Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American actress, singer, and fashion designer. In 1983, she became the first African-American Miss America. However, a few weeks prior to the end of her reign, Williams resigned as Miss America in 1984, under pressure from the Miss America Organization, because of a nude photograph scandal. She received a public apology from Miss America CEO Sam Haskell thirty-two years later during the Miss America 2016 pageant. After her resignation, Williams rebounded as a recording artist. Her song “Dreamin” was ranked number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and she received many Grammy Award nominations for her albums The Comfort Zone and The Sweetest Days. Williams is also a successful actress. She is mostly known for her portrayal of Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty (2006-10) for which she got nominated for the “Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.” She received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 19, 2007.