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| From the archive, 24 July 1984: Resignation of Miss America lays bare the nation's neuroses | From the archive, 24 July 1984: Resignation of Miss America lays bare the nation's neuroses |
| (2 months later) | |
| Miss Vanessa Williams, the first black Miss America, announced yesterday that she is resigning at the request of competition officials after the publication of nude photographs of her in Penthouse magazine. | Miss Vanessa Williams, the first black Miss America, announced yesterday that she is resigning at the request of competition officials after the publication of nude photographs of her in Penthouse magazine. |
| "I am a fighter," Miss Williams told a packed new conference. But she added: "It would be difficult for me to appear as Miss America" since the photographs, showing her in a lesbian embrace with an unknown white woman were published in the magazine. | "I am a fighter," Miss Williams told a packed new conference. But she added: "It would be difficult for me to appear as Miss America" since the photographs, showing her in a lesbian embrace with an unknown white woman were published in the magazine. |
| She had been enraged after seeing the photographs. "I never consented to the publication or use of these photographs in any manner." | She had been enraged after seeing the photographs. "I never consented to the publication or use of these photographs in any manner." |
| She insisted that the only piece of paper she could recall signing in connection with the photographs was an application to work as a model, and not a release allowing sale of the photos. | She insisted that the only piece of paper she could recall signing in connection with the photographs was an application to work as a model, and not a release allowing sale of the photos. |
| The case highlights the sexual and racial neuroses which are part of contemporary American society. As the first black Miss America, in a competition which historically favoured white women, Miss Williams, aged 21, has been one of the most sought after title holders in the competition's history. She has been described as a Renaissance woman who broke a colour bar through her beauty, intelligence, and performing skills. | The case highlights the sexual and racial neuroses which are part of contemporary American society. As the first black Miss America, in a competition which historically favoured white women, Miss Williams, aged 21, has been one of the most sought after title holders in the competition's history. She has been described as a Renaissance woman who broke a colour bar through her beauty, intelligence, and performing skills. |
| Her victory 11 months ago struck a national chord. The Miss America pageant which had been attracting little national interest and had fallen on bad times – partly because of the feminist movement – was reinvigorated by her selection. | Her victory 11 months ago struck a national chord. The Miss America pageant which had been attracting little national interest and had fallen on bad times – partly because of the feminist movement – was reinvigorated by her selection. |
| This was not just the archetypal dumb broad parading around in a brief swimming costume. Here was a bright student at Syracuse University with a brilliant singing career ahead of her who, like the Rev Jesse Jackson, had achieved something for her race two decades after the civil rights act of 1964. Even feminists, long critical of "cheesecake" competitions, showed a quiet acceptance. | This was not just the archetypal dumb broad parading around in a brief swimming costume. Here was a bright student at Syracuse University with a brilliant singing career ahead of her who, like the Rev Jesse Jackson, had achieved something for her race two decades after the civil rights act of 1964. Even feminists, long critical of "cheesecake" competitions, showed a quiet acceptance. |
| But over the weekend the sweet spell of Miss William's victory, which had lingered for almost a year, was broken. Bob Guccione, the publisher of Penthouse, announced that he had acquired the rights to photographs of Miss America in the nude and would be publishing them in the September edition. | But over the weekend the sweet spell of Miss William's victory, which had lingered for almost a year, was broken. Bob Guccione, the publisher of Penthouse, announced that he had acquired the rights to photographs of Miss America in the nude and would be publishing them in the September edition. |
| Public sympathy was very much on Miss William's side – until yesterday. She was seen as the innocent victim of a sleazy publisher in a society where purveyors of pornography are generally vilified. Innocent nudity was seen as a far lesser evil than its exploitation and Miss Williams, as a hero for blacks, had to be treated carefully. | Public sympathy was very much on Miss William's side – until yesterday. She was seen as the innocent victim of a sleazy publisher in a society where purveyors of pornography are generally vilified. Innocent nudity was seen as a far lesser evil than its exploitation and Miss Williams, as a hero for blacks, had to be treated carefully. |
| But what the sympathisers had not reckoned with was the nature of the pictures. They went beyond the pale. They crossed from the utilisation of a beautiful body on display to all but hard porn, raising issues of lesbian sexuality and miscegenation. They were the kind of photos which send the Bible Belt into righteous fury and make feminists cringe. They touched the inner tensions of American morality. | But what the sympathisers had not reckoned with was the nature of the pictures. They went beyond the pale. They crossed from the utilisation of a beautiful body on display to all but hard porn, raising issues of lesbian sexuality and miscegenation. They were the kind of photos which send the Bible Belt into righteous fury and make feminists cringe. They touched the inner tensions of American morality. |
| Many blacks are convinced that the exercise is an effort by Mr Guccione, the media, and the pageant organisers to demonstrate that black women are not fit for the peaches and cream title of Miss America. | Many blacks are convinced that the exercise is an effort by Mr Guccione, the media, and the pageant organisers to demonstrate that black women are not fit for the peaches and cream title of Miss America. |
| Although lesbians and feminists have often been closely allied they have been bitter enemies of the sexual purveyors. By focussing on these conflicts about private and public morality and the place of sex and race in society, the Williams affair will have a lasting impact. | Although lesbians and feminists have often been closely allied they have been bitter enemies of the sexual purveyors. By focussing on these conflicts about private and public morality and the place of sex and race in society, the Williams affair will have a lasting impact. |
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