One of the most noteworthy comebacks in the entertainment industry is Vanessa Williams' rise and fall-and rise again-after stepping down as Miss America in 1984.
According to Deadline, Williams' Penthouse Magazine scandal will be turned into a limited series, as Sony Pictures Television optioned the rights to develop her story.
It will follow her story as the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America, and the scandalous photo published by Penthouse Magazine that forced her to step down weeks before her reign ended.
"This project is incredibly personal to me," said the 59-year-old. "There are so many inaccurate and untrue accounts of the events surrounding this period in my life, and as a mother, and as a Black woman, it is important to me that my truth be told and be documented from my perspective."
Under the helm of executive producer Neil Meron, Williams' point of view and experience will be further explored.
"I am so grateful that Vanessa has entrusted Mark Nicholson and I to share her remarkable story of breaking barriers," said Meron.
"She faced a culture of discrimination and hate yet her indomitable integrity guided her to the many triumphs she has had during her remarkable career."
The Scandal
According to reports, Williams' nude photos were published without her consent, and what ensued was arguably worse. She received death threats and discrimination following the controversy.
She explained how there was an agreement between herself and the photographer that the pictures would never be published, and she assumed that the pictures were disposed of.
"I feel as if I were a sacrificial lamb. The past just came up and kicked me. I felt betrayed and violated," she lamented.
The said pictures were taken long before she entered the Miss America Pageant. She also shared that she joined the pageant in hopes to earn money to pay for her college tuition at Syracuse University.
Success Story
Despite the tough time she had to endure after her resignation, Williams pushed through and persevered. She became a singer and actress, with her hit song "Colors of the Wind" winning several awards including a Soul Train Music Award, NAACP Image Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
She was nominated three times for an Emmy Award, 10 times for a Grammy Award, and once for an MTV Video Music Award.
Williams also appeared on several TV shows including "Modern Family," "Phineas and Ferb," "Desperate Housewives," and "Ugly Betty."
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