Vanessa Williams Reveals the 'Shame' & 'Judgment' She Felt After Her 1984 Miss America Scandal

It’s been 40 years since Vanessa Williams was dethroned as Miss America, and it was quite the scandal back in the day. With four decades gone by, the 61-year-old actress has a much different perspective on what she lived through after nude photos she had taken years ago were published by Penthouse magazine.

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Williams was placed on a pedestal when she was crowned as the first Black woman to hold the title of Miss America — she was a groundbreaking role model . That sparkling bliss only lasted 10 months because the nude photoshoot, which was supposed to stay under wraps, came to light in 1984. Williams told People about the “pressure, shame, [and] judgment” she felt when the controversy “dominated the world’s news cycle for weeks.” She’s honestly relieved that it happened ahead of the tech era.

“Had there been an internet to break back then, it would have shattered to pieces. I took all that on as a 21-year-old,” she added. “It was global. You can fail quietly, but that was a worldwide fail.” With time comes wisdom and the understanding that her teen self didn’t understand the consequences of even posing in the first place because she was promised only their silhouettes would be used.

“I look back at my 19-to 20-year-old self and think, ‘Oh my God you were so naive, so trusting, so vulnerable,’ ” she noted. “In your mind, you think, ‘I’m old, I know what I’m doing.’ I give myself grace now, but as a young adult, I beat myself up, like ‘ I should have known better. ’” Williams’ family surrounded her with love to help her get through that time, and the Miss America organization finally apologized to her in 2015 ahead of their 95th Anniversary Miss America which she attended as their head judge.

“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,” then-Miss America Executive Chairman and CEO Sam Haskell, III said at the pageant. “I want to apologize 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.”

The public moved on from the scandal in 1988 when her smash hit album, The Right Stuff , landed her at the top of the charts and earned her a 1989 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Williams had the confidence to realize that “once the dust settled I’d get the chance to show people who I am,” she told Good Morning America in 2015. Her career has only soared from there with lead roles on Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty, and the musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada (yes, she’s Miranda Priestly!), which is currently in previews in the West End.

Before you go, click here to see all the celebrity women who have posed for Playboy.