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Biography · Music

Vanessa Williams

1963–

United States

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Biography

Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, model, producer and dancer. She gained recognition as the first Black woman to win the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She would later resign her title amid a media controversy surrounding nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine.

Sources & collection details

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Black heritage reference ↗

Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

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