Career: Williams began competing in beauty pageants during the early 1980s, eventually being crowned Miss America in 1983. However, she was forced to resign the title after a scandal erupted involving a nude photoshoot she had undertaken the previous year. She refused to be put off by the setback and, after a little time off, secured a record deal. Her first album The Right Stuff, hit the charts in 1988. She has since produced another seven. As well as a music career, she has also carved out a career as an actress on the big and small screens, and in the theatre. Her CV includes the films Shaft and A Diva's Christmas Carol, as well as TV series Boomtown, Ally McBeal, and Ugly Betty. She joined the cast of Desperate Housewives in 2010.