S26E22: Vanessa Williams (A Trashy Divorces Encore Plus!)

It’s funny to think that back in the 1980s, a leak of nude pictures could cause a headline-grabbing scandal, but that’s exactly what happened to the first Black woman to ever wear the Miss America crown. Vanessa Williams, then 21, was roundly demonized in the press, and was subjected to intense public outrage for her supposed transgression. She was even forced to resign her crown, an overreaction that the pageant would apologize for decades later. Alicia has the whole sorry saga, and the powerful comeback story of one of the great talents in American entertainment – plus a couple of divorces! Want early, ad-free episodes, regular Dumpster Dives, bonus divorces, limited series, Zoom hangouts, and more? Join us at patreon.com/trashydivorces! Want a personalized message for someone in your life? Check us out on Cameo! To advertise on our podcast, please reach out to [e-mail]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices