Who Was The First African American Winner Of The Miss American Beauty Contest In 1984?

I imagine that you mean the "Miss America" contest; there isn't one called "Miss American" (I don't think).

The initial winner in 1984 was Miss New York, Vanessa Williams. She was indeed the first African-American winner of the contest. Her parents were mixed race, African American and Caucasian. Williams was born in 1963 and now a successful singer and actress in her own right. She currently plays Wilhelmina Slater on the comedy TV show, Ugly Betty.

It turned out that Williams had posed nude including some rather graphic and (implied) lesbian shots in 1982. This brought her Beauty Pageant title into disrepute, especially when Penthouse magazine announced plans to publish the images. She resigned as Miss America in September 1984; she was succeeded by a woman of mixed African American and Italian descent, Miss New Jersey, Suzette Charles.

Charles has gone on to have a minor career as a singer and entertainer, herself.

Add Comment

Report