Vanessa Williams becomes the first Black woman crowned Miss America.
At a Glance
- Date
- 17 September 1983
- Location
- Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Key people
- Vanessa Williams
- Category
- Arts & Literature
- Source
- Miss America records (1983) · Britannica
What It Meant Then
Her victory broke a six-decade color line in the pageant.
What It Means Now
Williams went on to a successful career in music, stage, and screen.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Vanessa Williams Is Crowned Miss America.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/vanessa-williams-is-crowned-miss-america/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Vanessa Williams Is Crowned Miss America. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/vanessa-williams-is-crowned-miss-america/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Vanessa Williams Is Crowned Miss America.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/vanessa-williams-is-crowned-miss-america/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.