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Vanessa Williams poses at the opening night of The Drama Company NYC play "Lilies" at The Theater Center on May 17, 2021 in New York City.© Getty Images

Vanessa Williams breaks silence on secret divorce from third husband Jim Skrip in 2021: 'I love my freedom'

The West End's Devil Wears Prada star shares four kids with her first two ex-husbands

Ahad Sanwari
Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
July 24, 2024
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Vanessa Williams revealed in a new interview that her third marriage to businessman Jim Skrip actually quietly ended three years ago.

The actress and singer, 61, married the Buffalo-born businessman in 2015, after they first met on a Nile River cruise in Egypt, but they amicably parted ways in 2021.

The star told People that while their marriage came to an end in secret years ago, she was very happy with her life, and didn't really admit to being in a relationship with anyone else presently.

"I'm doing what I love, and I'm in love with life," Vanessa said when asked if she was in love with someone else at the moment. "There is not one person that I'm in love with, but I'm in love with everybody."

When asked how someone could catch her eye now, she responded: "My orbit's not like you need a special pass to get in. I finish my show, I go out and sign autographs and I talk to people. I'm pretty open."

The former Miss America continued: "I love my freedom. I love being alive, having options in my life, and being surrounded by beautiful things, great people, and wonderful opportunities."

Vanessa Williams and boyfriend Jim Skrip attend the after party for the Broadway opening night of "The Trip To Bountiful" at The Copacabana on April 23, 2013 in New York City.© Getty Images
Vanessa revealed she and Jim Skrip quietly divorced in 2021

The Desperate Housewives star has been married three times — before Jim Skrelp, she was married to PR specialist Ramon Hervey II from 1987-1999 after he was hired to revive her career following the Miss America resignation, and then to NBA star Rick Fox from 1999-2004.

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She is also a mom of four, sharing children Melanie, 37, Jillian, 35, and Devin, 31, with Ramon, and daughter Sasha, 24, with Rick. In fact, her second ex-husband also had a cameo in the show Ugly Betty, in which she played the main antagonist Wilhelmina Slater from 2006-2010.

Vanessa Williams and Jim Skrip© Getty Images
The pair tied the knot in 2015 but have made limited public appearances in the years since

STAR REELS

Vanessa spoke with the publication about the moment she asked her ex to appear on the show with her and the reaction it evoked, explaining: "I said, 'Would you play my bodyguard?' And he's like, 'Sure.'" 

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"So he shows up and everyone's like, 'Oh my God, they're divorced, but they're playing together in Ugly Betty'. That's a perfect example of the past, the present, the personal, the business, the show business, working together, and knowing that can all be synchronistically aligned and work."

American singer and actress Vanessa Williams, wearing a green and blue check jacket, and her husband Ramon Hervey II attend the Soul Train Awards nominations celebration, location unknown, circa 1990© Getty Images
Vanessa's first husband, Ramon Hervey II

Vanessa and Jim tied the knot in 2015 in a church decked out with Moroccan lanterns, lush flowers, gold and ivory tents, and much more to fit their Egyptian theme, a nod to where they first met and when their love story began.

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They celebrated their first wedding anniversary in 2016 by walking down the aisle once again, this time in her own church for a Catholic ceremony.

UGLY BETTY - "Betty's Wait Problem"- With Henry back in her life (sort of), Betty finds herself distracted by yet another guy - Gio (Freddy Rodriguez), Mode's new sandwich guy, who both annoys and intrigues her. Meanwhile, the Mode-ites prepare for the social event of the season - the Meades' Black and White Ball, as Wilhelmina plots to get her wedding back on track, Amanda preps to make her first official appearance as Fey Sommer's illegitimate daughter, and fugitive-from-the law Claire invites herself to the party, on "Ugly Betty,"  on the Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Television Network. Fashion icon Kenneth Cole appears as himself.© Getty Images
She appeared with her second husband, Rick Fox, on "Ugly Betty"

The "Save the Best for Last" singer gushed about her husband at the time to the publication, saying: "Jim is a real man. You want somebody in your life who has integrity, who is solid, who knows who he is. He's romantic and he's a great guy."

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