Bess Myerson

Bess Myerson (July 16, 1924 – December 14, 2014) was an American politician, model, and television actress. In 1945, she became the first Miss America who was also Jewish, which was seen as a significant milestone for Jewish representation in American society. Myerson gained popularity through frequent television appearances during the 1950s and 1960s. She also served as a commissioner in the New York City government, participated in presidential commissions from the 1960s to the 1980s, and ran for the U.S. Senate unsuccessfully. In the late 1980s, her career was marred by bribery and conspiracy charges, although she was eventually acquitted after a highly publicized trial. Myerson was born in The Bronx, New York to Russian Jewish immigrants.