards — 1994 (Host)
Stompin' at the Savoy — 1992 (Movie)
The Jacksons: An American Dream — 1992 (Mini-Series)
The Soul of VH1 — 1991 (Series; host)
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer — 1990 (Movie)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — 1990 (Episode)
The Kid Who Loved Christmas — 1990 (Movie)
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal — 1989 (Movie)
The Redd Foxx Show — 1986 (Series)

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