Happy Birthday Vanessa Williams (March 18)!
Singer, actress, musician and model Vanessa Williams has not only confounded her critics over her 20+ year performing career, she has shown a rare fortitude, overcoming tremendous obstacles to fashion successful careers in music and movies.
Born to musician parents in New York in 1963, Williams began playing multiple instruments as a child and showed an early knack for performing. She later attended Syracuse University, where her striking beauty led to her entry in several beauty pageants. Her combination of looks and musical talent ultimately resulted in her selection as the first African American Miss America in 1983. Unfortunately, she became a lightning rod for controversy when some ill-advised nude photos of her were sold by a photographer to Penthouse magazine, ultimately forcing her to give up her Miss America crown.
