Vanessa Williams, aka Miss Underestimated: Williams
began competing in pageants in the early 1980s; she was crowned Miss New York in
1983 and became the first black Miss America in 1984. She then had the dubious
honor of becoming the first Miss America sent racist hate mail and death
threats. Less than a year into her reign, nude photographs of her surfaced,
which were then run (without her consent) in Penthouse magazine. The scandal
caused Williams to resign her title, but she bounced back in true beauty queen
style. She developed a reputation as a singer, songwriter and actress, earning
Grammy, Emmy, and Tony award nominations. 2008 has been a stellar year for this
former beauty queen and perpetual beauty: This was the year she won the Human
Rights Campaign "Ally for Equality" award and was nominated for her work in
"Ugly Betty." Williams has said, "The best revenge is successes," and we assume
her revenge is complete, as she has been extraordinarily successful.
(Sara De Boer/Retna Ltd.) |
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