Vanessa Williams, Most Successful Miss America Forced to ...

What this episode covers

Vanessa Williams, one of the most recognizable stars of her generation, started her career in the public eye as the first Black Miss America. We're discussing her historic win in 1984 - the impact and the backlash - and the road that got her into pageants. With just seven weeks left in her reign, explicit photos that she had taken years prior were sold to Penthouse. When the news broke of their publication, she was given just 72 hours to respond. We'll discuss the lawsuit, her massive career post-Miss America, and the organization's apology in 2015. Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad Time stamps: 00:00 Overview 01:42 Youth 03:55 Miss America: The Weight of the Crown 06:24 The Photographs 09:52 Resignation + Lawsuit 13:35 The Comeback! 15:38 The Apology 18:14 My Takeaways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Characters?

This episode is 23 minutes long.

When was this Characters episode published?

This episode was published on April 14, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Vanessa Williams, one of the most recognizable stars of her generation, started her career in the public eye as the first Black Miss America. We're discussing her historic win in 1984 - the impact and the backlash - and the road that got her into...

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Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.