Tuesday, January 06, 2015

First Jewish Miss America Bess Myerson

Bess Myerson, TV personality and former Miss America has died.  She was 90.  Myerson was the first and so far the only Jewish American to win the pageant, It was 1945 and title, much like the heavyweight boxing title, drew much more attention than it does today.  It was a contest to represent the American "ideal".  Myerson was from New York, winner in subsequent years were more likely to hail from southern states and the Midwest.
Myerson went on to become a game show panelist and a TV figure.  She would later go into public service until a scandal tarnished her image.

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