Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Williams made history on September 17 1983 when she became the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America. Williams' reign as Miss America came to an abrupt end when scandal led to her subsequent resignation of the title. Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer, receiving Grammy, Emmy, and Tony award recognition while perfecting her craft.

Vanessa A. Williams (born May 12, 1963 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City) is an Emmy Award nominated American actress who has appeared in several television series such as Melrose Place and the Showtime cable television show Soul Food: The Series. In 1996, she was featured in the television series Murder One

(She is sometimes confused with singer/actress Vanessa L. Williams, who starred in the original film version of Soul Food and was the first black Miss America.)

Vanessa Lynn Williams(born March 18, 1963)is an American R&B/pop/theatrical, singer, and actress. In 1983, Williams made history when she became the first woman of known African descent to be crowned Miss America. Her regime as Miss America came to an early and abrupt end when she resigned her title in scandal. However, she has since gone on to a successful entertainment career. Williams secured a record deal, and released her debut album, The Right Stuff. The first single, “Dreamin’”, was