Bess Myerson Biography

Fast Facts

• Became the first Jewish Miss America at her coronation on September 8, 1945, only a few days after the official end of World War II
• Graduated with honors from Hunter College, where she majored in music, in 1945
• Began taking piano lessons at the age of 9 and often dreamed of owning her own Steinway piano
• Her sister, Sylvia, was the one who entered her photograph into the 1945 Miss New York City contest without her knowledge
• Quote: "[on if she would compete in Miss America if she had to live her life again] "Being the same girl from the Bronx that I was then? Having a great desire to be a concert pianist and not having the money to buy a big black Steinway piano? I sure would․""
• Was the leader of the New York City Consumer Affairs and Cultural Affairs agencies
• Best known as a television personality, New York public affairs representative and winner of the 1945 Miss America pageant
• Was a regular panelist on the long-running game show "I've Got a Secret․"
• Was once invited to play at Carnegie Hall as a guest soloist with the New York Philharmonic, where she played Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto
• Campaigned for Edward I․ Koch during his run for mayor in 1977, and her picture often appeared on his campaign posters