Miss America

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 6:53am

According to IBDB, under Vanessa Williams' name, it says:

"Williams is known for being the first African-American Miss America (scandal later forced her to relinquish the crown)"

Does anyone know what the scandal was that forced her to relinquish her crown? Details?

Updated On: 7/12/06 at 06:53 AM

[shiksa_goddess]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 6:58am

Pictures of her in "the flesh" surfaced after she won the crown.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 7:08am

In 1984, Vanessa Williams became the first black winner, but was forced to relinquish her title when Penthouse magazine published nude pictures of her that were taken before her contest victories; finalist Suzette Charles (Miss New Jersey) was crowned Miss America. Both women are now included on the canonical list of Miss America laureates; Charles is officially designated "Miss America 1984 B."

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 11:59am

i seem to recall the photos in question also flirted with lesbianism. i think it's great that Ms. Williams has since gone on a successful career.

[iHeartMyGeek]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:03pm

I hate it when peole like Vanessa Williams, who I personally believe to be very talented and beautiful, are not given what they deserve because of things that they've done in their apsts. I don't see naked pictures as such a bad thing. I don't understand why it's such a big deal and happens to so many deserving people.

[Calvin]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:08pm

And yet -- how many other Miss America winners could you name off the top of your head from the past 30 years?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:08pm

Isn't it ironic that she's one of the few (out of the most recent Miss Americas) whose name you actually remember. But I do remember that Utah won the following year. I think I can only name 3 who have won since.

[erikaamato]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:10pm

OK, first of all, I feel really old now. :-P

Secondly, to iHeartMyGeek, what are you talking about? She wasn't given what she desevred?? She got all the success in the world after that scandal. No-one had ever heard of her before then. It was just a little blip on the radar that a Black Miss America had been crowned, but then these photos surfaced, and she became a household name. That scandal made her career. She totally had the talent to back it up, but it was the scandal that made her famous.
Updated On: 7/12/06 at 12:10 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:12pm

Calvin, ironically you and I were thinking the same thing at the same time!!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:16pm

Kaye Lani Rae Rafko
Hula Dancer and fool in Michael Moore's Roger & Me

[Calvin]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:17pm

So, I guess the moral is, to sustain fame as Miss America, you must :

1) Get the crown revoked.
2) Play Catwoman in a cheesy TV movie.
3) NOT win and gain a reputation as a homophobic bitch. (Careful with this one -- you'll end up forgotten and performing in Branson)

[erikaamato]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:19pm

1) Vanessa (although she was "asked to resign.")
2) Lee Meriwether (sp?)
3) Delta Burke

That was fun!

[Calvin]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:21pm

1 and 2 are correct.

Not three though. I'd never say anything bad about Delta Burke!

eta:

here's a hint
Updated On: 7/12/06 at 12:21 PM

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:21pm

i'm also embarassed to admit that i can recall one named Heather "with two last names" whom i believe was deaf. It's the groundbreakers and scandal-makers that seem to stand out. Wasn't Kate Shindle also a winner? and there was Lee Meriweather (probably ancient history for most of you...)

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:22pm

3. Anita Bryant??

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:22pm

Cal, #3 could apply to several of the title holders, no?

[Calvin]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:23pm

Quite true, doodle, but none could hold a candle to the little miss save-the-children (which Dottie got).

eta: Oh yes. I could also name Susan Powell, whom I saw in a musical version of Zorro several years ago. Updated On: 7/12/06 at 12:23 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:34pm

I'll take "Miss America" for $1000, Alex!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:38pm

I knew the most famous #3 was Anita, but there are others in her camp. One of the recent winners lectures against us gays, right?

And I LOVED Susan Powell. I cheered when she won. Her talent was a comic opera aria that was terrif!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:40pm

The only ones I remember are Leannza Cornett (sp?) and Kate Shindle.

[Calvin]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:41pm

I think you're right, doodle. Of course, most of the winners seem to be from red states, so it's to be expected.

Didn't Suzanne Sugarbaker have some sort of monologue on how the prettiest women in beauty pageants are always from the South?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 12:51pm

"You'll never see a homely Miss Mississippi! Because, the Miss Mississippi people know, that a dog belongs in a pound not in a pageant."

"And I dont care if she plays Moonlight Sonata on the harp with her teeth."

[Calvin]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 1:00pm

I knew I could count on you.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 1:00pm

wasn't there a winner who went on to co-host ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT (i think she may have been from FL) after playing Disney heroines at theme parks? she may have dated or married ET co-host Mark Steines (sp?) as well...was that Leanza!??!??!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 1:03pm

Yes, Tx...I believe you are right. I dont remember her working on ET, but she is married to him.

I remember a rumor about her sexuality...maybe it was wrong...sorry I repeated it so often.

Cal, her reading of that line still makes me smile...especially the way "the Miss Mississippi people know" which she make one word. Heh.