Miss America 1984 Crowning

Vanessa Williams would become the first African American to be crowned Miss America when she was crowned Miss America 1984 on September 17, 1983. When nude photos of her surfaced and were published by Penthouse magazine, she resigned under pressure on July 23, 1984.

1st Runner-Up Miss New Jersey Suzette Charles would take over the title. She became the second African-American Miss America.

Although she resigned from fulfilling the duties of a current Miss America, she was allowed to keep the bejeweled crown and scholarship money and is officially recognized by the Miss America Organization today as "Miss America 1984" and Suzette Charles as "Miss America 1984b."