Vanessa Williams and mom Helen open up on their lives together, talk about their book 'You Have No Idea'

Back in 1983, Vanessa Williams became the first black Miss America and then had to survive a photo scandal. She was able to launch her successful music career and had number one hits like "Save the Best for Last." She went on to star in TV shows like "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives." At the same time she was working on Broadway all along, winning several award nominations along the way. She says she couldn't have done it though without her mom, Helen.

The two later today are going to be talking at the Essence Music Festival about their mother-daughter relationship, which was a little bit rocky at times. It's also the topic of their new book, which is called "You Have No Idea: A Famous Daughter, Her No-nonsense Mother, and How They Survived Pageants, Hollywood, Love, Loss (and Each Other)."

Vanessa and Helen talk with Soledad on "Starting Point" this morning about their relationship.