Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams is one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in the entertainment industry today. Having sold millions of records worldwide, Williams has also achieved numerous #1 and Top 10 hits on various Billboard Album and Singles charts: Pop, Dance, R&B, Adult Contemporary, Holiday, Latin, Gospel, and Jazz.

Her critically acclaimed work in film, television, recordings, and the Broadway stage has been recognized by every major industry award affiliate including 4 Emmy nominations, 11 Grammy nominations, a Tony nomination, 3 SAG award nominations, 7 NAACP Image Awards, and 3 Satellite Awards. Her platinum single "Colors of the Wind," from Disney's "Pocahontas," won the Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Williams has appeared in significant television roles, such as in "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives," and is lauded for her ability to draw audiences with her compelling performances.

Williams's autobiography, "You Have No Idea," co-written with her mother Helen Williams, was a New York Times Best Seller in 2012. Her Broadway credits include co-starring with Cicely Tyson in "The Trip to Bountiful," "After Midnight," and a special limited engagement in "Hey, Look Me Over" at New York City Center in 2018. Williams is also in Josie Rourke’s "City of Angels" in London’s West End. Williams is one of the world’s most accomplished concert artists, appearing regularly with the most prestigious symphony orchestras in the world, most recently with the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center.

A graduate of Syracuse University, Williams is a strong advocate for equal rights, especially concerning the LGBTQ+ community and minorities. She was honored with the Human Rights Campaign "Ally for Equality" Award for her humanitarian contributions. She also achieved a career pinnacle with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007. Williams is also a type 1 diabetic and the mother of four. As a motivational speaker, her public speaking topics include Attitude, Celebrity, Inspiration, and Motivation, often sharing insights from the significant setbacks and challenges in her career.