25 years ago today, the first black Miss America, Vanessa Williams, resigned her crown over the controversy surrounding an announcement that unauthorized nude photos of her would be featured in Penthouse magazine. Overcoming what many would consider a career roadblock, Ms Williams has since enjoyed success as a chart-topping recording artist, Broadway performer, and film and television actress.

Sleazy Penthouse founder Bob Guccione, on the other hand, struggles with relative financial hardship (the sort enjoyed by many millionaires these days) and has had to auction off his world-class art collection to cover some bad investments.

Williams is quoted as saying “the best revenge is success.”

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