Vanessa Williams

An American popRB recording artist producer dancer model and actress In 1983 she became the first woman of AfricanAmerican descent to be crowned Miss America but a scandal involving nude photographs caused her to relinquish her title early Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer earning Grammy Emmy and Tony Award nominations Williams released her debut album The Right Stuff in 1988 which spawned the hits The Right Stuff a 1 on Hot Dance Songs and Dreamin a 1 on RB and 8 on Billboard Hot 100 Her second studio album The Comfort Zone in 1991 topped the Billboard RB Album Chart and spawned the numberone hit Save the Best for Last In 1994 she debuted on Broadway in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman In 1995 she recorded the Oscarwinner for Best Original Song Colors of the Wind from the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas It went on to reach 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Williamss first major movie role was as the star of the feature film Eraser in 1996 She also starred in the movies Soul Food Dance with Me The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Shaft and Johnson Family Vacation From 2006 to 2010 she played the role of selfabsorbed diva and former supermodel Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty 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 woman Renee Perry