Photos: On this Day, September 17, 1983 — Vanessa Williams becomes first black Miss America
September 16, 2013
Suzette Charles, Miss New Jersey, the first runner up, applauds the newly crowned Miss America, Vanessa Williams, Sept. 17, 1983 in Atlantic City. It is the first time there have been two blacks in that position. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams 1983 )
Vanessa Williams attends a screening of Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions' "Girl Most Likely" hosted by the Cinema Society & Brooks Brothers on Monday, July 15, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) ( NY Special Screening of Girls Most Likely )
Vanessa Williams, the new Miss America, left, is shown as she is crowned, Saturday, Sept. 17, 1983 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, by the outgoing Miss America, Debra Maffett. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams with Debra Maffett )
Actress Vanessa Williams arrives at the HBO Golden Globe After Party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo byC hris Pizzello/Invision/AP) ( HBO Golden Globe After Party )
Miss America of 1984 Vanessa Williams, left, of New York poses with Miss New Jersey Suzette Charles, after Williams was crowned, Sept. 19, 1983 in Atlantic City. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams 1983 )
Packages of Kellogg's Corn Flakes with former Miss America Vanessa Williams on the front will not be distributed at the National Urban League convention in Cleveland. The commemorative edition photographed here was given out at the NAACP national convention in Kansas City, July 25, 1984. The back of the box carries a congratulatory statement to Miss Williams. (AP Photo/Cliff Schiappa) ( Vanessa Williams 1984 )
Vanessa Williams poses after being crowned Miss America 1984 in Atlantic City, N.J., September 17, 1983. (AP Photo/Files) ( MISS AMERICA 1984 )
Vanessa Williams, Miss America for 1984 adjusts her crown during photo session, Sunday, Sept. 19, 1983 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams )
Vanessa Williams, Miss New York, walks down the runway of The Miss America Pageant during her evening gown competition, Sept. 15, 1983 in Atlantic City. (AP Photo/Bruce Boyajian) ( Vanessa Williams 1983 )
Vanessa Williams resigns as Miss America at a press conference at the Sheraton Center on July 23, 1984. She resigned her title because sexually explicit photos of herself were published in Penthouse Magazine. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams )
Helen Williams, Vanessa William's mother, kisses her daughter after she resigned as Miss America during a press conference at the Sheraton Center on July 23, 1984. She resigned her title because sexually explicit photos of herself were published in Penthouse Magazine. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams )
Singer, actress and former Miss America Vanessa Williams seen in an undated photo of her as a child. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams )
Singer, actress and former Miss America Vanessa Williams seen in an undated baby photo. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams )
Singer, actress and former Miss America Vanessa Williams seen in an undated photo of her as a child. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams )
Singer, actress and former Miss America Vanessa Williams seen in an undated photo of her as a young woman. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams )
Shown with her family, Saturday, Sept. 17, 1983 at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City is Vanessa Williams, Miss New York. With her is 15-year-old brother, Christopher, mother Helen, and father Milton. Miss Williams is the first black woman to become a double preliminary winner in the Pageant and is considered a top contender to become the first black Miss America. (AP Photo/Jack Kanthal) ( Vanessa Williams with Family )
Vanessa Williams, Miss America for 1984, jumps for photographers on the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Sept. 19, 1983. She is the first black Miss America in the pageant's history. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams 1984 )
Vanessa Williams, the newly-crowned Miss America, arrives at the White House in Washington for a state dinner in honor of the visiting West German President Karl Carstens, Oct. 4, 1983. (AP Photo/Ira Schwarz) ( Vanessa Williams 1983 )
Miss America Vanessa Williams is flanked by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., left, and Sen. Alfonse D?Amato, R-N.Y., during a reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 1983. (AP Photo/Edmonds) ( Vanessa Williams and Rep. Charles Rangel with Alfonse D?Amato )
Miss America Vanessa Williams, joins two members of the 1983 McDonald's All-American High School Band in New York, Nov. 22, 1983, where they are preparing for their appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Leslie Crowley, second from left, and Jeff Hanson, right, both from Utah, are among the 104 high school musicians selected annually to participate in the band. (AP Photo) ( Miss America Vanessa Williams )
Vanessa Williams, Miss America, talks with 4-H delegates before speaking at a luncheon at the 62nd National 4-H Congress in Chicago, Nov. 30, 1983. The delegates from left to right are: Lisa Hutchins, Bowman, S.C.; Mike Young, Farmingdale, N.Y.; Williams, Doug Bowman, Jenkins, Mo.; Dorinda Roberts, Riceville, Tenn.; Lisa Clement, Bucksport, Maine. (AP Photo/Charles Knoblock) ( Vanessa Williams 1983 )
Miss America 1984, Vanessa Williams is escorted by an unidentified man, center, to a limousine upon her arrival at New York's La Guardia Airport, July 20, 1984. Pageant officials asked Miss Williams to resign within three days because she posed for nude photographs in intimate positions with another woman. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) ( Vanessa Williams 1984 )
Former Miss America Vanessa Williams poses with Ramon Hervey, on the steps of St. Francis Xavier Church in Manhattan, New York City, Saturday, Jan. 3, 1987. Hervey was the man hired to help manage her career during the controversy that forced her to relinquish her title in 1984. (AP Photo/D. Bookstaver) ( Vanessa Williams with Ramon Hervey )
Singer, actress and former Miss America Vanessa Williams seen in an undated baby photo. (AP Photo) ( Vanessa Williams )
Former Miss America Vanessa Williams holds her one-year-old baby Melanie who was baptized, Sunday, June 20, 1988 at Holy Family church in New York. Williams and her husband Ramon Hervey brought the baby from Los Angeles for the baptism. (AP Photo/Barry Talesnick/Retna) ( Miss America Vanessa Williams Family )
In this photo provided by StarPix, Vanessa Williams, left, and her daughter Jillian attend the after party for the New York premiere of HBO films Temple Grandin, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Dave Allocca, StarPix) ( Screening Temple Grandin NY )
Vanessa Williams accepts the award for outstanding actress in a comedy series for "Desperate Housewives" at the 42nd NAACP Image Awards on Friday, March 4, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) ( NAACP Image Awards Show )
Actress Vanessa Williams attends the New York City Ballet's 2011 Spring Gala on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer) ( New York City Ballet Gala )
Vanessa Williams arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) ( Primetime Emmy Awards Arrivals )
U.S. singer and actress Vanessa Williams and U.S. singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder perform at the marble Panathinaikon stadium in Athens during the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics Athens 2011 World Games on Saturday, June 25, 2011. More than 7,500 athletes with mental disabilities from 185 countries will take part in the Special Olympics which begin Saturday and will end on July 4. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis) ( Greece Special Olympics )
FILE - This Feb. 17, 2012 file photo shows actress-singer Vanessa Williams arriving at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles. On Friday, July 6, Williams will talk about her relationship with her mom, Helen, during one of a series of panel discussions at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center about family, love and relationships during the Essence Music Festival running through Sunday in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file) ( Music-Essence Fest-Celebrities )
Vanessa Williams attends the Entertainment Weekly and ABC Upfronts Party in New York, Tuesday, May 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes) ( EW and ABC Upfronts Party )
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Actress Vanessa L. Williams and son Devin Hervey arrive at the 43rd Annual NAACP Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on February 17, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Images) ( 43rd Annual NAACP Awards - Arrivals )
President and first lady Laura Bush join host Dr. Phil, left, and Robin McGraw, second left, and performers Vanessa Williams, third left, Ruben Studdard, third right, and LeAnn Rimes, right, during taping of the annual Christmas in Washington concert, at the National Building Museum, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) ( BUSH CHRISTMAS )
Actor Woody Harrelson, left, and entertainer Vanessa Williams, right, join Saturday Night Live regulars Dana Carvey, dressed as Johnny Carson, center, and Phil Hartman, dressed as Ed McMahon, for a taping of Saturday Night Live in this May 15, 1992 photo. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) ( SNL HARTMAN CARVEY )
FILE - This July 27, 2012 file photo shows Vanessa Williams, left, and Terry O' Quinn attending the "666 Park Avenue" panel at the Disney ABC TCA at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Television Critics Association brought casts and executives before the nation's TV reporters to get them stoked about the new fall series. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP, file) ( TV-Hope-Filled Stars )
America Ferrera and Vanessa Williams arrive for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Ferrera is nominated for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her work on "Ugly Betty." (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) ( Emmy Awards Insider )
Actress Salma Hayek, second from right, executive producer of ABC's "Ugly Betty," and cast members Eric Mabius, left, America Ferrera, second from left, and Vanessa Williams attend the 2006 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour Tuesday, July 18, 2006, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ric Francis) ( TV ABC TCA )
In this undated photo released by the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Vanessa Williams is shown. The actress and singer plans to pull double duty during her return to Syracuse: performer and mom. After a decade away, Williams will help the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra open its 45th season on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, with a program of her hits. Earlier in the day, she will accompany her high school senior daughter Jillian on a visit to Syracuse University, where Williams attended classes when she first broke onto the national scene 23 years ago. (AP Photo/Syracuse Symphony Orchestra) ( NY VANESSA WILLIAMS )
Vanessa Williams performs at the Daytime Emmy Awards on Sunday Aug. 30, 2009,in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) ( Daytime Emmy Awards Show )
Vanessa Williams arrives for the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) ( APTOPIX Golden Globes Arrivals )
Vanessa Williams, accepts the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her work on ?Ugly Betty,? at the 38th NAACP Image Awards, Friday, March 2, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) ( NAACP IMAGE AWARDS )
America Ferrera, winner for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her work on "Ugly Betty," poses with co-star Vanessa Williams at the Governor's Ball following at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007, in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) ( Emmys Governors Ball )
Vanessa Williams arrives at the 11th Annual Entertainment Tonight/People Magazine Emmy Party in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) ( Emmys ET People Party )
Actress Vanessa Williams, center, and her family arrive to the premiere of "High School Musical 2" at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) ( High School Musical 2 Premiere )
Actors Vanessa Williams, right, and Michael Urie arrive at the premiere of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) ( Premiere Sweeney Todd LA )
Host Vanessa Williams and Robin Williams are seen on stage at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) ( TV Land Awards Show )
Actress Vanessa Williams, center, with her daughters Jillian, left, and Melanie at a Cinema Society and Dolce Gabbana hosted special screening of 'Filth and Wisdom' on Monday, Oct.13, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini) ( Screening Filth And Wisdom NY )
In this image released by Disneyland, actress Vanessa Williams and her daughter Sasha, 8, pose in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Disneyland, Paul Hiffmeyer) ( People Vanessa Williams )
Actress Vanessa Williams, left, and singer Fergie attend the 34th annual March of Dimes Beauty Ball, in New York, on Thursday, March. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer) ( March Of Dimes Beauty Ball )
Host of the telecast, Vanessa Williams, is seen on stage at the Daytime Emmy Awards on Sunday Aug. 30, 2009, in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) ( Daytime Emmy Awards Show )
HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 31: Actress Vanessa Williams and husband, Los Angeles Laker player Rick Fox and children arrive for the premier of "Johnson Family Vacation" at the Cinerama Dome on March 31, 2004 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) ( 3160716DB010_Jonsn_Vacation )
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 19: Singer-actress Vanessa Williams (C) is joined by her family as she receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 19, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images) ( 73598227CG021_Vanessa_Willi )
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