Bess Myerson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bess Myerson
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Myerson in 1957
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| Commissioner of New York City Department of Consumer Affairs | |
| In office 1969–1973 |
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| Appointed by | John V. Lindsay |
| Preceded by | Gerard Maxwell Weisberg as Commissioner of Public Markets |
| Commissioner of New York City Department of Cultural Affairs | |
| In office 1983–1987 |
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| Appointed by | Ed Koch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 16, 1924 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 2014 (aged 90) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Spouses | Allan Wayne Arnold M. Grant |
| Children | Barra Grant |
| Alma mater | Hunter College |
| Occupation | Model, city commissioner, TV show celebrity |
| Known for |
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Bess Myerson (July 16, 1924 – December 14, 2014) was an American politician, model, and television star. In 1945, she made history by becoming the first Miss America who was also Jewish.
Her win was very important, especially after the Holocaust. It showed that Jewish people had a strong place in American life. Many in the Jewish community saw her as a hero. Some even called her "the most famous pretty girl since Queen Esther."
Bess Myerson was often on television in the 1950s and 1960s. She worked for the New York City government as a commissioner. She also served on special groups for presidents from the 1960s to the 1980s. Later, she ran for the U.S. Senate but did not win. Her public service career ended in the late 1980s after some legal issues. However, she was found not guilty after a well-known trial.
Contents
Bess Myerson's Life Story
Early Life and Education
Bess Myerson was born in The Bronx, New York. Her parents, Louis and Bella Myerson, were Jewish immigrants from Russia. Her father worked as a housepainter, handyman, and carpenter.
After Bess was born, her family moved to a cooperative apartment complex in the Bronx. She had two sisters, Helen and Sylvia. Her family believed that learning was more important than looks. Her neighbors included poets, writers, and artists.
Bess grew to her adult height by age 12. She felt "awkward and gawky" because she was taller than other kids. She remembered playing Popeye's character Olive Oyl in a school play, which she didn't enjoy.
Bess started playing piano when she was nine. She went to New York's The High School of Music & Art and graduated in 1941. She then attended Hunter College, graduating with honors in 1945. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. To support herself and her family, she gave piano lessons and worked at a summer camp.
Becoming Miss America
By age 21, Bess was about 5 feet 10 inches tall with "luxuriant brown hair." A photographer who had hired her as a model entered her into the Miss New York City contest. Bess was initially upset because she thought beauty pageants were "embarrassing." However, her sister Sylvia convinced her to compete. She even borrowed a swimsuit for the competition.
Bess started to enjoy the pageant. Her height made her stand out from the other contestants. On August 15, 1945, the day Japan surrendered in World War II, she won the Miss New York City competition. She then moved on to the Miss America contest. She was partly motivated by the $5,000 scholarship prize. She hoped to buy a black Steinway grand piano with the money.
Bess was the Miss New York entry in the 1945 Miss America pageant. For the talent part, she played music by Edvard Grieg and George Gershwin. Before the competition, some people pressured her to use a name that "sounded less Jewish." This was because of strong feelings against Jewish people in America at the time. Bess refused to change her name.
She faced a lot of antisemitism (prejudice against Jewish people). After she won the title on September 8, 1945, three of the pageant's five sponsors did not want her to represent their companies.
She used her scholarship money to study at Juilliard and Columbia University. She was an aspiring pianist and gave recitals. She also played with the New York Philharmonic and performed at Carnegie Hall.
A Voice for Change
During her year-long tour as Miss America, Bess Myerson saw "No Jews" signs in hotels and clubs. These experiences led her to speak out against antisemitism and racism. She gave lectures for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called "You Can't Be Beautiful and Hate." Her speaking tour became a very important part of her time as Miss America.
A group called Religion News Service noted that when she won, many concentration camp survivors were just starting to recover. Bess Myerson showed the world the strength and beauty of Jewish people.
From TV Star to Public Servant
A few years after hearing her speak at an ADL event, TV producer Walt Framer hired Bess. She joined the 1950s game show The Big Payoff. She was known as the "Lady in Mink" and showed off the grand prize mink coat. She also introduced guests and prizes from 1951 to 1959.
Bess was known for her quick thinking and hard work. In 1954, she was a panelist on the game show The Name's the Same. From 1958 to 1967, she was a panelist on I've Got a Secret. She also often filled in for Dave Garroway on the Today Show. From 1954 to 1968, she hosted the television broadcast of the Miss America pageant.
In 1969, Bess stopped her other jobs. Mayor John V. Lindsay appointed her as the first Commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. Before this, she had worked as a consultant for several companies. In her new role, which she held until 1973, she helped create important consumer protection laws.
She also served on several presidential commissions. These groups advised presidents on topics like violence, mental health, workplace issues, and hunger. This was from the 1960s to the 1970s. Bess was often seen with Congressman Ed Koch in the late 1970s. She later led his successful campaign to become New York City mayor in 1977.
In the 1980 U.S. Senate election, Bess Myerson tried to win the Democratic nomination in New York. She ran against Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman and others. Bess lost to Holtzman.
In 2002, Bess Myerson appeared in the documentary film Miss America. She was interviewed as a former Miss America.
Later Years and Legacy
After working for the Koch administration as Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs in 1983, Bess Myerson faced some challenges. She had a legal issue that became known as the "Bess Mess." She was accused of wrongdoing and had to resign from her position in 1987.
A year later, Bess and two other people were charged with legal offenses. They were accused of working together to reduce child support payments for someone. After a four-month trial, all three were found not guilty.
In October 1946, Bess married Allan Wayne. They had one daughter, Barbara, born in 1948. They divorced after eleven years. Bess's second marriage was to attorney Arnold Grant. He adopted her daughter in 1962. They divorced in the early 1970s. Her daughter Barbara later became an actress and screenwriter known as Barra Grant.
Before her federal trial, Bess was arrested in May 1988 for shoplifting in Pennsylvania. She admitted to the retail theft and paid a fine.
Bess Myerson was very connected to her Jewish heritage. She was filmed talking with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. She also gave money to help build "Bessie's Bistro" at the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. This was in memory of her parents, Bella and Louis Myerson.
Bess survived ovarian cancer in the 1970s. She also had a mild stroke in 1981 but fully recovered. She moved to Florida in 2002 and later to California. In 2013, it was reported that she was suffering from dementia.
Death
Bess Myerson passed away on December 14, 2014, in Santa Monica, California. She was 90 years old. Her death was not announced right away. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office confirmed it three weeks later. She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica.
