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The night Vanessa Williams was crowned Miss America, I hosted a sleepover so that my friends and I could watch the pageant together. Mind you, we had no idea that history would be made that night, we just liked judging the girls and competing to see who could pick the top 10.

Vanessa was an early favorite and after she sang Happy Days Are Here Again, we thought she was a shoo-in, but we never dreamed she would be crowned because an African American had never won Miss America.

So, can you imagine how excited we were when Vanessa’s name was announced? We were so loud and screaming and jumping up and down, that my Dad rushed into the room to make sure that we hadn’t gotten into the liquor cabinet.

That night we had a new role model and Vanessa has carried herself with grace and dignity every since. Successful on Broadway and in music, movies and television, Vanessa continues to dazzle us, so I was excited to read her story in her own words.

And if you who missed that historic moment the first time….