Vanessa Williams

Born: 18th March 1963
Where: Bronx, New York

Vanessa won a musical theatre scholarship to Syracuse University in New York in 1981, but by 1983 she had used up all her funds, and decided to enter the Miss New York pageant for scholarship money.

The first black Miss America, Vanessa began her professional career as a rhythm and blues recording artist after she was forced to relinquish her crown in 1984 when nude photos of her were published in Penthouse magazine.

She then moved to Los Angeles to launch her career.

Vanessa made her film debut in The Pick-Up Artist in 1987 and has subsequently appeared in Under the Gun, Another You and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.

Her debut album The Right Stuff sold over 500,000 copies and netted her three Grammy nominations.

In 1994, she made her Broadway debut in Kiss of the Spider Woman, and was then chosen to sing the pop version of the Oscar-winning theme Colors of the Wind from Disney's animated hit Pocahontas.

She is not to be confused with actress Vanessa Williams, who was featured in New Jack City and on Melrose Place.