# VANESSA WILLIAMS: Being the First Black Miss America Changed My Life - But Came at a Cost

An episode of [Great Company with Jamie Laing](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1735702250), 21 Jan 2026, 1 h 03 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65d737dfdc02e00016c413b2/e/696fb2be6544003fe9f3572c/media.mp3

Vanessa Williams is an absolute powerhouse. She’s a Grammy-nominated recording artist, an award-winning actor and a global cultural icon, known for roles in Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives and currently starring as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada on the West End. At just 20 years old, Vanessa became the first Black woman to win the Miss America crown. It was a historic moment that changed her life overnight. But making history came at a cost: she faced de*th threats, FBI protection and a level of public scrutiny few could imagine. In this episode, we cover: • How Vanessa broke barriers as the first Black woman to win Miss America • Navigating de*th threats and hate after her win • Singing live at the Super Bowl and the Oscars • Aging on camera and her thoughts on cosmetic surgery • What Vanessa's mum told Elton John when they met This is a conversation about strength, resilience and refusing to be defined by other people. Vanessa Williams is Great Company. If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk This episode is sponsored by The AA, the UK’s No.1 breakdown provider. It’s OK with the AA, they’re the fastest major breakdown provider with more patrols up and down the country, 24/7, 365 days a year. So, if you want that peace of mind and be back on the road in no time - Join today at theaa.com/Great T&Cs apply. Verify claims at theaa.com/best THE CREDITS Executive Producers: Ewan Newbigging-Lister & Jemima Rathbone Producer: Helen Burke & Rema Mukena Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett Social Media: Laura Coughlan Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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