Charles , as Miss New Jersey , competed in the Miss America 1984 pageant held in Atlantic City on September 17 , 1983 . Earlier in the week , she had won a Preliminary Talent Award for her performance of " Kiss Me in the Rain " . She originally finished as first runner-up . After the reigning Miss America Vanessa Williams was forced to resign that July , Charles replaced her as the new Miss America for the remaining seven weeks
Miss America 1984
Miss America 1984
Suzette Charles