Over three decades after making history at the Miss America Pageant, Vanessa Williams is coming back to the event. This time, instead of competing, she will be the head judge.
ABC announced that she will lead the judging panel, which already includes Brett Eldredge, Taya Kyle, Danica McKellar, Kevin O’Leary, Amy Purdy and Zendaya. Brooke Burke-Charvet and Chris Harrison are hosting, while singer Nick Jonas is acting as Music Curator.
Williams was the first African American to win the Miss America Pageant when she did so in 1984. She’s since gone on to earn Emmy, Grammy and Tony nominations and even sang the Oscar-winning Pocahontas song “Colors of the Wind.” She also won the Human Rights Campaign’s “Ally For Equality” Award and received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2007.
“Vanessa Williams made history by becoming the first African American to win the competition when she was crowned Miss America 1984, and she went on to conquer the worlds of music, Broadway, television, and film,” Sam Haskell, Executive Chairman & CEO of the Miss
America Organization said in a statement. “It is a great honor to welcome her back to the competition as our Head Judge.”
“We recognize that Vanessa’s return to Miss America on Sunday, September 13 is a special cultural and television moment,” said Mike Mahan, President of dick clark productions, which produces the broadcast. “We are both honored and excited that she will take center stage for the 95th Anniversary of the competition.”
The 2015 Miss America Pageant will air on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 13 from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com