Singer, actress and former Miss America, Venessa Williams returned to the Miss America stage at the finals of 2016 edition on Sunday night. It has been three decades after she became the first Afro-American woman to win the crown but resigned following a nude photo scandal. Williams was honoured as a senior judge at the finals and helped crown the new Miss America, Betty Cantrell. But the highlight of the show was when the current CEO of Miss America, Sam Haskell issued a public, official apology to Williams for the events of 1984 that stripped her of her title.

“I have been a close friend to this beautiful and talented lady for 34 years. You have lived your life with grace and dignity and never was it more evident during the events of 1984 when you resigned. Though none of us currently in the organization were involved in it, on behalf of today’s organization, I want to apologize for anything that was said and done to you and to your mother, Miss Helen Williams”, said Haskell addressing the crowd with his arm around Williams. Haskell concluded, “I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America that you are and Miss America you always will be.”

The pictures that created controversy and the dethronement of Vennesa, were taken a year before her victory in the 1984 pageant, but surfaced 10 months after her crowning, that too without her consent. The crown was then passed down to the runner-up Suzette Charles.

Williams, saying the apology was "unexpected," thanked Haskell "for bringing this pageant back to what it ought to be."