A breif biography of actress/singer Vanessa Williams
BIOGRAPHY
Vanessa Williams was born in Millwood, New York to Milton and Helen Williams. She made history when she was twenty years old by winning the Miss America title. She was the first woman of African-American descent to do so. However, scandal erupted within a year when Penthouse published nude photos taken of her when she was younger. Because of the photos and the scandal, she was forced to relinquish her crown. Rather than let this incident thwart her ambition, Williams pursued a career in music and acting. She published her first album, THE RIGHT STUFF, in 1988. Her second release, THE COMFORT ZONE, featured the hit single "Save the Best for Last" and went multi-platinum. Williams has received two NAACP Image Awards and nine Grammy Award nominations. She won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for the single "Colors of the Wind" on the soundtrack to POCAHONTAS. She has had roles in several movies, including SOUL FOOD and ERASER. She was chosen to sing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXX.
She is currently married to NBA player, Rick Fox, and has four children, Melanie, Jillian, Devin, and Sasha Gabriella.
CHRONOLOGY
1963 She was born in Millwood, New York. (March 18)
1983 She won the Miss America title.
1988 THE RIGHT STUFF - album
1991 THE COMFORT ZONE - album
1994 THE KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN - film; She appeared in an episode of Star Trek as Arandis, a hostess on the planet Risea.
1996 THE SWEETEST DAYS - album; ERASER - film; She divorced Ramon Hervey.
1997 HOODLUM, SOUL FOOD - films
1998 DANCE WITH ME - film; THE GREATEST HITS: THE FIRST TEN YEARS - album
1999 She married Rick Fox.
2000 Her daughter, Sasha Gabriella, was born.
