Retro Raunch Revisit

Blacklash into rock bottom. 35yrs ago today, the first-ever forced resignation of a crowned Miss America occured when 21yr old Vanessa Williams -- also the first African-American winner in the pageant's then 63yr history -- relinqueshed her title after nude photos of her were published in PENTHOUSE. Williams had risen to prominence by competing in the Miss Syracuse (University) beauty pageant when a campus musical she was in was cancelled in 1983. After winning that title, she then won the Miss New York crown & went to compete for the Miss America title at the national pageant in Atlantic City,NJ. Prior to the final night of competition, she won both preliminary competitions (Talent and Swimsuit) earlier in the week. She was ultimately victorious, winning Miss America 1984 on Sept 17, 1983. Her triumph as the first black woman wasn't without its challenges & controversies as for a dubious first time as well, a Miss America beauty queen was the target of death threats & hate mail. (For its first 30yrs, Miss America barred blacks from becoming contestants and not until 1970 did the first black woman participate). 10 months into her reign, Williams received an anonymous phone call stating that black&white nude photos of her taken before her pageant days (dating back to 1982) had surfaced from when she worked as an assistant and makeup artist for New York photographer, Tom Chiapel.

She had initially believed the pictures were private and had been destroyed, claiming she never signed a release permitting their use. She further stated that Chiapel advised her of wanting to try a "new concept of silhouettes with 2 models" to which he photographed Williams and another woman (identified as Amy Gier Wessell, a white woman from Boulder,CO) in several nude poses. PLAYBOY publisher, Hugh Hefner, was originally offered the photos (which were more artistic than lurid) but turned them down explaining he was never interested and while they weren't authorized, he had no wish to cause considerable embarrassment to Williams (mindful of her being the first black Miss America). Days later, PENTHOUSE publisher, Bob Guccione, announced his magazine had bought and would publish the photos in their Sept 1984 15th anniversary issue -- which was the same issue that featured nude photographs of porn star Traci Lords, later found to have been only 15yrs old at the time. In the explicit photo spread, Williams poses as the lesbian recipient of anal stimulation & cunnilingus. Guccione had paid Chiapel for the rights to the photos without Williams' consent and according to the PBS documentary 'MISS AMERICA,' the PENTHOUSE issue ultimately brought in a $14 million windfall. After 3 days of media frenzy and merciless tabloid headlines from the ensuing scandal along with sponsors threatening to pull out of the upcoming 1985 pageant, Williams felt pressured by the heavily image-conscious officials to quit early and did so in a press conference.

Having stripped to be stripped again, the title subsequently went to the first runner-up, Suzette Charles of New Jersey, also an African American. In early Sept 1984, Williams filed a $500 million lawsuit against Chiapel & Guccione but eventually dropped the suit a year later (most of the money going to her attorneys), explaining that she wanted to put the scandal behind her and move on. She further decided not to prolong the controversy by writing her memoirs (turning down her biggest offer of $250,000). Although she gave up fulfilling the duties of a current Miss America, she was however allowed to keep the bejeweled crown and scholarship money of $100,000 earned largely in personal appearance fees. Overcoming the disgrace, bitter aftermath and the harsh memories of a dark devastating time which caused her dizzying plunge (which she called "the incident" or "the situation"), she rebounded from the humiliation and inspite of more leaked pictures appearing in 4 more later issues (Nov 1984, Jan 1985, Jul/Aug 1987, Apr 1993), re-emerged in remarkable comeback fashion by successfully launching a celebrity career as an entertainer, earning multiple Grammy, Emmy & Tony Award nominations for her singing and acting. She is arguably the most successful Miss America winner in the field of entertainment. To date, Williams is still formally recognized by the Miss America Organization as "Miss America 1984" while Charles is recognized as "Miss America 1984-b".