ORGANISERS OF THE Miss America pageant have apologised to actress and singer Vanessa Williams 32 years after she was forced to hand back her title.
Williams was the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America when she won the title in 1983.
The pageant’s executive committee voted unanimously to request she resign after Penthouse magazine published naked photographs without her consent. She had posed for them several years earlier.
Williams is the only Miss America who has been asked to resign.
Miss America CEO Sam Haskell said sorry to Williams after she performed at the pageant last night.
“On behalf of today’s organisation I want to apologise to you. I want to apologise for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be,” he said.
Williams described the apology as “so unexpected but so beautiful”, adding that she was “honoured” to be back on the Miss America stage.
This year’s contest was won by Miss Georgia, Betty Cantrel.
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