“Miss America” Apologizes to Vanessa Williams

Better 32 years late than never. At the Miss America pageant over the weekend, Vanessa Williams received an apology for being forced to resign over nude photographs.

“Though none of us currently in the organization were involved then, on behalf of today’s organization, I want to apologize to you and to your mother, Ms. Helen Williams,” said CEO Sam Haskell, as the crowd went wild. “I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America you are, and the Miss America you always will be.”

Vanessa Williams won the Miss America title in 1983 but was forced to resign the next year when Penthouse magazine published nude photographs taken of her in 1982. She said she was pressured to resign by pageant organizers and had to use her prize money to pay attorney’s fees in her lawsuit against Penthouse, which was later dropped.

Congrats to Vanessa Williams and to Miss America 2016, Betty Cantrell. We had the pleasure of meeting with Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev not long ago, so we can confirm that Miss America winners are classy and impressive ladies (who also have a sense of humor).