Vanessa Williams

A multi-faceted performer possessing both stunning looks and immense talent, Vanessa Williams found success in nearly every arm of the entertainment industry. Overcoming scandal and the loss of the Miss America title in 1984, due to a nude pictorial in Playboy magazine, Williams' strength of character, grace and talent helped establish her as a sought-after vocalist and actress. As a Grammy-nominated singer, she released eight albums, selling over four million copies worldwide. As an actress, Williams starred on Broadway, television and in feature films. On stage, she turned in a Tony-nominated performance in "Into the Woods;" on the big screen, she starred in numerous films including "Eraser" (1996), "Soul Food" (1997), "Shaft" (2000) and "Johnson Family Vacation" (2004). With a career that spanned two decades, Williams established herself as a leading talent across the board, proving her staying power by returning to television as Wilhelmina Slater on the hit ABC series "Ugly Betty" (2006-2010). She furthered her stature on the small screen after joining the cast of the long-running hit, "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 2004-12), once again proving that Williams was capable of translating her talents to just about any medium.