Vanessa Williams, 20, becomes the first Black woman to win Miss America on September 17, 1983.
Vanessa Lynn Williams is a singer, actress, and fashion designer from the United States. When she was crowned Miss America 1984 in 1983, she made history as the first African-American woman to receive the title. However, a scandal erupted the following year when she learned, just weeks before the end of her reign, that Penthouse magazine would publish nude photographs of her in an upcoming issue. Under pressure from the Miss America Organization, she resigned as Miss America in July 1984, and was replaced by the first runner-up, Miss New Jersey 1983, Suzette Charles. Miss America CEO Sam Haskell publicly apologised to Williams for the incident 32 years later during the Miss America 2016 pageant.
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On September 17, 1787, 39 of the 55 delegates signed the new document, with many refusing to sign due to the lack of a bill of rights.
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