Vanessa L Williams talks about parenting and people in Sendai and Fukushima

By on June 9, 2011

Name a famous celebrity who is blessed with good looks and an endless list of talents.  One name comes to mind.

Vanessa L. Williams.

Vanessa has surely come a long way from being a college student at Syracuse University to being the first African American woman who surprised the world by winning the title of Miss America at age 20 in 1983. Winning the crown eventually opened up career opportunities for her starting from a first TV appearance at an episode of a legendary television series, Love Boat in 1984, to a music career in 1988 when she released her debut album, “The Right Stuff”.

Raised in a predominantly white suburban community in New York, she recalls being called “N” by a schoolmate when she was in third grade. She asked her mom what the word means and she gave Vanessa a sage advice, “You will have to do better than anyone else to be considered equal just because of your skin color.” That stuck onto her head and has become her day-to-day mantra.” That absolutely worked for her. To date, she has garnered a number of accolades and achievement awards in the fields of acting and music, her first love.

Many will agree that show business is an ungrateful profession. When fresh talents emerge, the older ones eventually fade into obscurity. But that is far from Vanessa’s case. In 2006 a age 43, she made a big comeback  when she starred in Ugly Betty, a TV series which happens to be a favorite in Japan. She played the role of a bossy, glamorous magazine editor.  Although the show was cancelled, she was soon offered a mainstay  role in the highly rated TV sitcom series, Desperate Housewives from Season 7.  This only indicates that the diva is still very much in the swing of things. Today, at 48, she leads a busy life flying weekly between Los Angeles where she tapes shows two days a week, and New York, where she lives with her children.

This plus her usual music engagements, tv appearances, commercial endorsement – how does she juggle her work commitments and family? Although she describes her coast-to-coast flying as ‘a grueling commute’,  coming home after work to be with her four kids remains to be her top priority.

“I’ve been a mother for so long, already 23 years that I’ve always had my career and family work together so you just have to have priorities. When I work, I make sure that I’m there for my children’s concerts, recitals and graduation. I just had my daughter graduate last week and now she’s working for me and she is on the road here with me.”

Jillian, Vanessa’s lovely 22-year old daughter and back-up vocalist, was introduced to me as she was coming out of the make-up room minutes before a scheduled live performance.  From every angle, Jillian’s bright smile undeniably resembles her gorgeous mom’s.

“Yes, this is her first day! It’s her debut right now. Well, actually no, she did Daytime Emmy’s which I hosted two years ago and so that was her very first time on television. She’s the only daughter I have who is definitely following my footsteps,” Vanessa proudly remarked with a beaming smile.

It is no secret that the mother of four (three daughters and a son) is very close to her children, parents and Chris Williams, Vanessa’s brother who is an actor.

“Family is everything to me. I am who I am because of my parents and my family. I live for making my children become decent human beings and supporting their talents, and that is something that will never stop.”

On learning about the devastation caused by a major earthquake that rocked Sendai and Fukushima, the seasoned R&B songstress talked about her sadness and sympathy.

“Our hearts went out to everybody living in the country especially the people that were in Sendai and Fukushima. It’s extraordinary – to look at the devastation. And also being so far away and not being able to do anything immediately was heartbreaking! Again, it’s a tragedy like our 9/11 that happened so quickly and impacts everyone so hard. I was in New York when that happened and so we too felt the impact. I wish all the best for this wonderful country. I love Japan.”

Still very much in demand after 27 years in business, Vanessa Williams attributes much of her success to

“being talented, working at it, working hard and never stopping”.

No rest for the Diva – as she saves the best for last!

 

Joy Saison spoke to Vanessa Williams.

About Tokyo Families