In 1988, she released her debut studio album The Right Stuff, whose title single saw moderate success as well as ' Dreamin' ' which peaked at number 8 in the United States in 1989. Williams rebounded from the scandal with a successful career as a singer and actress. Thirty-two years later, Williams was offered a public apology during the Miss America 2016 pageant for the events. She gained recognition as the first African-American woman to receive the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984, but resigned her title amid a media controversy surrounding nude photographs of her being published in Penthouse magazine. Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American actress, singer, producer, and dancer.