Vanessa Williams

Signed a $20 million deal to endorse products for Proactiv; will also develop a cosmetics line for the company

Cast in "Ugly Betty" (ABC) as Wilhelmina Slater, the conniving editorial director; earned an Emmy (2007, 2008) nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a SAG (2008) nomination for Best Actress

Cast in the comedy "Johnson Family Vacation"

Cast as the Witch in the Broadway revival of "Into the Woods"

Performed title role of "Carmen Jones" at the Kennedy Center; directed by Debbie Allen

Played Dulcinea in the TNT production "Don Quixote"

Starred opposite Samuel L. Jackson in John Singleton's "Shaft"

Co-starred in the sleeper hit "Soul Food"

First leading role in features, "Eraser"

Made Broadway debut in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" replacing Chita Rivera

Released third successful album, The Sweetest Days

Released second and most successful album The Comfort Zone

Released first album, The Right Stuff

Made film debut in "The Pick-Up Artist"

Crowned the first-ever African American Miss America (September)

Lost her title as Miss America when Penthouse released unauthorized nude photoghraphs taken of Williams

Moved to Los Angeles; launched her professional career

Won the Miss New York pageant

Grew up in Westchester County, New York