Interview with actress, singer and author Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams is an accomplished actress, singer and author and now she wants to empower other women by inviting them to join the new Dress for Success program Success is Calling.

Williams has been in the business for more than three decades and knows what it takes to be successful and how to attain that success. In addition to being a multi-platinum recording artist, she has starred in several movies including Eraser opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, Soul Food and Shaft.

She also appeared in the hit television series Ugly Betty, in which she played the fierce magazine editor Wilhelmina Slater. After that show, she joined the cast of Desperate Housewives as Renee Perry.

The actress has also starred in Broadway plays and is the author of the book You Have No Idea, which she co-wrote with her mother, Helen.
Williams has four children and is engaged to Jim Skrip.

The CelebrityCafe.com caught up with the entertainer to discuss her partnership with TracFone and Dress for Success, her fashion tips and what new projects she would like to pursue.

TheCelebrityCafe.com: You always look so elegant on the red carpet. Do you have any fashion tips for women that you would like to share?

Vanessa Williams: I think presentation of any sort should be reflective of your personality. Particularly when talking about getting a job and working to get into the business world, you have got to wear something that is tasteful, not provocative, clean, and tailored; especially when you’re trying to make an impression on your future boss. That’s the wonderful opportunity for Dress for Success to come in to help women get gently used business suits and business attire to make them feel powerful, but also tasteful and appropriate for getting a job.

TCC: Can you talk about your partnership with TracFone and Dress for Success for the new Success is Calling program?

VW: The partnership between the two is because not only do you have to look good but you have to make sense and be a great candidate for a job interview when you’re talking on the telephone. So what we’re launching is a campaign and women who go to the program at Dress for Success and work on their interview skills do a campaign called Success is Calling. After they complete their program, they will get a TracFone for themselves, which will help them start their journey into being gainfully employed.

You know, 92 percent of HR individuals that have recently done interviews say that is so important that the person they’re interviewing has done a great job over the phone. A lot of people don’t have great phone skills and that’s why it’s a wonderful opportunity for women to learn and get the job. It is one thing to walk in the door, but you got to nail it and talking and being confident in an interview is so important to being successful.

TCC: What website can people go to and how can they help support the organization?

VW: TFSuccessisCalling.com is the website they can go to and get tips on the way to nail that job, to be articulate over the phone and to do what you need to do in order to be employed. There are so many women out in the workforce that want to make it today and Dress for Success works with women that have had a hard time in life and are disadvantaged. This is their opportunity to be employed and to live their dream and start out a new life for themselves.

I’ve donated clothes for years and it’s always wonderful that I can help bring such an amazing concept to the people that might not even know about it. And it’s about women that are working women giving their gently used power suits, blazers, purses skirts and dresses to give somebody else a chance.

People can also go to Walmart and get TracFones and 20 percent of the proceeds in the month of April are going to go to Dress for Success.

TCC: Finally, you have had a successful music career, starred in films, television shows and on Broadway. Is there anything you haven’t done yet as far as new projects that you would like to pursue?

VW: There’s plenty of people that I haven’t worked with and venues that I have not done. I would love to originate a Broadway role. I’ve been in many Broadway shows but to originate a new role in a play or musical would be fantastic. I would love to do movie musical, which I have never done as well. I’ve done movies and musicals on Broadway and for television, but I’d like to do that for film. And, who knows? Collaborations and ensembles are fantastic and I had the pleasure of working with many incredible people in my life so I am anxious to see what’s yet to come.

You can follow Williams on Twitter and Instagram at @VWOfficial and Dress for Success on Facebook and Twitter at @dressforsuccess

Image courtesy of Walter McBride/INFphoto.com