Because my mind is in the past the mid-eighties and in the gutter the porn biz for reasons that will become clear, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the September issue of Penthouse. How to convey the magnitude of the frenzy? Maybe this does it. Peter Bloch, Penthouse 's then-executive editor: "It was the best-selling issue of Penthouse of all time.

Less than a year later, on July 23, , Williams gave up her crown after nude photos of her surfaced. Despite the scandal, Williams later launched a successful singing and acting career, including a featured role on the television sitcom Ugly Betty. She attended Syracuse University, where she majored in musical theater. Scandal later erupted, however, when nude photos surfaced of Williams that had reportedly been shot when she worked for a photographer before her pageant days. She was forced to resign her Miss America title in July After some time away from the public eye, Williams re-emerged and embarked on a successful music career. As Williams continued to record and perform music into the coming decade, her acting career heated up.

Skip navigation! Story from Entertainment News. In case you missed it, a new Miss America was crowned last night — and a former one was redeemed. The Ugly Betty star became the first Black Miss America in , but was forced to resign after nude modeling photos taken a year before the pageant surfaced.

Vanessa Lynn Williams [1] born March 18, is an American singer, actress, and fashion designer. She initially gained recognition as the first African-American woman to receive the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America in However, a scandal arose the following year when, a few weeks prior to the end of her reign, Williams learned that Penthouse magazine would be publishing now "iconic" unauthorized nude photographs of her in an upcoming issue. Williams rebounded from the scandal with a successful career as a singer and actress. In , she released her debut studio album The Right Stuff , whose title single saw moderate success before " Dreamin' " peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot singles chart in the United States in