CEO of the Miss America Pageant organization Sam Haskell. director apologizes to Vanessa Williams @ Miss America 2016

A stunning Vanessa Williams upstaged a bevy of Miss America beauties Sunday, earning an apology from the pageant that dissed her more than 30 years ago after a nude photo flap.

Williams, a pageant judge, helped crown a new Miss America -- Miss Georgia, Betty Cantrell -- but the winner was anti-climactic after Williams stole the show with a striking gown, a stirring song and a standing ovation from the Atlantic City crowd.

Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell as she is named Miss America 2016 on September 13, 2015.

      Vanessa Williams,  Miss America 1983,         Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell,  Miss America 2016

But the show’s highlight came nearly 30 minutes in when the pageant's director apologized

to Williams -- and her mother -- for the way it handled the controversy that forced her to give up the crown she won in 1983 when she made history as the first black Miss America.

“On behalf of today’s organization, I want to apologize to you and to your mother, Helen Williams,” said CEO of the Miss America organization Sam Haskell.

“I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America you are, and the Miss America you always will be.”

Vanessa Williams, the first black Miss America, waves to crowd after being crowned the 1984 Miss America Sept. 18, 1983.

Former Miss America Vanessa Williams performs during the 2016 Miss America pageant.

The pictures, which were taken a year before her victory in the 1984 pageant, surfaced 10 months after Williams – the first black Miss America – was crowned.

The crown was passed down to runner-up Suzette Charles.

Williams went on to have a successful career in film, television, music and Broadway.

 Williams, 52, said the moment was "unexpected but so beautiful.

"I did the best I could,” Williams said. “On behalf of my family, my mother in particular. I'm so honored to be back."

Earlier, Williams wowed the crowd with a performance of Amy Grant’s “Oh How the Years Go By.”

Williams’ announced appearance breathed new life into a production that had become as predictable as its smiles and sashes.

The Williams return wasn’t the pageant’s only relevant moment.

Miss Alabama, Meg McGuffin, got the Internet buzzing when she was asked a question about presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.

Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell

Runner Ups Miss South Carolina Daja Dial and Miss Oklahoma Georgia Frazier show their support for Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell as she is named Miss America 2016 on September 13, 2015.

 

"Donald Trump is an entertainer,” McGuffin said. “I think the party should be terrified."

She was the fourth runner up.The Miss America theme song — the one that Bert Parks made famous — also returned for the first time in three years after it was suspended in a dispute with the estate of its author, Bernie Wayne.