Latest news with #MissAmerica


UPI
a day ago
- UPI
On This Day, July 23: China launches Tianwen-1 mission to Mars
July 23 (UPI) -- In 1829, William Burt of Mount Vernon, Mich., patented the "typographer," believed to be the first typewriter. In 1962, Jackie Robinson became the first Black player inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947. In 1967, rioting erupted on 12th Street in the heart of Detroit's predominantly Black inner city. By the time it was quelled four days later by 7,000 National Guard and U.S. Army troops, 43 people were dead, 342 injured. In 1973, Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox served subpoenas on the White House after U.S. President Richard Nixon refused to turn over requested tapes and documents. In 1982, actor Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed when a helicopter crashed on the movie set of The Twilight Zone. In 1984, Vanessa Williams gave up her crown as Miss America, bowing to demands by pageant officials that she quit because she appeared nude in sexually explicit pictures in Penthouse magazine. Former Miss America Vanessa Williams (R) poses with the 2015 Miss America, Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell on September 13, 2016. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI In 1999, U.S. Air Force Col. Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a space shuttle flight, with the launch of Columbia on a four-day mission. In 2002, a laser-guided bomb fired from an Israeli warplane hit the Gaza home of Sheik Salah Shehada, founder of the military wing of Hamas, killing him and 14 others and wounding more than 140 people. In 2003, the Massachusetts attorney general said an investigation indicated nearly 1,000 cases of abuse by Roman Catholic priests and other church personnel in the Boston diocese over 60 years. In 2005, three synchronized terrorist bombings struck Sharm el-Sheik, an Egyptian resort, killing at least 90 people and injuring 240. U.S. President George W. Bush (C) and first lady Laura visit the Egyptian Embassy and greet ambassador Nabil Fahmy (L) to sign a book of condolence for the weekend bombing in Egypt's Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheik in Washington on July 25, 2005. File Photo by Jay L. Clendenin/UPI In 2012, the NCAA imposed severe penalties, including a $60 million fine, on Penn State University. One official accused the university of a "conspiracy of silence" about child abuse involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a scientific review that said mint flavoring makes it easier to start smoking cigarettes and then harder to quit. In 2014, a TransAsia Airways twin turboprop plane crashed in stormy weather during an emergency landing on a Taiwanese island, killing 48 people and injuring 10. In 2019, Conservative Party members voted Boris Johnson as Britain's new prime minister, succeeding Theresa May. In 2020, China launched the Tianwen-1 orbiter in its first attempt to reach the surface of Mars. The rover Zhurong set down on the red planet on May 15, 2021. The mission's Zhurong orbiter collected data indicating water may have existed on the planet more recently than previously thought. In 2023, Elon Musk announced that the social media platform Twitter would now be known as X. In 2024, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after it was announced a bipartisan House task force would investigate the attempted assassination of Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential run. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI
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First Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
History Today: Why July 23 is celebrated as National Broadcasting Day
It was on July 23, 1927, that the Indian Broadcasting Company was established, marking the beginning of organised and licensed radio broadcasting in the country. Now, every year, this day is celebrated as National Broadcasting Day in India, with various activities organised to acknowledge the historical and cultural significance of broadcasting, particularly radio read more India has a long history of radio and one of the most important days in the history of radio broadcasting is July 23, 1927, when the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was launched in India. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. The first African American woman to be crowned Miss America, Vanessa Williams, resigned from her title on this day in 1984. This came after unauthorised nude photographs of her were published by Penthouse magazine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here is all that took place on this day across the world. Indian Broadcasting Company was officially established Did you know that the National Broadcasting Day is celebrated on July 23 every year? This is because it was on this day in 1927 that the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was officially established in Bombay. The IBC was a private company, set up under a licence from the British colonial government. Its Bombay (now Mumbai) station began operations on July 23, while a second station in Calcutta (now Kolkata) followed soon after on August 26, 1927. The broadcasts included music, news, talks, and cultural programs aimed at engaging urban audiences who had access to radio sets which was a rare and expensive commodity back then. The IBS' launch led to a structured broadcast service aimed at informing and entertaining the public. Wikimedia Commons Though the initial response was positive, the IBC struggled financially. Low advertising revenue, limited reach, and operational costs made it difficult to sustain. In 1930, the company went into liquidation, and the government took over broadcasting operations. This transition led to the formation of the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) on April 1, 1930. Eventually, in 1936, the ISBS was renamed All India Radio (AIR), which remains India's national public radio broadcaster today. The IBC's launch was a pivotal moment in Indian media history. It marked the transition from experimental and club-based amateur transmissions, like those by the Radio Club of Bombay in 1923, to a structured broadcast service aimed at informing and entertaining the public. Miss America resigned over nude photos One of the first instances of a Miss America resigning was Vanessa Williams, who let go of her title after unauthorised nude photographs of her were published by Penthouse magazine. Williams was the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America. The photos, taken before she won the crown in September 1983, were shot by photographer Tom Chiapel during a private modelling session. Williams had been told the images were artistic and would never be published. However, when Penthouse acquired and prepared to publish them without her consent, the resulting controversy shocked the nation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Under immense pressure from the Miss America Organisation, sponsors, and the public, Williams reluctantly stepped down just weeks before completing her reign. She was the first Miss America in history to resign. In a tearful press conference, she said, 'I never thought I would have to relinquish my title, but I can't give up who I am.' Vanessa Williams is being crowned as Miss America in 1984. File image/AP Her resignation was a devastating blow, not just to her personally, but also to many who saw her as a symbol of progress and a role model. Miss New Jersey, Suzette Charles, who was the first runner-up and also African American, assumed the Miss America crown for the remaining two months of the reign. Despite the highly public and humiliating scandal, Vanessa Williams remarkably rebuilt her career. She went on to achieve significant success as a Grammy-nominated singer and a critically acclaimed actress in television, film, and Broadway, proving her resilience and talent far beyond the beauty pageant stage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This Day, That Year On this day in 1997, Slobodan Milosevic became president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1970, Sultan Said ibn Taymur of Oman was overthrown by his son, Qaboos bin Said, in a palace coup. Ford Motor Company sold its first automobile, a Ford Model A, on this day in 1903. With inputs from agencies
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vanessa Williams misses her mother 'tremendously'
Vanessa Williams misses her late mother "tremendously". The 62-year-old star was left heartbroken when her mother Helen passed away aged 85 last December whilst on a trip to London to see her daughter perform in The Devil Wears Prada musical on the West End and explained that she was the figure who made the biggest impact on her life. Speaking to Stylist magazine, Vanessa said: "Not only did she make a huge impression on me, but she influenced so many of the people she taught as a school teacher. She was an absolute force and I miss her tremendously." The singer and actress had to resign as Miss America in 1984 after nude photos of her were published in Penthouse magazine and felt that the scandal gave her an "immediate jump" into adulthood. The Ugly Betty star said: "In 1984, aged 21, I resigned as Miss America. "I'm working on a documentary to explore every angle of it, but it was an immediate jump into becoming an adult." Meanwhile, Vanessa explained that she would be happy to relive the births of her children – Melanie, 38, Jillian, 36, and Devin, 32, from her marriage to Ramon Hervey, and Sasha, 25, from her relationship with second husband Rick Fox – as giving birth was the "best gift" of her life. Asked if she could experience one day in her life again, the Colors of the Wind singer said: "It's tough because every time I gave birth was the best gift I've ever had. "So I would say those four days – the opportunities to give life have been incredible." Vanessa says she is concerned about the current political climate in the US as "freedom and justice" are under threat. She explained: "I turn on the news and watch liberties being taken away from US citizens on a daily basis: it's scary." However, Williams is confident that the power of the "human spirit" can help the world overcome its current challenges. The Desperate Housewives star said: "Despite the chaos and tumult happening worldwide, it never stops the human spirit for peace, humanity, ease and community. That's what we have to remember: love is number one."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vanessa Williams misses her mother 'tremendously'
Vanessa Williams misses her late mother "tremendously". The 62-year-old star was left heartbroken when her mother Helen passed away aged 85 last December whilst on a trip to London to see her daughter perform in The Devil Wears Prada musical on the West End and explained that she was the figure who made the biggest impact on her life. Speaking to Stylist magazine, Vanessa said: "Not only did she make a huge impression on me, but she influenced so many of the people she taught as a school teacher. She was an absolute force and I miss her tremendously." The singer and actress had to resign as Miss America in 1984 after nude photos of her were published in Penthouse magazine and felt that the scandal gave her an "immediate jump" into adulthood. The Ugly Betty star said: "In 1984, aged 21, I resigned as Miss America. "I'm working on a documentary to explore every angle of it, but it was an immediate jump into becoming an adult." Meanwhile, Vanessa explained that she would be happy to relive the births of her children – Melanie, 38, Jillian, 36, and Devin, 32, from her marriage to Ramon Hervey, and Sasha, 25, from her relationship with second husband Rick Fox – as giving birth was the "best gift" of her life. Asked if she could experience one day in her life again, the Colors of the Wind singer said: "It's tough because every time I gave birth was the best gift I've ever had. "So I would say those four days – the opportunities to give life have been incredible." Vanessa says she is concerned about the current political climate in the US as "freedom and justice" are under threat. She explained: "I turn on the news and watch liberties being taken away from US citizens on a daily basis: it's scary." However, Williams is confident that the power of the "human spirit" can help the world overcome its current challenges. The Desperate Housewives star said: "Despite the chaos and tumult happening worldwide, it never stops the human spirit for peace, humanity, ease and community. That's what we have to remember: love is number one."


Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Vanessa Williams misses her mother 'tremendously'
Vanessa Williams misses her late mother "tremendously". The 62-year-old star was left heartbroken when her mother Helen passed away aged 85 last December whilst on a trip to London to see her daughter perform in The Devil Wears Prada musical on the West End and explained that she was the figure who made the biggest impact on her life. Speaking to Stylist magazine, Vanessa said: "Not only did she make a huge impression on me, but she influenced so many of the people she taught as a school teacher. She was an absolute force and I miss her tremendously." The singer and actress had to resign as Miss America in 1984 after nude photos of her were published in Penthouse magazine and felt that the scandal gave her an "immediate jump" into adulthood. The Ugly Betty star said: "In 1984, aged 21, I resigned as Miss America. "I'm working on a documentary to explore every angle of it, but it was an immediate jump into becoming an adult." Meanwhile, Vanessa explained that she would be happy to relive the births of her children – Melanie, 38, Jillian, 36, and Devin, 32, from her marriage to Ramon Hervey, and Sasha, 25, from her relationship with second husband Rick Fox – as giving birth was the "best gift" of her life. Asked if she could experience one day in her life again, the Colors of the Wind singer said: "It's tough because every time I gave birth was the best gift I've ever had. "So I would say those four days – the opportunities to give life have been incredible." Vanessa says she is concerned about the current political climate in the US as "freedom and justice" are under threat. She explained: "I turn on the news and watch liberties being taken away from US citizens on a daily basis: it's scary." However, Williams is confident that the power of the "human spirit" can help the world overcome its current challenges. The Desperate Housewives star said: "Despite the chaos and tumult happening worldwide, it never stops the human spirit for peace, humanity, ease and community. That's what we have to remember: love is number one."