The Former Miss America Who Had To Give Her Title Back

A year after Vanessa Williams was given the title of Miss America, she was forced to give the crown back after photographs of her emerged in Penthouse magazine (via Biography). While Williams was a freshman in college, she worked for local photographer, Tom Chiapel, who regularly arranged these risqué photoshoots. He asked Williams if she would sit for a couple of sessions without her clothes on, to which she agreed. However, following the third session with another photographer, she wasn't happy with the shoot and asked for the negatives to be destroyed.

These images were published without her permission in Penthouse, a moment which Williams later said in her memoir felt "like I had been raped" (via Esquire). When Chiapel decided to sell the photos, he first sought out Hugh Hefner, who declined to feature the pictures in "Playboy." Hefner stated "they clearly weren't authorized" by Williams and he declined "because they would be the source of considerable embarrassment to her," (per Esquire). After the images were published, Williams had to relinquish her title as Miss America a year after earning it. 

In 1989, the New York native filed a lawsuit against the magazine and Chiapel, but had to drop the suits after it was discovered she'd signed a "model release form," according to The History Channel.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).