Miss America 1984 , the 57th Miss America pageant , was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City , New Jersey on September 17 , 1983 on NBC Network . Debra Maffett ( Miss California 1982 ) crowned her successor , Miss New York 1983 , Vanessa Williams at the end of the nationally televised event . Williams was succeeded by Miss New Jersey Suzette Charles in July 1984 , when she was forced to resign over the unauthorized publication of nude photographs . Charles served as Miss America until September 1984 . Among the contestants who did not place among the 10 finalists , Miss New Mexico 1983 Mai Shanley , eventually went on to win the Miss USA 1984 title
Miss USA 1984
Miss USA 1984
Miss America 1984