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From: anita@drux3.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Re: Miss America
Message-ID: <1203@drux3.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 24-Jul-84 15:56:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: drux3.1203
Posted: Tue Jul 24 15:56:44 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Jul-84 02:15:40 EDT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 42


*********** Quote of Tom O'Connor **************

...But [Vanessa Williams] made a big mistake in posing for those photographs.

...The whole image of Miss America, no matter how unrealistic
some might believe it is, had been seriously tarnished.  I
could no longer say to my little sister "Wouldn`t you like
to be like her?"  I`m not about to give her the impression
that I don`t see anything wrong with such immorality.  Other
people may say it`s no big deal, but I think it is.  The
title and the role of Miss America is to be a role model.
And though I`m sure Vanessa Williams did a lot for the title
with all her public appearances, etc. this incident puts a
very large black mark on her reign.  ...

...I support the
decision of the pageant officials.  I do NOT condemn the
Ms. Williams for posing for those photgraphs, but I certainly
do not codone them.

********************************

Posing for nude photographs is not immoral.  What is immoral is publishing
those photographs without consent.  I think it is very possible that Ms.
Williams is telling the truth about not knowing she had signed a consent
form.  Playboy was approached about publishing the photos, but they declined
because they  weren't sure about whether she had really knowingly consented
to have them published.  Didn't you ever sign anything you didn't read 
thoroughly?
It may be naive and stupid, but it happens when you feel intimidated.  She
was a young woman when she posed for those photographs, and it must have seemed
very exciting and flattering to be a model.  I can see how she might not have
been totally aware of the legalities which could cause her problems in the  
future.  Also, she did not do all this during her reign as Miss America.
The possibilty of actually becoming Miss America was probably
just a far off dream back then.  I think the pageant association could have 
dealt with this whole thing in a much more responsible and less reactionary
way than they did.  It's too bad that Ms. Williams had to pay so dearly for
such a small mistake.

                                                Anita