Miss America, Television Personality, Political Advisor. In 1945, Myerson became the first Miss New York to win the title of Miss America and was also the first - and so far only - Jewish Miss America. She grew up in a Jewish housing project, surrounded by artists, poets and novelists. At age 9, she began piano lessons and was accepted as a music major in the second class of the High School of Music and Art, in 1937. She went on to major in music at Hunter College and graduated with honors in 1945. That same year, her sister who, without her knowledge, submitted her photograph in the Miss New York City contest, which she went on to win. Later that same year, she won the Miss America contest in Atlantic City, winning the bathing suit contest followed by the talent event playing Gershwin's "Summertime" on the flute and excerpts from Grieg's Concerto on the piano. During her reign, encounters with anti-Semitism caused her to cut her national tour short. She returned to New York, where she agreed to embark on a six-month lecture tour for the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, speaking out against prejudice. In 1946, she married a Navy captain whose family was in the toy business. Her only child, Barbara, was born the next year and she began studying for a master's degree in music at Columbia University but dropped out when she began working in television where for eight years, she appeared on a game show called 'The Big Payoff', modeling mink coats and announcing prizes. After divorcing her husband, she began her nine-year run on 'I've Got a Secret'. In 1962, she married Arnold M. Grant, an entertainment lawyer with connections to the Democratic Party. In 1969, she was appointed consumer affairs chief under New York Mayor John Lindsay and over the next five years, she pushed through consumer-protection laws against deceptive trade practices. She went on to serve under three presidents; Lyndon B. Johnson named her to a White House conference on crime and violence, Gerald R. Ford to a board dealing with workplace issues, and Jimmy Carter to commissions on mental health and world hunger. She was also a consumer consultant and made frequent appearances on radio and television, hosting Miss America contests and the Tournament of Roses and the Thanksgiving Day parades. In the early 1970s, she hosted a nationally syndicated weekday television news and information program called "What Every Woman Wants to Know". In 1980, she entered the Democratic Senate primary, but lost to Representative Elizabeth Holtzman. In 1983, she was chosen by New York Mayor Ed Koch to be commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Her tenure ended in a public implosion when a conflict-of-interest scandal involving a married sewage contractor who did business with the city and his bitter public divorce. It led to bribery allegations, indictments and sullied reputations all involved. Myerson was called before a grand jury and, without advising city officials in advance, invoked the Fifth Amendment. Mayor Koch ordered an investigation and she was forced to resign in April 1987, amid accusations of conspiracy, mail fraud, obstruction of justice and using interstate facilities to violate state bribery laws, but was later acquitted of all charges. After her acquittal in the bribery case she retired to a quiet private life, remaining mostly out of public view and devoting herself to charities. In one instance she pledged $1.1 million to the building of the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Myerson died after a long battle with dementia.

Miss America, Television Personality, Political Advisor. In 1945, Myerson became the first Miss New York to win the title of Miss America and was also the first - and so far only - Jewish Miss America. She grew up in a Jewish housing project, surrounded by artists, poets and novelists. At age 9, she began piano lessons and was accepted as a music major in the second class of the High School of Music and Art, in 1937. She went on to major in music at Hunter College and graduated with honors in 1945. That same year, her sister who, without her knowledge, submitted her photograph in the Miss New York City contest, which she went on to win. Later that same year, she won the Miss America contest in Atlantic City, winning the bathing suit contest followed by the talent event playing Gershwin's "Summertime" on the flute and excerpts from Grieg's Concerto on the piano. During her reign, encounters with anti-Semitism caused her to cut her national tour short. She returned to New York, where she agreed to embark on a six-month lecture tour for the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, speaking out against prejudice. In 1946, she married a Navy captain whose family was in the toy business. Her only child, Barbara, was born the next year and she began studying for a master's degree in music at Columbia University but dropped out when she began working in television where for eight years, she appeared on a game show called 'The Big Payoff', modeling mink coats and announcing prizes. After divorcing her husband, she began her nine-year run on 'I've Got a Secret'. In 1962, she married Arnold M. Grant, an entertainment lawyer with connections to the Democratic Party. In 1969, she was appointed consumer affairs chief under New York Mayor John Lindsay and over the next five years, she pushed through consumer-protection laws against deceptive trade practices. She went on to serve under three presidents; Lyndon B. Johnson named her to a White House conference on crime and violence, Gerald R. Ford to a board dealing with workplace issues, and Jimmy Carter to commissions on mental health and world hunger. She was also a consumer consultant and made frequent appearances on radio and television, hosting Miss America contests and the Tournament of Roses and the Thanksgiving Day parades. In the early 1970s, she hosted a nationally syndicated weekday television news and information program called "What Every Woman Wants to Know". In 1980, she entered the Democratic Senate primary, but lost to Representative Elizabeth Holtzman. In 1983, she was chosen by New York Mayor Ed Koch to be commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Her tenure ended in a public implosion when a conflict-of-interest scandal involving a married sewage contractor who did business with the city and his bitter public divorce. It led to bribery allegations, indictments and sullied reputations all involved. Myerson was called before a grand jury and, without advising city officials in advance, invoked the Fifth Amendment. Mayor Koch ordered an investigation and she was forced to resign in April 1987, amid accusations of conspiracy, mail fraud, obstruction of justice and using interstate facilities to violate state bribery laws, but was later acquitted of all charges. After her acquittal in the bribery case she retired to a quiet private life, remaining mostly out of public view and devoting herself to charities. In one instance she pledged $1.1 million to the building of the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Myerson died after a long battle with dementia.

Bio by: Louis du Mort