An American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, and actress. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal involving nude photographs caused her to relinquish her title early. Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer, earning Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations.

Williams released her debut album The Right Stuff in 1988, which spawned the hits "The Right Stuff," a #1 on Hot Dance Songs, and "Dreamin'," a #1 on R&B and #8 on Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, The Comfort Zone, in 1991 topped the Billboard R&B Album Chart, and spawned the number-one hit, "Save the Best for Last."

In 1994 she debuted on Broadway in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 1995 she recorded the Oscar-winner for Best Original Song, "Colors of the Wind," from the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas. It went on to reach #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Williams's first major movie role was as the star of the feature film Eraser in 1996. She also starred in the movies Soul Food, Dance with Me, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Shaft and Johnson Family Vacation.

From 2006 to 2010 she played the role of self-absorbed diva and former supermodel Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty. In 2009, Williams released her eighth studio album, The Real Thing. In 2010 she joined the ensemble cast of the series Desperate Housewives as spoiled rich woman Renee Perry.

Vanessa L. Williams (Tarrytown, New York, 1963. március 18. –) amerikai R&B/popénekesnő, színésznő.

1983-ban megnyerte a Miss America szépségversenyt, amivel ő lett az első színes bőrű szépségkirálynő. A címről azonban 1984-ben lemondott, mert meztelen fotók jelentek meg róla. 1988-ban tört be a zene világába a The Right Stuff című albumával, amiért 3 Grammy-díj-jelölést kapott. 1992-ben megjelent Save the Best for Last kislemeze hetekig vezette a slágerlistákat, amiért ismét Grammy-díjra jelölték, 1995-ben a Colors of the Wind című dala a Pocahontas című Disney-rajzfilm betétdala lett. Jelenleg a Címlapsztori című amerikai sorozatban Wilhelmina Slater szerepét alakítja.

Fue la primera afro-americana que ganó el certamen de Miss America en 1983, aunque su corona estuvo rodeada por la polémica.

Su carrera a girado en torno a la televisión. Ha participado en 'Ugly Betty'.