Bess Myerson (born 16 July, 1924) is a United States celebrity. Myerson became famous as the first Jew to win the Miss America pagent in 1945, and then appeared in various television shows in the 1950s and 1960s.

Bess Myerson was born in the Bronx, New York. While competing in beauty pagents Myerson was repeatedly advised to use a pseudonym that would "sound less Jewish", but she refused. She faced prejudice even after winning the Miss America title, with many sponsors and events long associated with the pagent refusing to deal with her. She became a social activist for civil rights.

In 1954 Myerson was a panelist on "The Name's the Same " television game show, and from 1958 through 1967 was a panelist on "I've Got a Secret". She also worked as an actress on other shows.

In 1987 her autobiography was published, "Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson's Own Story".

As of 2003, she remains active in promoting social causes and in philanthropy.

External link

• Bess Myerson on the Jewish-American Hall of Fame site