Miss America Pageant Meltdown Over Vanessa Williams Apology

The Miss America execs preparing for the live show on Sunday are in crisis mode over Vanessa Williams' appearance ... and it all has to do with the nude, girl-on-girl pics that caused her to get dethroned 31 years ago.

Sources connected with the pageant tell TMZ, Vanessa agreed to appear at the beginning of the show where a Miss America official would apologize for forcing her to resign after the now-famous photos were unearthed. Vanessa would then be presented with a fresh crown.

But production sources tell TMZ, there was a meeting Wednesday between Vanessa's people and the organization and it all hit the fan, because the Miss America people were under the impression Vanessa would apologize for her actions, and then they would give her the crown.

It seems almost ridiculous pageant officials would think Vanessa would fall on the sword, but that's the case.

As of Thursday night, the 2 sides are at an impasse. The pressure's on the organization, because a promo has been running non-stop touting Vanessa's return.

THE 'MISS AMERICA' TEASER
ABC

Donald Trump NBC is 'Weak' ...Threatens Lawsuit

Donald Trump says NBC is "weak" for firing him, and he's threatening them in court.

Trump says NBC is a prime example of why our country is in serious trouble ... because it's so worried about offending, it is blinding itself to the immigration problem.

Trump says, "If NBC is so weak and so foolish to not understand the serious illegal immigration problem in the United States, coupled with the horrendous and unfair trade deals we are making with Mexico, then their contract violating closure of Miss Universe/Miss USA will be determined in court."

Short story -- The Donald is threatening NBC the way he's threatened Univision, for allegedly breaching an iron-clad contract by pulling the plug on him.

And Trump took a parting shot, saying, NBC "will stand behind lying Brian Williams, but won't stand behind people that tell it like it is, as unpleasant as that may be."

Caitlyn Jenner Miss America Contestant ... 'I Love That I Inspired Her!'

The Miss America contestant who became the inspiration for Caitlyn Jenner's name thinks she knows why the now-famous Caitlyn was drawn to her.

Kaitlyn Tarpey -- a Miss America top 10 finalist in 2014 -- tells us she said something during the pageant she believes struck a chord with Bruce Jenner. She said, "Chin up, boobs up and rock it." Bruce gave Diane Sawyer a mantra that was very similar.

Caitlyn says she watched the Miss America pageant for inspiration in choosing a name and was actually leaning toward something different until Kaitlyn Tarpey appeared.

It's interesting ... Kaitlyn has the signature "K" which Caitlyn consciously rejected.

FUN FACT: Caitlin Brunell competed in last year's Miss America pageant. She's the daughter of longtime NFL quarterback Mark Brunell.

Caitlyn Jenner Name Inspired by Miss America Pageant

Caitlyn Jenner chose her name after being inspired by the Miss America pageant.

Caitlyn told Vanity Fair she had been watching the pageant in the last couple of years to come up with ideas for names. Two names resonated with her -- Heather and Cathy.

It sounds like Heather and Cathy were front-runners but she also liked Caitlyn. Ultimately, Caitlyn's assistant Rhonda tipped the scales when she suggested Caitlyn.

Jenner had been on the fence but Rhonda pushed him over the line.

Miss America Mallory Hagan Stomaching Life After the Pageant

It's only been one month since Mallory Hagan won the title of Miss America 2013 ... after KILLING IT in the swimsuit competition ... and it appears she's back to eating like a normal human being again.

24-year-old Hagan was spotted rocking a pink bikini in Hawaii yesterday ... still looking incredible ... with a little more to love.

Sometimes ya just gotta let loose.

Ex-Miss America Producer Moved My Seat Because I'm Black

Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap is DEMANDING an apology from the beauty pageant organization -- claiming a racist producer moved her from a prime seat during the competition last weekend because she's black ... but the fact is, she was sitting in a no-Miss America zone.

Dunlap -- the first black woman to win Miss Florida in 2003 -- tells TMZ, "I was sitting there on the aisle, and during the first commercial break during top 15 announcement, a producer came up to me and said, 'Get out of that seat. I need the seat. I don’t give a f**k who you are. Get out of the f**king seat.'"

Dunlap says she refused to move because of the producer's tone, telling us, "I was spoken to as if I didn't matter. If I were any other Miss America, I would have never been spoken to like that. But I'm the only black one who comes back."

Dunlap says an assistant producer eventually came over and helped the first producer physically remove her from her seat -- "I was mortified." Dunlap says she was eventually relocated.

Dunlap doesn't plan to sue, but says she's still waiting for the organization or the producer to apologize for the way she was treated.

A rep for the Miss America organization says Dunlap's story is nonsense -- telling us, "During the night of the telecast, Ericka was unhappy with her seat, and she chose to move to a camera blocked seat that was reserved for the parents of our contestants."

The rep adds, "At the top of the show, the stage manager asked her to move to seat the contestant's parents, and she refused to move. She subsequently was offered a better seat, however she refused it. It was strictly a television production issue."

Mary Ann Mobley 'Memba Her?!

Mary Ann Mobley is famous for being Miss America 1959, married to Gary Collins and co-starring on shows like "Diff'rent Strokes." Guess what she looks like now!

Old news is old news!
Be First!

Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser!