Singer And Actress Vanessa Williams Reveals She Was Molested As A 10-Year-Old Girl

Former Miss America Writes Of Incident In New Book

Vanessa Williams

Singer/actress and former Miss America, Vanessa Williams, released an excerpt from forthcoming book "You Have No Idea" and she isn't lying about that title and the content. The book has the makings of a shocker. The released excerpt recounts the sad time in her life at age 10, when she was molested during a sleepover by an 18-year-old friend of the family named Susan. It's sad to know something like that happened to her or anyone.

Williams stated of the molestation, "Family friends who had a daughter invited me to visit their friends in California with them. The family we stayed with had two kids. Susan, who was 18, smoked, drove a car, and was the epitome of cool. (My friend) Nancy and I slept in the den. One night Susan crept in. She told me to lie down on the rug. I was confused. Are we going to play a game? As I tried to make sense of it, Susan pulled down the bloomers of my cotton baby-doll pajamas." Williams states in the book, "'What are you doing?' I asked." The sexual predator replied, "Don’t worry – it’ll feel good. Don't tell anyone."

It appears, like many victims of molestation, Williams repressed the painful memory of the sexual abuse, until an event later in life brought the trauma to the forefront of her mind. Williams wrote, "I didn’t really understand until college. I was with my boyfriend and it hit me and I blurted out: 'Oh my god -- I was molested.'"

Williams also writes of an abortion she had at age 17, during her senior year in high school. She went on to win the Miss America pageant, but relinquished her crown when a photographer sold nude lesbian photos of her to a sleazy magazine. Shortly after she became a singer and actress.

STORY SOURCE

Vanessa Williams molested as a child

LEGENDS HELP STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION

****
STARS WITH A HEART
****

Dwight Freeney

With the help of a star-studded line up of football and entertainment legends, Starkey Hearing Foundation, which strives to change the social consciousness of hearing and hearing health care, announced that it will deliver the gift of hearing to Indianapolis on February 3, 2012 during its 3rd Annual Super Bowl Week Hearing Mission. The event, which will help 75 under-served, hearing-impaired children and adults, will be held at SportZone in Indianapolis, IN from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (note: a pre-mission press briefing with celebrity guests in attendance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.)

In what has become an annual tradition for Starkey, the Super Bowl Hearing Mission is receiving help from long-time Foundation friends Heather Whitestone (first deaf Miss America title holder), Larry Fitzgerald Jr. (Arizona Cardinals), Dwight Freeney (Indianapolis Colts), Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts), and Michael Floyd (Notre Dame Fighting Irish). This “super” team of celebrity volunteers will be joining Bill Austin, Founder of Starkey Hearing Foundation, and his team of experts in fitting local children with state-of-the-art hearing aids, which is part of the Foundation’s mission so the world may hear.

“By providing children with the ability to hear, we help open up the world to them, that they may smile, laugh, and enjoy a life previously unavailable to them due to a hearing loss disability,” says Bill Austin, Chief Executive Officer of Starkey Laboratories and Founder of Starkey Hearing Foundation. According to Starkey Hearing Foundation, an estimated 63 million children worldwide suffer from hearing loss. In the U.S., 34 million Americans, or one in 10, live with hearing loss or a hearing disability.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation’s Super Bowl Hearing Mission is one of dozens of missions conducted each year both domestically and internationally. The Super Bowl week mission will include the precise fitting of custom-made, state-of-the-art hearing aids for each recipient, along with testing, batteries, counseling and instructions on follow-up care.



About Starkey Hearing Foundation



Starkey Hearing Foundation is striving to foster greater understanding among individuals and communities through hearing care by focusing on awareness, education, protection and treatment so the world may hear. Hearing loss affects one in 10 Americans, and 63 million children worldwide, yet many do not have access to the hearing devices that can help them. From 2000 to 2010, Starkey Hearing Foundation fit more than 500,000 hearing aids to people in need in the U.S. and around the world. The Foundation has grown that commitment to more than 100,000 hearing aids annually and is dedicated to fitting 1 million hearing aids this decade. In addition to giving the gift of hearing through worldwide hearing missions, Starkey Hearing Foundation promotes hearing health awareness through the Listen Carefully initiative and provides hearing instruments to low-income Americans through the Hear Now program. For more information on Starkey Hearing Foundation, visit www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org.


Photo By: RD/Dziekan/Retna

LAS VEGAS CROWNING OF MISS AMERICA 2012

Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler

Laura Kaeppeler

The Crowning of Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler this weekend at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada really made Sin City shine.


Photos By: RD/Kabik/Retna

MISS AMERICA TERESA SCANLAN AT TROPICANA

Miss America Teresa Scanlan

Just a little over one month ago, Tropicana Casino & Resort unveiled its impressive new Cielo Suites. While the majority of these 26 lavish guest spaces are reserved for comped VIP players visiting the casino, the Tropicana announced today that a select few suites will be made available to retail customers who want to spend a night in ultimate luxury.

"You don't have to be a top of the line player to experience top-of-the-line accommodations at Tropicana," said Tony Rodio, president and chief executive officer of Tropicana. "For those looking to treat themselves to some true pampering, the Cielo Suites deliver. I can't think of a better place to celebrate a milestone like a wedding, engagement, birthday, anniversary or bachelor or bachelorette party."

Cielo is the Spanish word for "sky." The Cielo Suites are aptly named as each boasts unparalleled ocean views and exceptional comforts that make guests feel as if they are on top of the world. The suites range from single bedroom floor plans that span 500 square feet to ten room 1,200 square foot Super Suites to Penthouse Suites that offer six distinct rooms and 1,600 square feet of lavish living.

The Cielo Suites welcome visitors with upscale amenities like wet bars, saunas, pool tables, state-of-the-art home theaters and indulgent spa baths. Each suite features panoramic ocean or bay views unmatched in Atlantic City.

Are you ready to experience the ultimate in VIP treatment? Cielo Suites are available Sunday through Thursday evenings with rates starting at $600 per night for Super Suites and $800 per night for Penthouses. You could also indulge in our 800 square foot mini suite starting at $400 per night.

To learn more or make your reservations, call 1-800-345-8767.

MISS AMERICA 2011 TERESA SCANLAN CROWNED

****
HERE SHE COMES MISS AMERICA
****

Our New Miss America Teresa Scanlan

Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan

Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan pictured at the Miss America 2011 competition at Theater For The Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada last night. The 17 Year Old Miss Nebraska, was crowned Miss America 2011.

Photos By: RD/ Erik Kabik/ Retna Digital