nope- they gave her 48 hours to resign and then they removed her title as Miss America 1984 and gave that title to Suzette Charles. They did not take a crown away- she HAS physical possession of both her state and national "crowns".
That was in the days when it was telecast on NBC live from 10pm to Midnight. I waited up to see who would be crowned because the buzz was that a record number 5 minority (4 African-American and 1 Latino-American) delegates made it to Atlantic City that year. My family cheered, yelled, jumped up/down and called everyone we knew!!! Before we had an African-American President, we had Vanessa Williams. Go Head, Girl!
Imani Gayle Gillison I agree about the sincerity and joy Lee Merriwether showed Vanessa Williams after she won the title. The other contestants expressed joy about her winning the title and I was very impressed by the other girls' joy and happiness for Vanessa and really somewhat surprised. I did not get the feeling that any of the other girls were jealous of Vanessa.
Ms. Vanessa Williams; you are truly an entertainer. There aren't much entertainers that can say they've achieved in all four areas of entertainment; television, movies, music, and broadway. GO VANESSA!!!!!!!
They may have took her crown, but the irony is that she still became more successful than all of them and most people don't even know the names of any Miss America's but most people know Vanessa Williams as being the first Black Miss America. KARMA! Lol!
I'm guessing, so as to not confuse or forget that there was/is a Miss Black America pageant, not being judgemental just helping to more accurately make your statement for you: "She was the first Miss America of African American-descent." (the reason I'm saying this, is to point out that, for example, Miss America 1926 was a woman named Norma Smallwood from Oklahoma. She was half native American. I dont like saying the term native American "Indian", but saying the first Black Miss America would be like referring to Norma as the first Native American Indian Miss America. And I feel confident in saying that those that are indigenous to this continent take it as a slur to be referred to as native Indian. So Norma would be referred to as the first Miss America of Native American ancestry or descent.) Just to be clear, its worth noting that (and it should be "they may have TAKEN her crown"- not took??) they didn't "take" it the way you are phrasing this: Going into the pageant, she and every other state title holder signs a contract that includes a morals clause. Once the existence of the photos were revealed to the public, the MAO by virtue of the legality to the morals clause, followed their bylaws which were in any such case as this, she was afforded 48 hours to gather her thoughts and resign. Yes, her TITLE as Miss America 1984 was officially removed, but she still has in her possession both the state and national "crowns"; and she was allowed to keep her scholarships earned, along with all of the public appearance fees she earned prior to the dubious actions of that photographer. and of course, allowing her to keep all of those was the natural and right thing to do. but if you're talking technically about a crown, no- they did not take that from her, and the one that Suzette Charles was given was a brand new one.
I remember watching his my senior year in high school thinking, she sure does have coarse hair and dark skin for a white woman. My mind could not catch up with what my eyes where seeing. Vanessa Williams and Lee Merriwether are the best Miss Americas ever!
carterboy66 At that time I still had a b/w television. I thought she was a white women with a real good tan. Why is it that white people have to ease into blackness.
@@Juliaflo uhm bess the mess? google her. nyc govt corruption scandal. And then her conviction for stealing from a store in PA? granted this was after her reign but nonetheless not in line with mao image, along with the morals clause in the contract each national contestant has had tosign and swear to, at least 4 decades now. no not a role model.
And when the scandal hit, Lee was the only former Miss America who stood up for Vanessa, saying in a written card after Vanessa resigned..."Don't let them get you down!"
One of the traditions that should return is having the new Ms. America walk to her seat after the announcement of her win as Vanessa did ; I don't think it is done anymore. Also what is displayed here that alot of her competitors didn't seem to really congratulate her except maybe a few. Kudos to Lee Meriwether and a few other of Vanessa's predecessors for congratulating her. I saw the young lady Ms. Maryland who was African-American and competing against Vanessa really congratulate Vanessa. I must say though I see why Suzette Charles was first runner up; she was really good and poised.
'except maybe a few"? really? ok so there are 50 or 51 girls this year. go back at look, before the formers interrupt (Lee Meriweather, nancy fleming and then bebe shopp), congrats- verbally and/or by hug, i cant believe you consider that a few. remember you miss out on some when the camera pans out for the sponsors, i then STOPPED COUNTING once i got above 25. we also miss when the cameras show Gary trying say goodbye as well as a glimpse to the right of the girls assembled when another angle is shown of the formers on stage. and it wasnt ms Maryland you are referring to, but rather Denean graham from north carolina, who went on to a very successful career in choreography, namely on Broadway. to this day she remains the only black ms n. carolina. after her state title her family was threatened with a burning cross on their front yard. both trailblazing ladies. just a few?
Funny how Miss America 1955 (Lee Merrywether) was not acknowledged when they were honoring all the previous Miss America's but was shown at the end congratulating Vanessa????????
I didn't know that the max age for this pageant had been 18, but i can tell you without question, after asking a pageant historian who works on the miss america community hall post that the max age up through the 1992 pageant, or the yr Leanza Cornett won, was age 26. The oldest to ever win the title was 25, colleen Hutchins, in the 50's, a mormon from Utah; she was tall and beuatiful; her son kiki became an player in the nba and daughter Tauna swam in the 70 olympics.
At the video's end, I see Debra Barnes who came in from the left and Lee Merriweather on the right, but I don't recognize the brunette or blond on the right.
Actually a lot people don't know the whole story behind this. But that is ok! Pam Rigas was supposed to have won! Even one of the judges, Rod McKuen said that a couple of years afterward!
doobeedoo58 what the fuck are you talking about?? Wherever did you get the idea that Pam Rigas was suppose to have won? I've never ever heard that bull shit. Personally I do believe you dreamed up that SHIT!!!!!!!!
Impossible! Vanessa was the only contestant that year to have won TWO Preliminaries...Swimsuit AND Talent. The only other African American woman to do that also was Faith Jenkins (Miss Louisiana 2001) by Faith was First-runner up. Faith's got her own syndicated court reality tv show, she used her scholarship money to become a prosecutor and eventually a judge.
Am I wrong but when Miss Alabama was announced 2nd Runner Up and Vanessa, standing next to her, started a motion to give her a contratulatory hug, it looked like she was brushed off.
228candy dude???? if you understood HOW they win based on total points, you would know that there are TWO things at least back then that involve total scores, and of those two at least one is still NOT EVER released to the viewing public. Both are preliminary scores: prelim evening gown winners at least up through the mid to late 90's WERE NEVER released to the public but were always included in the preliminary composite score carried over to the finals. The second thing that the public to this date does not ever know is who OF THE FINALISTS (OR SEMI FINALISTS IF YOU WISH) scored highest in the very very important interview, which of all of the portions, both prelim and finals, perhaps gives judges the BEST idea and input as to whom of all the contestants will perform best under pressure answering questions, especially with the press and also how she would do on the year long speaking tour she does as a representative of the MAO. please do NOT mistake what I am saying for the prelim interview winner; that award ONLY goes to the NON FINALIST who scored highest in that prelim among all other non finalists; which means we will never know who between Vanessa and Suzette scored higher in TWO prelim competitions. In pondering that alone, please keep in mind that the gown Vanessa wore when she won was NOT what she wore during evening gown portion, b/c what she wore walking down the runway surely wouldn't have even scored amongst the top 5 in whichever prelim evening gown group she was placed in. If those two facts have not yet helped you with coming to any understanding, may I remind you that winning a preliminary is HUGE in the overall composite point system that is as I said carried over to the finals and included in the final score. Let us all keep in mind that this is a subjective competition, and not who touched a wall first, and that year the judges awarded Suzette one preliminary portion:talent, which no doubt upped her chances enormously. But the same group of judges comparing all of the prelim groups gave Vanessa the prelim swimsuit win on that Wednesday and the prelim talent on Friday. Perhaps since both did outstanding jobs as Miss America's we can be content and happy with the consolation that thank goodness they weren't both put in the same prelim groups, b/c if that had been the case, only one of them if at all would have won in swimsuit, talent, or evening gown, unless they tied, since ties have occurred in the past in prelims. Then again, even in her own prelim swimsuit group, Suzette didn't win, losing all those extra points, and advantage awarded to a prelim winner in the overall composite carried over to finals. In past years, many times we have had winners who have not EVER won any of the prelim competitions that are announced to the public, back then which were only swimsuit and talent. From that one should NOT ever underestimate the power of the prelim interview and how it is weighed overall towards who wins. I can't be certain if it was scored the year she won, but definitely must have made an impact to her winning, and she later successfully campaigned the MAO to include it in the carried over prelim composite scores to the finals, (perhaps when serving on their Board of directors?) but it is well known by her own admission that Rebecca King, MA 1974 did not win any of the announced prelims AND thinks she won by shocking the prelim judges by flat out telling them something I doubt anyone up to that point had stated so boldly. She told them her sole purpose to being at that competition was, and I quote, "I'm here for the money so I can go to Law School." We'll never know if it was that alone that won it for her, but if it convinced her to the point to convince the MAO to count it in the prelim composite, then we'll never know how Suzette did.
+Parker528 Actually, a pageant judge from that year stated on a talk show that Vanessa was the clear winner in the interview segment of the pageant. There was no one who was within 5 points of her. This is what I believe made the difference. Moreover, from a personal opinion , I thought Vanessa outdid Suzette in swimsuit and evening gown. Suzette was better in talent, but not by much.
Aussi minable et sexiste qu'en France. Ma fille aurait voulu se présenter à cette ''chose'' je l'en aurai empêchée par tous les moyens. Marianne, de Paris
The curse was the crown but the blessing is when they tookit away. She's the only one that ever mattered - Beautiful Vanessa!!
nope- they gave her 48 hours to resign and then they removed her title as Miss America 1984 and gave that title to Suzette Charles. They did not take a crown away- she HAS physical possession of both her state and national "crowns".
She is and will be Miss America 🇺🇸 of 1984,SHE WAS REINSTATED A FEW YEARS AGO AND GIVEN A PUBLIC APOLOGY 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🌹
That was in the days when it was telecast on NBC live from 10pm to Midnight. I waited up to see who would be crowned because the buzz was that a record number 5 minority (4 African-American and 1 Latino-American) delegates made it to Atlantic City that year. My family cheered, yelled, jumped up/down and called everyone we knew!!!
Before we had an African-American President, we had Vanessa Williams. Go Head, Girl!
Nicest comment ever!!! 🥰
YES!💜💜💜
Vanessa Williams, so gorgeous, especially in that mermaid gown.
This made me tear up seeing all the girls genuinly happy for her! 💯
Very cool to see Ms. Williams being congratulated by Lee Merriwether. A truly historical moment.
+Imani Gayle Gillison Indeed!
Imani Gayle Gillison I agree about the sincerity and joy Lee Merriwether showed
Vanessa Williams after she won the title. The other contestants expressed joy
about her winning the title and I was very impressed by the other girls' joy and
happiness for Vanessa and really somewhat surprised. I did not get the feeling that any of the other girls were jealous of Vanessa.
You and Suzette just made Miss America history, Ms. Williams!
The greatest Miss America to ever wear the crown.
I agree!
Ms. Vanessa Williams; you are truly an entertainer. There aren't much entertainers that can say they've achieved in all four areas of entertainment; television, movies, music, and broadway. GO VANESSA!!!!!!!
They may have took her crown, but the irony is that she still became more successful than all of them and most people don't even know the names of any Miss America's but most people know Vanessa Williams as being the first Black Miss America. KARMA! Lol!
Vanessa Williams has had a good life, and career after she resigned. That was the silver lining in that dark cloud.
I'm guessing, so as to not confuse or forget that there was/is a Miss Black America pageant, not being judgemental just helping to more accurately make your statement for you: "She was the first Miss America of African American-descent." (the reason I'm saying this, is to point out that, for example, Miss America 1926 was a woman named Norma Smallwood from Oklahoma. She was half native American. I dont like saying the term native American "Indian", but saying the first Black Miss America would be like referring to Norma as the first Native American Indian Miss America. And I feel confident in saying that those that are indigenous to this continent take it as a slur to be referred to as native Indian. So Norma would be referred to as the first Miss America of Native American ancestry or descent.) Just to be clear, its worth noting that (and it should be "they may have TAKEN her crown"- not took??) they didn't "take" it the way you are phrasing this: Going into the pageant, she and every other state title holder signs a contract that includes a morals clause. Once the existence of the photos were revealed to the public, the MAO by virtue of the legality to the morals clause, followed their bylaws which were in any such case as this, she was afforded 48 hours to gather her thoughts and resign. Yes, her TITLE as Miss America 1984 was officially removed, but she still has in her possession both the state and national "crowns"; and she was allowed to keep her scholarships earned, along with all of the public appearance fees she earned prior to the dubious actions of that photographer. and of course, allowing her to keep all of those was the natural and right thing to do. but if you're talking technically about a crown, no- they did not take that from her, and the one that Suzette Charles was given was a brand new one.
@@Parker528
Sit 🪑 down 👇 little girl
Get over it
Attention, Tubees. It has been revealed that Vanessa Williams will serve as Head Judge of the upcoming Miss America Pageant.
very young and very beautiful like always
I second that. If I recall, the age range was, at one time, 18 to 28. The Miss America Organization should have left well enough alone with that one.
1984 my yr the only yr to have 2 miss Americas love both of my miss Americas.i meet suzette she is so sweet .i would love to meet vanassa ..
" Beautiful.
I remember watching his my senior year in high school thinking, she sure does have coarse hair and dark skin for a white woman. My mind could not catch up with what my eyes where seeing. Vanessa Williams and Lee Merriwether are the best Miss Americas ever!
carterboy66 At that time I still had a b/w television. I thought she was a white women with a real good tan. Why is it that white people have to ease into blackness.
I would add Bess Myerson to the equation.
@@Juliaflo uhm bess the mess? google her. nyc govt corruption scandal. And then her conviction for stealing from a store in PA? granted this was after her reign but nonetheless not in line with mao image, along with the morals clause in the contract each national contestant has had tosign and swear to, at least 4 decades now. no not a role model.
And when the scandal hit, Lee was the only former Miss America who stood up for Vanessa, saying in a written card after Vanessa resigned..."Don't let them get you down!"
@Cynthia D I think we're agreeing, but I just want to make sure I understand what you mean by that?
Vanessa is goregous!
John Smith Yes she is
First time a crown was not pinned to their head I wonder why. Still my favorite Miss America always.
One of the traditions that should return is having the new Ms. America walk to her seat after the announcement of her win as Vanessa did ; I don't think it is done anymore. Also what is displayed here that alot of her competitors didn't seem to really congratulate her except maybe a few. Kudos to Lee Meriwether and a few other of Vanessa's predecessors for congratulating her. I saw the young lady Ms. Maryland who was African-American and competing against Vanessa really congratulate Vanessa. I must say though I see why Suzette Charles was first runner up; she was really good and poised.
'except maybe a few"? really? ok so there are 50 or 51 girls this year. go back at look, before the formers interrupt (Lee Meriweather, nancy fleming and then bebe shopp), congrats- verbally and/or by hug, i cant believe you consider that a few. remember you miss out on some when the camera pans out for the sponsors, i then STOPPED COUNTING once i got above 25. we also miss when the cameras show Gary trying say goodbye as well as a glimpse to the right of the girls assembled when another angle is shown of the formers on stage. and it wasnt ms Maryland you are referring to, but rather Denean graham from north carolina, who went on to a very successful career in choreography, namely on Broadway. to this day she remains the only black ms n. carolina. after her state title her family was threatened with a burning cross on their front yard. both trailblazing ladies. just a few?
What are you talking about?
She stood out eons above the others in that line of ten. Add her talent and the other categories, and it’s a total runaway.
😂 An awesome America moment!
That hefa that crowned Vanessa didn't even pin the damn crown on her head.
I remember this night. U was in the fourth grade
Funny how Miss America 1955 (Lee Merrywether) was not acknowledged when they were honoring all the previous Miss America's but was shown at the end congratulating Vanessa????????
Her predecessor, Deborah Sue Maffett was deliriously happy. When she was crowning her, she seems to be more excited than Vanessa was!
I was in grade 4 during these times...
I didn't know that the max age for this pageant had been 18, but i can tell you without question, after asking a pageant historian who works on the miss america community hall post that the max age up through the 1992 pageant, or the yr Leanza Cornett won, was age 26. The oldest to ever win the title was 25, colleen Hutchins, in the 50's, a mormon from Utah; she was tall and beuatiful; her son kiki became an player in the nba and daughter Tauna swam in the 70 olympics.
If my memory serves me, Leanza Cornett was 21 when she won the title.
One of my moms best friends was miss texas wow
You know that the pageant is returning to Atlantic City this fall.
At the video's end, I see Debra Barnes who came in from the left and Lee Merriweather on the right, but I don't recognize the brunette or blond on the right.
I would love to see more true somoans from Hawaii and native Americans to compete
🎉
Vanessa was indirectly mentioned in the Simpsons episode "Lisa the Beauty Queen"
The all look like Disney princesses
not the loofa on her shoulder 😂
vanessa was forced to resign after the nude picture scandal (photos she took when she was 18) a few months after being crowned.
Yes. that's true, but look at her now! She's the only former Miss America anyone remembers!
Actually a lot people don't know the whole story behind this. But that is ok! Pam Rigas was supposed to have won! Even one of the judges, Rod McKuen said that a couple of years afterward!
doobeedoo58 why was she supposed to have won?
doobeedoo58 what the fuck are you talking about?? Wherever did you get the
idea that Pam Rigas was suppose to have won? I've never ever heard that bull shit. Personally I do believe you dreamed up that SHIT!!!!!!!!
Impossible! Vanessa was the only contestant that year to have won TWO Preliminaries...Swimsuit AND Talent. The only other African American woman to do that also was Faith Jenkins (Miss Louisiana 2001) by Faith was First-runner up. Faith's got her own syndicated court reality tv show, she used her scholarship money to become a prosecutor and eventually a judge.
Pam Rigas sang Shine It ON, nd sorry, but she hardly shined it on. It was a mess, which is why she may not have won.
LIES! 4th to winner is a huge leap!
Not so fast Vanessa...
Am I wrong but when Miss Alabama was announced 2nd Runner Up and Vanessa, standing next to her, started a motion to give her a contratulatory hug, it looked like she was brushed off.
She was from Alabama.
The crown looks like it is on backwards 🤣
looking back it really was a toss up even though Vanessa is well Vanessa Suzett was robbed
I don't know if Suzette was robbed... in the end they where both Miss America!
228candy
dude???? if you understood HOW they win based on total points, you would know that there are TWO things at least back then that involve total scores, and of those two at least one is still NOT EVER released to the viewing public. Both are preliminary scores: prelim evening gown winners at least up through the mid to late 90's WERE NEVER released to the public but were always included in the preliminary composite score carried over to the finals. The second thing that the public to this date does not ever know is who OF THE FINALISTS (OR SEMI FINALISTS IF YOU WISH) scored highest in the very very important interview, which of all of the portions, both prelim and finals, perhaps gives judges the BEST idea and input as to whom of all the contestants will perform best under pressure answering questions, especially with the press and also how she would do on the year long speaking tour she does as a representative of the MAO. please do NOT mistake what I am saying for the prelim interview winner; that award ONLY goes to the NON FINALIST who scored highest in that prelim among all other non finalists; which means we will never know who between Vanessa and Suzette scored higher in TWO prelim competitions. In pondering that alone, please keep in mind that the gown Vanessa wore when she won was NOT what she wore during evening gown portion, b/c what she wore walking down the runway surely wouldn't have even scored amongst the top 5 in whichever prelim evening gown group she was placed in. If those two facts have not yet helped you with coming to any understanding, may I remind you that winning a preliminary is HUGE in the overall composite point system that is as I said carried over to the finals and included in the final score. Let us all keep in mind that this is a subjective competition, and not who touched a wall first, and that year the judges awarded Suzette one preliminary portion:talent, which no doubt upped her chances enormously. But the same group of judges comparing all of the prelim groups gave Vanessa the prelim swimsuit win on that Wednesday and the prelim talent on Friday. Perhaps since both did outstanding jobs as Miss America's we can be content and happy with the consolation that thank goodness they weren't both put in the same prelim groups, b/c if that had been the case, only one of them if at all would have won in swimsuit, talent, or evening gown, unless they tied, since ties have occurred in the past in prelims. Then again, even in her own prelim swimsuit group, Suzette didn't win, losing all those extra points, and advantage awarded to a prelim winner in the overall composite carried over to finals. In past years, many times we have had winners who have not EVER won any of the prelim competitions that are announced to the public, back then which were only swimsuit and talent. From that one should NOT ever underestimate the power of the prelim interview and how it is weighed overall towards who wins. I can't be certain if it was scored the year she won, but definitely must have made an impact to her winning, and she later successfully campaigned the MAO to include it in the carried over prelim composite scores to the finals, (perhaps when serving on their Board of directors?) but it is well known by her own admission that Rebecca King, MA 1974 did not win any of the announced prelims AND thinks she won by shocking the prelim judges by flat out telling them something I doubt anyone up to that point had stated so boldly. She told them her sole purpose to being at that competition was, and I quote, "I'm here for the money so I can go to Law School." We'll never know if it was that alone that won it for her, but if it convinced her to the point to convince the MAO to count it in the prelim composite, then we'll never know how Suzette did.
+Parker528 Actually, a pageant judge from that year stated on a talk show that Vanessa was the clear winner in the interview segment of the pageant. There was no one who was within 5 points of her. This is what I believe made the difference. Moreover, from a personal opinion , I thought Vanessa outdid Suzette in swimsuit and evening gown. Suzette was better in talent, but not by much.
allen dunn I disagree Vanessa beat the shit out of Suzett Chreles.!!!!
I really thought she was White. She really looked White.
Aussi minable et sexiste qu'en France. Ma fille aurait voulu se présenter à cette ''chose'' je l'en aurai empêchée par tous les moyens.
Marianne, de Paris