Organisers
of the Miss America pageant have apologised to actress Vanessa Williams, 32
years after she was forced to hand back her title.
Williams
was the first black woman to be named Miss America in 1983 but resigned after a
magazine published nude photos of her without her consent.
"I
want to apologise for anything that was said or done," said Miss America
CEO Sam Haskell.
A
tearful Williams called the statement "unexpected" and
"beautiful".
Now
52, she has forged a career as an actress, with major roles in Ugly Betty and
Desperate Housewives.
She
also scored a global hit in 1992 with the ballad Save the Best for Last; and
her recording of Colors of the Wind from Disney's Pocahontas soundtrack earned
her a Golden Globe, a Grammy and an Oscar for best original song.
Image copyright AP Image caption Williams
was the first African-American woman to win Miss America
The
New Yorker won Miss America in September 1983 but, months later, the pageant's
executive committee voted unanimously to request that she resign after
Penthouse magazine published naked photographs she has posed for several years
earlier,
Williams
remains the only title-holder who was asked to resign in the pageant's history.
She
was invited back to the competition this year by Chairman Sam Haskell, who
asked her to serve as head judge.
Before
the competition started, he invited her on stage to receive the apology.
"I
have been a close friend to this beautiful and talented lady for 32
years," he told the audience. "You have lived your life in grace and
dignity, and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you
resigned.
"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, Miss Helen
Williams."
He
continued: "I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that
made you feel any less than the Miss America you are and the Miss America you
always will be."
Image copyright Reuters Image
caption Miss Georgia, Betty Cantrell, won this year's competition after
performing Tu, tu piccolo iddio from the opera Madame Butterfly
The
audience gave Williams a standing ovation and TV coverage showed her mother on
the verge of tears.
"Thank
you so much, Sam, so unexpected but so beautiful," said the actress.
"I
did the best that I could as Miss America in 1983 to 84," she said.
"On
behalf of my family, my mother in particular; [publicist] Brian Edwards, who
orchestrated this entire thing to bring me back; and your leadership, your
integrity and you bringing this pageant back to what it ought to be. I love
you. I love the girls. And I'm so honoured to be back."
Williams
then returned to her seat and helped select the new Miss America - 21-year-old
Betty Cantrell of Georgia.
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