A representative for Chiapel sold the photographs to Penthouse without Williams' knowledge. The Penthouse pictures, including photographs of Williams with another woman, were taken in 1982 when Williams worked as a receptionist for photographer Tom Chiapel of Brewster, N.Y. "It's important to her because she has taken the idea that she is the role model for a lot of little girls." "She hasn't made her mind up definitely yet, but she's leaning towards not resigning," said Milton Williams' brother, Earl Williams of Baltimore, who spoke to his brother earlier yesterday. if I conduct myself in a manner which, in the opinion of the Miss America Pageant does not uphold and maintain the dignity and honor of the title 'Miss America' then I understand and agree that Miss America Pageant may at its exclusive option terminate my right to the title." The contract all Miss America national participants must sign makes no reference to nude modeling, but does include the statement "I have not been involved in any act of moral turpitude." The contract does not define "moral turpitude."Īnother part of the document states, ". This is the first time in the pageant's 63-year history a Miss America has been asked to resign. Pageant officials on Friday gave Williams 72 hours to announce her decision. No matter what she decides, however, pageant officials have decided that Williams will not be present at this year's show, nor will there be any acknowledgment of her reign, and that pictures of Williams will not appear in the Miss America program, pageant executive director Albert A. Milton Williams said his daughter, the first black to win the contest, had not yet made up her mind. We feel it could be seen as an admission of guilt, of having done something that was wrong and distasteful, and we don't feel she did." "Our feeling is that she should continue with it," Milton Williams said by phone. Williams' family is advising her to refuse to resign her title, her father said yesterday. Williams said from her lawyer's Westchester office that she was assured by Chiapel that the pictures were to be artistic photographs, never to be shown publicly, and that she would not be identifiable in them. Every model at the registry had to fill one out." I remember signing a stat sheet as a model. "I don't recall signing anything with photographer Tom Chiapel. It's a legal question," Williams said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. "I guess no one owns the right to the pictures. Pageant officials will hold a news conference today at 3:30 in Atlantic City to respond. She spent the weekend discussing her legal options with lawyers and will reveal her decision at a press conference in New York City at 2 p.m. Williams, 21, was asked Friday to resign after it was revealed the sexually explicit photographs of her will appear in the September issue of Penthouse magazine. Vanessa Williams, the reigning Miss America, said yesterday she did not remember ever signing a release for nude photographs taken of her with another woman two years ago, and that the pictures were to have been private.
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