Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams
Williams on April 14, 2010
Born	(1963-03-18) March 18, 1963 (age 61) Millwood, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Syracuse University
Occupations	Singer actress record producer producer fashion model
Years active	1983–present
Known for	First African American Miss America
Title	Miss America 1984
Spouse(s)	Ramon Hervey II (m. 1987 - 1997) Rick Fox (m. 1999 - 2004)
Children	4
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop soul new jack swing hip hop dance jazz gospel
Website	www.vanessawilliams.com

Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963), known professionally as Vanessa L. Williams or Vanessa Williams, is an American singer, actress, producer and former fashion model. In 1983, she became the first African-American^{[1][2][3][4][5]} woman crowned Miss America,^[6] but a scandal occurred when Penthouse bought and published nude photographs of her. She left her title early and was succeeded by the first runner-up, Suzette Charles of New Jersey. Williams earned multiple Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations.

Williams released her debut album The Right Stuff in 1988, which spawned the hits "The Right Stuff". "The Right Stuff" was a No. 1 on Hot Dance Songs. "Dreamin'" was a No. 1 on R&B and No. 8 on Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album The Comfort Zone in 1991 topped the Billboard R&B Album Chart, which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit "Save the Best for Last". In 1994 she performed on Broadway in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 1995 she recorded "Colors of the Wind", which became the Oscar-winner for Best Original Song from the Disney animated feature movie Pocahontas, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1. ↑ "Vanessa Williams's ancestry revealed: One great great grandfather escaped slavery... the other was a politician who left 'a legacy more precious than gold". Daily Mail. London. February 6, 2011. As an African American growing up here in the States, there are a lot of records that we don't have.
2. ↑ "A New York Debut". People. Archived from the original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
3. ↑ "Vanessa Williams biography". The Biography Channel. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
4. ↑ Wilson, Julee (September 17, 2012). "A Look Black: Vanessa Williams Crowned Miss America In 1983". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
5. ↑ "Vanessa Williams". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
6. ↑ "This Day in History – Sep 17, 1983: Vanessa Williams becomes first black Miss America". History.com. Retrieved January 4, 2014.