In 1983, Vanessa Williams became the first black woman to win Miss America. In 1984, a few weeks from the end of her reign, she was forced to step down when she found out Penthouse was going to publish unauthorized nude images of her in their magazine. Williams went on to have a successful singing career and star in movies, but her career trajectory tells more than the story of a black beauty icon who overcame obstacles to make it in Hollywood. It's a story that echoes the legacies of racism, colorism, tokenism and misogynoir (the misogyny experienced specifically by black women) in 20th century Hollywood and how, as a result, black women — from Williams to Whitney Houston — have had to display exceptional talent to make the case that their images are worth circulating and celebrating as beautiful.
This episode was written and performed by Cassie da Costa, an entertainment writer for The Daily Beast. She lives in Ojai, California.
Women of the 80’s (Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman, Episode 8)
Terms of Endearment (Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman, Episode 7)
Pretty Baby and a Playmate Murder (Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman, Episode 6)
A Star is Born (Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman, Episode 5)
Orson Welles, What’s Up Doc, Paper Moon (Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman, Episode 4)
Last Picture Show Love Triangle (Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman, Episode 3)
Peter Bogdanovich and the Woman Behind the Auteur (Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman, Episode 2)
“It wasn’t sexism, then” (Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman, Episode 1)
Sneak Peek: Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman, Episode 1
Season Trailer: Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman
158: The Hemingway Curse? Mariel and Margaux (Make Me Over, Episode 7)
157: Cass Elliot, Carnie Wilson and Fat-Shaming in Rock and Pop (Make Me Over, Episode 6)
156: Esther Williams and the Birth of Waterproof Makeup (Make Me Over, Episode 5)
155: Passing for White: Merle Oberon (Make Me Over, Episode 4)
154: Marie Dressler, the First Female Star to Conquer Hollywood’s Ageism (Make Me Over, Episode 3)
153: Hollywood’s First Weight Loss Guru: Madame Sylvia (Make Me Over, Episode 2)
152: Hollywood’s First Weight Loss Surgery: Molly O’Day (Make Me Over, Episode 1)
Sneak Peek: Make Me Over
151: Splash Mountain (Six Degrees of Song of the South, Episode 6)
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