Vanessa Williams Miss America 1984

Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop R-and-B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal caused her to relinquish her title early and she was succeeded by the first runner-up, Suzette Charles of New Jersey, who was also African-American. Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer, earning multiple Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations.

Williams competed in the Miss Syracuse Pageant when a campus musical she was in was canceled in 1983. After winning the Miss Syracuse title, Williams won the Miss New York crown in 1983, and went on to compete for Miss America at the national pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Prior to the final night of competition, Williams won both preliminary competitions - Talent and Swimsuit - earlier in the week. She was crowned Miss America 1984 on September 17, 1983.

Due to scandalous photos that were published of Williams, and sponsors threatening to pull out of the upcoming 1985 Miss America pageant, Williams felt pressured by the Miss America Pageant officials to resign, and did so in a press conference on July 23, 1984. The title subsequently went to the first runner-up, Suzette Charles.

Vanessa Williams in Ugly Betty

Although she resigned from fulfilling the duties of a current Miss America, Williams was allowed to keep her crown and scholarship money, and is officially recognized by the Miss America Organization as Miss America 1984.

Williams released her debut album The Right Stuff in 1988, and in 1994 she debuted on Broadway in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 1995 she recorded "Colors of the Wind", the Oscar-winner for Best Original Song from the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas.

Williams's first film acting role was as the star of the feature film Eraser in 1996. From 2006 to 2010 she played the role of the scheming, self-absorbed diva and former supermodel Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty, for which she received three Emmy Awards nominations. In 2009, Williams released her eighth studio album, The Real Thing.


In 2010 she joined the ensemble cast of the series Desperate Housewives as spoiled rich gal Renee Perry.


Many singers, actresses, television celebrities, and print models get their start in pageants. If you would like to learn how to compete in a beauty pageant, check out the Ultimate Pageant Notebook for insider secrets to winning and pageant tips on how to get started.

By Tiffany Hansenn

When it comes to beauty pageants, everyone knows that pageant dresses and gowns can make or break a contestant. Choosing the best pageant dress is critical to ensuring that you have given the competition your very best effort. Along with exuding self-confidence, poise, and grace your choice of pageant gown may be the determining factor of how the judges score your performance. It is important that you make the decision of what gown you will wear carefully.

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a pageant dress is color. When choosing the color of your dress, it is important to understand what colors look best with your natural skin tone and hair color. Certain colors are more flattering to the wearer then others and you should never choose a dress simply because it is your favorite color. You may find that working with a pageant trainer is the best way to develop your eye for shades and ensure that you choose pageant dresses that compliment and enhance your skin and hair tones, rather then work against them.

Knowing your body shape is vitally important when selecting a dress. Always choose a dress that compliments your shape. If you are long waisted, then don't choose a dress that has a short waist line, and vice versa. You will also need to consider how revealing you want your dress to be. Judges may look unfavorably upon some dresses that are too low cut or have excessively high slits. Knowing what the judges are looking for is crucial for making your decision. It is also important to follow any rules and guidelines set forth in the pageant competition.

The season that the pageant is hosted in is also an important factor to consider when choosing a pageant gown. Different colors are associated with certain seasons and it is important to choose a color that is appropriate for that time of year.

You will also need to ensure that the dress fits perfectly. If it is too tight around the bust or too loose, you may end up forfeiting the win. You will also need to determine what type of neckline your pageant gown should have. Your natural figure and shape will determine what type of neckline will look best on you. The neckline should also compliment as well as enhance your shoulders.

Knowing your body type and choosing a dress that enhances your best features is essential to winning beauty pageants. You will also need to be wary of choosing a dress that has too many patterns or extra detailing. If the gown looks too "busy" the judges may not be impressed and you may walk away with a very low score. Studying past pageants may help you decide what the judges are looking for when it comes to pageant gowns. You want to make sure that you choose a gown that looks smashing, but not trashy. Choosing gowns that compliment your skin tone, don't reveal too much flesh, and have tasteful patterns contribute to ensuring that you will look poised and graceful in your next pageant.

Tiffany Hansenn is a contributor to a leading beauty pageant advice website. The website features pageant tips and beauty pageant dresses. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/576394


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Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler

Kaeppeler, from Kenosha, Wisconsin, is working toward a master’s degree in speech pathology, and her title has earned her $50,000 in scholarship funds. She aspires to mentor the children of incarcerated parents.

The new Miss America was awarded an additional $2,000 in scholarships for her win in the preliminary talent competition, a performance of “Il Bacio” by Luigi Arditi.

The pageant took a slightly different turn this year, as contestants were eliminated in the middle of segments such as the talent competition, rather than at the end of each segment, emulating popular reality shows. Contestants were also entrusted to save one contestant from elimination by voting for their favorite, and the majority selected Courtney Porter, Miss Alabama.

The five Miss America finalists were: Miss America (Wisconsin), Laura Kaeppeler; Miss New York, Kaitlin Monte; Miss Arizona, Jennifer Sedler; Miss California, Noelle Freeman; and Miss Oklahoma, Betty Thompson. The finalists did not include Miss South Carolina, Bree Boyce, who gained notoriety from a recent People Magazine article covering her story of extreme weight loss.

Last year’s Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan, who was the youngest Miss America winner ever, at age 17, crowned the new Miss America.


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Are you glitz and glamour, or a natural beauty? Find out which type of pageant is right for you:

The Differences Between Glitz and Natural Beauty Pageants

By Rhonda Shappert

This week I received the same question from two different mothers whose daughters both want to be Miss America someday. What is the difference between glitz and natural beauty pageants and which one do I recommend?

Both glitz and natural pageants can help young girls develop confidence and stage presence in a fun environment; but there are big differences between the glitz and natural worlds of pageantry. To understand where my point of view is coming from, let me first point out that the two young girls want to compete in the Miss America system. Secondly, I am a specialized natural pageant coach with my expertise being in resume writing, interview/communication skills, and positive self-image development.

Natural Pageants

Pageant systems that fall under this category are National American Miss (NAM), American Coed Pageant (COED), International Junior Miss (IJM), America's National Teenager (ANTSO), Cinderella, America's Outstanding Teen, Miss America, Teen-World, Miss USA, Mrs. America, Mrs. United States and Mrs. International. There are many more but this is a sampling of familiar systems to people within the pageant world.

    Generally speaking, the makeup guideline for children under 12 is zero. Some will allow only mascara and lip gloss on stage under the bright light. Makeup used on teens and women is to enhance the natural beauty, not to become the focal point or to make them look like someone they're not. The same goes for hairstyle. Always make sure to check with your director about the specifics for your pageant.

    Clothing is tasteful and has sparkle to it; but is not overly ornate. Wardrobe is usually purchased off the rack at a store and subtly embellished or customized by the contestant to reflect their sense of personality and style. The wardrobe is to always bring attention back to the girl wearing it. Not the other way around.

    Modeling style for gown is elegant and smooth. Arms and hands are close to your body moving in natural opposition (when you step forward with your right foot, your left arm is moving forward and so forth).

    Facial expressions are natural with the energy of the eyes and smile matching.

    Communication skills are developed through an on-stage introduction, personal interview and on-stage question.

Who does well in natural pageants? Contestants who enjoy speaking, are skilled in an artist talent, make good grades, have a charitable cause they're passionate about, and are well-rounded individuals tend to excel in natural pageants. These skills can easily transfer into life outside of the pageant stage.

Glitz Pageants

There are many glitz pageants across the country. If your child is blessed with facial beauty, then this may be the place to start. Glitz pageants offer the opportunity for young children to get use to being on stage before they can speak.

    In glitz pageants, you will see the use of hairpieces, heavy make-up, deep spray tans, fake teeth (called flippers), false eyelashes, and color contacts worn by the majority of the contestants.

    Clothing for glitz pageant is usually the short cupcake skirt dress. A cupcake dress is a dress that is several inches above the knee, has multiple layers of lace and is heavily stoned and bedazzled. Most of the dresses you see on the TV show Toddlers and Tiaras are cupcake dresses and are filmed at glitz pageants.

    Glitz pageants have their own style of modeling. Because of the full cupcake skirt, contestants learn to walk with their hands held away from their body with their finger tips gentle curving around the outer ruffle of their dress. When they walk, their arms don't move in the natural oppositional way. Instead, they move in the same direction (if you step out with your right foot, the right arm moves slightly with it).

    Facial Expressions tend to be exaggerated with lots of eyelash batting, tilting of the head from side to side, and blowing kisses.

    The opportunity to develop oral communication skills are limited in glitz pageants. If the contestant speaks, it is brief or only to say her name, age and where she is from. This may be because most of the contestants are babies and toddlers whose speech isn't yet develop. Again, the focus is on outer beauty.

Who does well in glitz pageants? Contestants who really enjoy getting all dressed up to create new characters on stage will love glitz pageants. The crowns are bigger than the child's head and the trophies are twice their height. There are usually lots of prizes, too.

Just make sure your child can tolerant having their hair teased, eyelashes glued on, and wearing heavy makeup. Glitz pageants are high maintenance and expensive. They are very popular and easy to find for children under the age of 5.

Because the glitz environment is about creating an illusion, it's hard, but not impossible, for children who have only done glitz pageants to successfully transition into natural pageants as they age up. The modeling style, limited speaking experience and facial expressions learned at a young age are hard habits to break.

So to answer the second part of the question as to which pageant type I would recommend, since these two little girls want to be Miss America someday (and what 10-year-old doesn't want to be) I would say stick to the natural pageant systems.

Rhonda Shappert, is an iPEC certified expert pageant coach, judge, and mother of three daughters. In addition to holding multiple titles herself including Mrs. Ohio America, her clients have won titles at local, state, national and international pageants. For her free special report, 10 Insider Secrets to Winning, and other resources, visit her website http://www.WinningThroughPageantry.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6113772

Many children involved in television and commercials get their start in pageants. If you would like to learn more about natural and glitz pageants, and how your child can compete in a beauty pageant, check out the Ultimate Kids Pageant Notebook for insider secrets and pageant tips on how to get started.