A limited series based on the scandal that led to Vanessa Williams resigning her historic Miss America crown is making its way to the small screen.
According to Deadline, Sony Pictures Television has obtained the rights to develop a series about Williams’ story.
In 1983, Williams became the first Black woman crowned as Miss America.
However, she was forced to give up her crown the following year after nude photos of her were published without her consent in Penthouse magazine.
Despite the photos being taken before she earned the title, Williams faced pressure from the organization to step down as Miss America in 1984, weeks before the end of her reign.
Williams was able to overcome the controversy and become an award-winning actor and singer in what is regarded as one of the most noteworthy comeback stories in the entertainment industry.
“This project is incredibly personal to me,” Williams said, per Deadline. “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.”
“This is not just a story about racy photos, it is about misogyny and racism, and I want to shine a light on that for future generations,” she added. “I was not only able to survive what could have been a career-ending scandal but rose above it and have achieved a body of work I am extremely proud of.”
Williams said she’s “looking forward” to continuing her long-standing relationships with Neil Meron, Mark Nicholson, Stephen Roseberry, and Jon Carrasco, who will serve as executive producers on the limited series.
“I am so grateful that Vanessa has entrusted Mark Nicholson and I to share her remarkable story of breaking barriers,” Meron said, according to Deadline. “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. She is a testament to living her truth and a role model for everyone.”
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