Miss America 2016 news & update: former Miss America Vanessa Williams returns as pageant's judge

• comments
• 
• 

Vanessa Williams is making a big comeback to the American pageant that mocked her for 32 years since her short reign as Miss America, after she was pressured to resign amidst the photo scandal published by Penthouse.

CBS News writes that the Miss America Organization, ABC Television and Dick Clark Productions announced yesterday that they will be bringing back Williams as the head judge for next year's competition. The award-winning actress and singer was the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1984, and although she had to resign because of the scandal, she became successful in her film, TV, music and Broadway career.

The executive chairman and CEO of Miss America Organization, Sam Haskell, shares that he has been friends with the actress for 32 years and has been trying to get her back on stage for the past 10 years. However, due to logistics and schedule challenges, this is the first time that the comeback is happening. Haskell firmly believes that Williams' return can put the past behind all of them and allow them to move forward for a better Miss America pageant.

So thrilled to welcome my dear friend @vwofficial Vanessa Williams to this year's 95th Anniversary of… https://t.co/1P3S2by577

— Sam Haskell (@samhaskell) September 8, 2015

Williams shares that the scandal aftermath has been hard on her and her family, People Magazine reports. The actress felt judged whenever she walks in auditions, being tagged as the "scandalous Miss America" or "Vanessa the Undressa". However, this didn't put her down as she is determined to redeem herself.

Four years after her resignation as Miss America, her debut album has sold over seven million records, topping almost every hit chart, including Latin, R&B and pop. She bagged several Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and SAG nominations, which helped her earn seven NAACP Image Awards, a Golden Globe, a Grammy and an Oscar for "Colors of the Wind".

President of Dick Clark Productions, Mike Mahan, tells Billboard that the organizers recognize how much Williams' return to Miss America will mean to television and history. They are excited as to how things will be once the multi-talented celebrity graces the stage on its 95th anniversary.

Williams will join hosts Chris Harrison and Brooke Burke-Charvet with music curator Nick Jonas and other celebrity judges like Taya Kyle, Danica McKellar, Amy Purdy and Zendaya. The 2016 Miss America pageant will air on September 13, Sunday, on ABC.