Claim: Suzette Charles (born 1963) was the first runner-up, Williams' reign as Miss America was not without its challenges but was only praised.
Evidence: Suzette DeGaetano
(1963-03-02) March 2, 1963 (age 57)
Mays Landing, New Jersey, U.S. 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. Charles later commented on the television program Inside Edition that she was perplexed by the apology, suggesting that it was given for the purpose of ratings. At the Miss America 2016 pageant, current CEO, Sam Haskell, issued an apology to Williams for "the events of 1984."