Who could ever forget the legacy of Vanessa Williams? Her story is an incredible one from being the first Black Miss America to getting in trouble over nude photos that were printed in Penthouse to becoming a well-regarded singer and actress in the 1990s. Hers is a story of resilience and sexiness overcoming all odds, so I wanted to throw a #TBT spotlight on Vanessa Williams and the truth behind the scandal that almost shook her, but thankfully it didn't. Let's throw it back to Vanessa!
Vanessa always wanted to have a music and modeling career. She was raised by two musicians and she never really wanted to become a pageant queen, but she was always so naturally gorgeous that she dabbled in pageants to earn some extra money so that she could move to London and study there for a while. According to Vanessa's book, when she won the title of Miss America 1984 at the age of 20, her first thought was that now she couldn't go to London now. Being the first Black Miss America meant that the public treated her a lot differently than other title winners. She didn't get the same kinds of fluffy questions and gigs that other winners got. Suddenly she was a role model and a symbol of progress which is a big burden to carry for a very young woman who never really wanted to win in the first place. Fun fact: she was not the only Black competitor that year and she thought the other young woman was going to beat her. She really didn't think she had it in the bag, but anyone who has seen Vanessa's striking good looks knows that she was a winner.
Famously, she was stripped of her title when some nude photos she did when she was even younger appeared in Penthouse. Now, it's not just that these photos were nude that made people lose their minds. It's that Vanessa was with another woman in them! The story goes that the pictures were too salacious for Playboy because Hef was never that thrilled about printing lesbian photos. Penthouse didn't care, so they printed the photos without Vanessa's knowledge and she was forced to resign from her throne.
It seemed like this would be the end of her career which would be a huge shame considering she was SO young. Do you remember what you were like at 20? Imagine thinking your entire career is over based on the dumb decisions you made between the ages of 18-21! Luckily, Vanessa has a fierce spirit and she did not quit for even one second. Vanessa made her big comeback as a singer in the 1990s. If you don't have "Save the Best for Last" stuck in your head right now, then you must not know about Vanessa's beautiful singing voice. She came back into the spotlight in a sophisticated way with that gorgeous voice of hers and she proved that she was here to stay. That being said - based on her role in the series Soul Food, it seems like Vanessa saved the breast for last.
Oh, and also, Vanessa Williams sometimes gets confused for another actress named Vanessa Williams and both of them appeared in Soul Food. It;'s super confusing, yes, but the OTHER Vanessa Williams showed her tits on the show. Don't get it twisted. They are two different Vanessa Williams!
Of course, it's very easy to tell them apart. The former Miss America has strikingly light eyes and a fiery attitude that makes her a true star. She continues to act and be an absolute legend for lovers of nudity and beauty alike. Congrats to Vanessa and her amazing career. People used to be afraid that she was not a good role model for young girls? It's quite the opposite. This kind of comeback is admirable for people of all ages. #TBT to Vanessa Williams today and every day!
