Vanessa Williams ( who was crowned Miss America 1984 but was forced to resign a few weeks before her reign ended ) served as head judge and performed '' Oh How the Years Go By '' . The pageant began with Miss America CEO Sam Haskell issuing an apology to Williams , telling her that although " none of us currently in the organization were involved then , on behalf of today 's organization , I want to apologize to you and to your mother , Miss Helen Williams . I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be . " Suzette Charles ( Williams ' replacement ) said in an interview with '' Inside Edition '' that she was perplexed over the apology and suggested that it was given for the purpose of ratings . Williams also commented on the events surrounding her return , stating in an interview with Robin Roberts that " there 's a lot of people who feel I should return , so the people who harbor the resentment I understand it but realize that all of those people that were part of the old guard are no longer there . " '' '
Miss America 1984
Miss America 1984
Miss America 2016