Vanessa Williams Was Slut-Shamed Out Of A Break On Broadway

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Miss America in 1984. Shortly before the end of her time with the title, Penthouse acquired and published nude photographs of her resulting in a national outrage that prompted Williams to return her crown.

The Grammy Award-nominated singer and Tony Award-nominated performer shared how the experience impacted her career on the season three premiere of The Fabulous Invalid podcast. “My career has been one of always, ‘I didn’t know she could do that.’ So I’ve always been kind of, I don’t want to say counted out, but having to prove my worth,” she said. “And I think that’s across the board, not only theater, but in film and television, there’s been low expectations because of being labeled a beauty queen label, a scandal beauty queen you’re put.