Vanessa Williams Opens Up About Life After Secret Divorce: Love, Lessons, And Moving Forward

In an unexpected twist, Vanessa Williams has revealed that she's single after quietly parting ways with her third husband, Jim Skrip, back in 2021. The beloved star, known for her iconic role in Ugly Betty, spilled the beans during an interview with People magazine, published on July 24. Despite the split, Vanessa, now 61, remains optimistic about love and life in general.

A New Chapter: Finding Joy After Divorce

“I’m doing what I love, and I’m in love with life,” Vanessa shared candidly with People. “There isn’t just one person that I’m in love with right now, but I’m in love with everybody.” Her positive outlook on life is inspiring, showing that even after heartbreak, there’s room for joy and personal growth.

Vanessa tied the knot with Jim on July 4, 2015, at the picturesque St. Stanislaus Church in Buffalo, New York. Reflecting on those days, she described him as someone incredibly solid and dependable. “My friends would just look at him and say, ‘God, he’s solid,’” she reminisced. “He’s a real man. You want somebody in your life who has integrity, who knows who they are, and who can be romantic.”

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Prior Marriages: Lessons Learned Along the Way

Before Jim, Vanessa had been married and divorced twice. But she’s quick to clarify that each of her ex-husbands were good men. “I want to be clear: I’ve been married three times, and all my husbands are good men,” she told Glamour in August 2019. “I wouldn’t have married them if they weren’t decent people. Men go through different phases of life, and sometimes it syncs up with what you want, but other times it doesn’t. That’s just how life goes.”

Vanessa’s journey in love hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but she’s learned valuable lessons along the way. “Meeting Jim, my third husband, was completely unexpected,” she confessed. “During a trip to Egypt, the Egyptologist tour guide and I were talking about relationships and dating. She ended up sitting next to Jim on one of our excursions and thought we might hit it off. So, I made the first move—he would never have approached me because I was with my daughter.”

“I found out he was from Buffalo, which is also where my mom is from. We started talking, had dinner, and it just continued from there,” she continued. “I forced myself to be open, to take a chance. And sometimes, that’s all it takes.”

Lessons on Love: Finding Balance in Relationships

Reflecting on her past marriages, Vanessa realized a crucial lesson: “Now that I’m on my third marriage, I’ve realized it’s key not to expect one person to fulfill every need in your life.” She explained that putting all your eggs in one basket can create unnecessary pressure in a relationship. “I’ve got my friend who I go to the theater with, the friend I want to play tennis with. It’s important to recognize that it’s not fair to put all that weight on one person.”

Despite her third marriage ending, Vanessa remains hopeful about diving back into the dating scene. “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,” she said, hinting at her openness to meeting someone new. “I’m pretty open.”

Most importantly, Vanessa is thrilled with where life has taken her. “I love my freedom,” she expressed. “I love being alive, having options in my life, and being surrounded by beautiful things, great people, and wonderful opportunities.” Her zest for life is infectious, proving that even after challenges, there’s always room for happiness and fulfillment.

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