Vanessa Williams biography
Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an United States singer-songwriter and actor. Williams made history on September 17 1983 when she became the first woman of African American descent to be crowned Miss America. Williams' reign as Miss America came to an abrupt end when scandal led to her subsequent resignation of the title. Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer, earning Grammy Award, Emmy Award, and Tony Award award nominations.
She is also well-known for her outspoken support of LGBT social movements, having won the Human Rights Campaign "Ally for Equality" award in 2008.
Early life
Williams was born in Tarrytown, New York, New York, the daughter of music teachers Helen and Milton Augustine Williams Jr. Williams and her younger brother Chris, who is also an actor, grew up in the predominantly white middle-class suburban area of Millwood, New York. Prophetically, her parents put "Here she is: Miss America" on her birth announcement.
Education
Williams studied piano and French horn growing up, but was most interested in singing. She received a scholarship and attended Syracuse University as a Theatre Arts major from 1981 to 1983. She discontinued her education at Syracuse during her sophomore year to fulfill her duties as Miss America, and then subsequently left the university to focus on her entertainment career. Twenty-five years later she graduated based on her 'life experience'. Williams also delivered the convocation address on May 10, 2008, with 480 other students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. She stated:
Pageants and Miss America title
Williams began competing in beauty pageants in the early 1980s. Williams won Miss New York in 1983, and went to the Miss America national pageant in Atlantic City. She was crowned Miss America 1984 on September 17, 1983 making her the first-ever African American Miss America. Prior to the final night of competition, Williams won both the Preliminary Talent and Swimsuit Competitions from earlier in the week. Williams' reign as Miss America was not without its challenges and controversies. For the first time in pageant history, a reigning Miss America was the target of death threats and angry racist hate mail.
Ten months into her reign as Miss America, she received an anonymous phone call stating that nude photos of her taken by a photographer prior to her pageant days had surfaced. Williams believed the photographs were private and had been destroyed; she claims she never signed a release permitting the photos to be used.
The genesis of the photos dated back to 1982, when she worked as an assistant and makeup artist for Mount Kisco, New York photographer Tom Chiapel. According to Williams, Chiapel advised her that he wanted to try a "new concept of silhouettes with two models." He photographed Williams and another woman in several nude poses. The photographs depicted mild overtones of simulated lesbian sexual practices, which was quite controversial for its time.
Hugh Hefner, the publisher of
Playboy, was initially offered the photos, but turned them down. Later Hefner would explain why in
People Weekly, "Vanessa Williams is a beautiful woman. There was never any question of our interest in the photos. But they clearly weren't authorized and because they would be the source of considerable embarrassment to her, we decided not to publish them. We were also mindful that she was the first black Miss America." Days later, Bob Guccione, the publisher of
Penthouse (magazine), announced that his magazine would publish the photos in their September 1984 issue, and paid Chiapel for the rights to them without Williams' consent. According to the PBS documentary, "Miss America," the Vanessa Williams issue of
Penthouse would ultimately bring Guccione a $14 million windfall.
Acting career
Theatrical roles
Williams parlayed her ascendant music career into a theatrical role when she was cast in the Broadway theatre production of
Kiss of the Spider Woman (musical) in 1994. She was also featured in the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical-nominated and Drama Desk Award nominated performance as the Witch in Stephen Sondheim's
Into the Woods in a revival of the show in 2002, which included songs revised for her.
Other notable theatrical roles include her performances in
Carmen Jones at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the off-Broadway productions of
One Man Band and
Checkmates, and the New York City Center Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert,
St. Louis Woman. Feature film roles
Williams has appeared in several feature films. Her most prominent role was in the film
Soul Food (film) (1997 in film), for which she won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. Williams appeared in the 1991 cult classic film
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man. She also co-starred with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie
Eraser (film) and opposite Chayanne in
Dance with Me (film).
In 2007, Williams returned to the big screen starring in two independent motion pictures. The first being
My Brother, for which she won Best Actress honors at the Harlem International Film Festival, the African-American Women in Cinema Film Festival and at the Santa Barbara African Heritage Film Festival, and the second being
And Then Came Love. In 2009, she will star alongside Miley Cyrus in
Hannah Montana: The Movie.
Television
Williams' first television appearance was on a 1984 episode of
The Love Boat, playing herself. She subsequently made guest appearances on a number of shows, including
T.J. Hooker,
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,
Saturday Night Live,
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,
LateLine (sitcom),
MADtv,
Ally McBeal and
Boomtown (TV series).
She has had many appearances in television movies and miniseries, including
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer and
The Jacksons: An American Dream. She played the nymph Calypso (mythology) in the 1997 RHI Entertainment miniseries
The Odyssey (miniseries), starring Armand Assante. She appeared as the Ebenezer Scrooge character in an update of the Charles Dickens story "A Christmas Carol" called "A Diva's Christmas Carol". In 2001, Williams starred in the LMN (TV network) cable movie about the life of Henriette DeLille,
The Courage to Love. In early 2006 she starred in the short lived UPN drama
South Beach (2006 TV series).
In 2007, Williams received considerable media attention for her comic/villainess role as former magazine creative director turned editor-in-chief Wilhelmina Slater in the American Broadcasting Company comedy series
Ugly Betty, produced by Salma Hayek. Her performance on the series resulted in a nomination for outstanding supporting actress at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards. She also provides the voice for the main character on the PBS Kids version of Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies. In 2008, she was again nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for
Ugly Betty.
Other media appearances
Williams has appeared in advertisements for RadioShack, she was a spokesmodel for Proactiv Solution, and has endorsed L’Oréal. Her other media appearances include endorsing Crest (toothpaste), appearing on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US game show) in 2000 as a contestant, endorsing Disneyland and Universal Studios in a VisitCalifornia advert for the United Kingdom and Ireland 2008, and hosting the 6th Annual 2008 TV Land Awards show.
Name conflict
In Williams' career, she was initially known simply as "Vanessa Williams". However, there is occasionally confusion or conflicts with similarly-named actress Vanessa A. Williams, who first came to national notice when she appeared in the first season of Melrose Place.
Williams (VLW) first became aware of Vanessa A. Williams (VAW) in the 1980s when her New York University registrar told her that another, similarly aged girl with the same name and from the same state had applied. When VLW appeared as Miss America in a Macy's Day Parade, VAW accidentally received her check for the appearance (which she returned). A year later, VLW told Canoe.ca: "(The other Vanessa Williams) registered the name first, but I made the name famous so I have more claim to it these days". She has been married twice. Her first marriage, to her then-manager Ramon Hervey II, was from 1987 to 1997. They have three children: Melanie (born 1987), Jillian (born 1989), and Devin (born 1993).
Her second marriage was to former National Basketball Association basketball player Rick Fox. They married in September 1999 and have a daughter, Sasha Gabriella (born May 2000). After The National Enquirer published pictures of Fox kissing another woman in mid-2004, Fox's representative announced that the couple had been "headed toward divorce" for over a year. A few months later in August 2004, Fox filed for divorce. During some press interviews, Williams cast some doubt on the divorce status, but while visiting the Howard Stern radio show in March 2005, she said that while she and Fox were intimate with each other briefly during the 2004 holidays, a reconciliation was unlikely.
In early 2006, Williams dated 29-year-old actor Rob Mack, whom she met on the set of her show South Beach (2006 TV series).
She is currently single and resides in Beverly Hills, California and Chappaqua, New York.
Her father died on January 17, 2006, at the age of 70.
During an interview with Barbara Walters which aired on February 24, 2008, Williams not only admitted to using Botulinum toxin but also called it "a miracle drug, no cutting, nothing, and I love it. But I also want to act so I don't do it to freeze my face."
Popular culture
In The Simpsons episode "Lisa the Beauty Queen", Krusty the Klown informs the pageant audience that it is possible for the runner-up to inherit the crown. He says, "And don't say it'll never happen. Because we all remember that thing that happened with what's her name. Click, click. You know," a reference to Williams' nude photographs.
In the episode "Itchy and Scratchy Land", when driving to the amusement park, Homer turns on the radio to hear the following "Continuing our "Sign of Evil" countdown, here's Vanessa Williams," another reference to Williams' singing career.
Williams also contributes in an album featuring English-language translations of songs from the world-popular Japanese pop music girl group Morning Musume. She sings a translated version of their 10th single, "I Wish (Morning Musume song)".
Digital Underground referenced Vanessa Williams in the remix version of their song "Doowutchyalike." The line goes "Vanessa Williams, ooh you're so divine, just wanna put your name in my rhyme..." They also reference her in their song "Packet Man."
Calypso (music) singer Mighty Sparrow wrote and recorded a song about her following her Miss America scandal entitled Vanessa.
Discography
Vanessa Williams in the news
Vanessa Williams kicks off NY cancer fundraiser - The Associated Press
Vanessa Williams kicks off NY cancer fundraiserThe Associated Press - Dec 1, 2008MOUNT KISCO, NY (AP) — "Ugly Betty" star Vanessa Williams has kicked off a breast cancer fundraiser by driving a pink fence post into the ground in suburban ...
read moreWilliams earns All-American honors - Cal Poly Pomona Athletics News
Williams earns All-American honorsCal Poly Pomona Athletics News - Dec 3, 2008POMONA – Senior middle blocker Vanessa Williams (Riverside) capped her four-year career in style Wednesday when she was named to the American Volleyball ...
read moreVanessa Williams Urges Parents and Teens to Give Each Other the ......
Business Wire (press release)Vanessa Williams Urges Parents and Teens to Give Each Other the ...Business Wire (press release), CA - Dec 2, 2008NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The most important gift actress Vanessa Williams plans to give her teenage son Devin this holiday season isn’t the latest ...
read moreVanessa Williams and Devin Sign on the Dotted Line - Celebrity Baby...
Vanessa Williams and Devin Sign on the Dotted LineCelebrity Baby Blog, NY - Dec 2, 2008Publicly launching Allstate's national Home for the Holidays teen safe driving campaign in New York City today, Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams and her son ...
read moreVanessa Williams marks local cancer fundraiser - Lower Hudson Journ...
Vanessa Williams marks local cancer fundraiserLower Hudson Journal news, NY - Nov 30, 2008"Ugly Betty" star Vanessa Williams was at Country Road Communications in Mount Kisco today, marking the start of a breast cancer fundraising campaign for ...
read moreVanessa Williams launches fundraiser - South Wales Evening Post
Vanessa Williams launches fundraiserSouth Wales Evening Post, UK - Dec 1, 2008Vanessa Williams kicked off a breast cancer fundraiser in New York by driving a pink fence post into the ground. The 45-year-old actress - best known for ...
read moreLocals top all-American volleyball honors - Inland Valley Daily Bul...
Locals top all-American volleyball honorsInland Valley Daily Bulletin, CA - 43 minutes agoCal Poly senior middle blocker Vanessa Williams was named to the second team. Additionally, two Cal State players were accorded honorable mention, ...
read moreCall to keep kids entertained - Where I Live - News Limited Communi...
Where I Live - News Limited Community NewspapersCall to keep kids entertainedWhere I Live - News Limited Community Newspapers, Australia - 14 hours agoDirector Vanessa Williams said there would be a jumping castle at both Bribie Island and Caboolture markets as well as a rockclimbing wall at the Caboolture ...
read moreIs Ugly's Wilhelmina Getting Soft? - TV Guide
TV GuideIs Ugly's Wilhelmina Getting Soft?TV Guide - 13 hours agoby Gina DiNunno Vanessa Williams' cut-throat, no nonsense attitude as Wilhelmina Slater put her at the top of Mode's food chain, but lately, the Ugly Betty ...
read moreCal Poly Pomona's Vanessa Williams Named Molten/CCAA Player...
Cal Poly Pomona's Vanessa Williams Named Molten/CCAA Player of the ...Cal Poly Pomona Athletics News - Nov 19, 2008WALNUT CREEK —Cal Poly Pomona middle blocker Vanessa Williams has been named Molten California Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Volleyball Player of ...
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